Source · IMB Annual Report
New Hall
Year: 2021
Published: 1 Oct 2021
Type: Prison · Cat closed women's prison / YOI
Population: 311
Recommendations: 7
Key concerns
Positive findings
The Independent Monitoring Board at HMP New Hall reported a generally well-run and safe prison for the year ending February 2021, despite significant challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Positive aspects included improved healthcare staffing, reduced self-harm, and effective use of technology like Purple Visits to maintain family contact. However, key concerns persist regarding the lack of resettlement accommodation, the impact of Covid-19 on sentence progression, and persistent issues with late prisoner arrivals and lost property during transfers.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 2 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 467 | 519 |
| ACCT cases opened | 481 | — |
| Use of force | 178 | — |
Positive findings
The Board found HMP New Hall to be generally well-run and a safe environment, commendably adapting its regime to be Covid-19 safe, leading to a reduction in self-harm and ACCTs. Relationships between staff and residents are good, and the prison demonstrates a fair and equal approach, including robust risk assessments for new arrivals. Healthcare staffing levels have significantly improved, and the integrated mental health team provides expert care. The introduction of Purple Visits and increased phone credit has greatly enhanced family contact.
Key concerns
Other
The Board is concerned that the government plan for 500 new prison places for women contradicts the female estate offender strategy published in 2018 which details that custody should be the final resort, received for the most serious offences.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The Board remains concerned about the lack of appropriate resettlement accommodation.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board is concerned that Covid-19 has created problems for some prisoners, making it difficult for them to complete their sentence plans and move towards release.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Late arrivals continue to be a problem and the prison is reliant on the goodwill of the reception staff to deal with these. This problem has been flagged up in previous annual reports but the situation does not seem to have improved.
Other
The extent to which personal property is allegedly lost in transit between prisons is a regular cause for complaint, as mentioned earlier in this report (see 5.7).
Equality/Diversity
Residents have filed complaints that their PAK cosmetics are close to or out of date. Additionally, the restrictions have resulted in no access to in-house hairdressers and this is proving particularly frustrating for the residents.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Board is concerned that the government plan for 500 new prison places for women contradicts the female estate offender strategy published in 2018 which details that custody should be the final resort, received for the most serious offences. | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | The Board remains concerned about the lack of appropriate resettlement accommodation. Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | The Board hopes that the Purple Visits service will continue and appropriate funding provided. | HMPPS | |
| 4 | The Board is concerned that Covid-19 has created problems for some prisoners, making it difficult for them to complete their sentence plans and move towards release. | HMPPS | |
| 5 | Identify the good practice developed during Covid-19 enforced restrictions and continue to develop these moving forward. Wider and increased use of IT has maintained valuable contact for the residents. | Governor / Director | |
| 6 | Actively promote the rollout and evaluation of the new key worker system, ensuring that the staff is supported to carry out the role. | Governor / Director | |
| 7 | Work towards a greater representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic staff in management positions. (See the recommendations of the Lammy Review 2017.) | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 2 | 8 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 1 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 12 | 15 |
| Equality | 0 | 1 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 2 | 10 |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 4 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 45 | 63 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 7 | 10 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 15 | 15 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 4 | 20 |
| Property within this establishment | 7 | 10 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 10 | 10 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 6 | 5 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 12 | 7 |
| Transfers | 1 | 1 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for New Hall
Report details
- Establishment
- New Hall
- Type
- Prison · Cat closed women's prison / YOI
- Report year
- 2021
- Published
- 1 October 2021
- Responsible body
- HMP New Hall
- Recommendations
- 7
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 311 |
| Operational capacity | 341 |
| Time out of cell | 1.0h/day |
Service providers
Drug treatment provider
Practice Plus Group
Education supplier
Novus
Facilities management service provider
Amey
Healthcare provider
Practice Plus Group
Library services
Novus
Mental health service provider
Practice Plus Group