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Kirklevington Grange

AI-generated report summary HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange, an open category D prison, operated during 2020 under significant COVID-19 constraints. The Board commended staff for their response to the pandemic, maintaining a safe environment with no deaths and improved healthcare. However, key concerns include the urgent need for capital investment in the aging estate, persistent issues with prisoner property transfers, long waiting times for mental health services, and the negative impact of COVID-19 restrictions on prisoner regime, education, and resettlement opportunities.

Year: 2020 Published: 7 Jul 2021 Type: Prison · Cat D open, YOI Population: 163 Recommendations: 2 Key concerns Positive findings
Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response · 24 Sep 2021 ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody0—
Self-harm incidents11
ACCT cases opened714
Prisoner assaults3—
Assaults on staff0—
Use of force1—
Drug finds75—

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The Board commended the Governor, officers, and staff for their exceptional performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully managing the situation with no deaths and few serious incidents. The prison maintained a well-run operation, with most prisoners reporting positive experiences and satisfaction with staff and healthcare services. Significant estate improvements were noted, including boiler replacements, gym repairs, and a television system upgrade. The kitchen received a five-star food hygiene rating, and initiatives like the 'Little Sprouts' charity partnership were successfully implemented.

Key concerns

8 items
Estate/Conditions The estate of Kirklevington is still in need of substantial maintenance, and this has been evidenced by the fact of three units being taken out of use, resulting in an operational capacity of only 163 prisoners, a reduction of 120.
Complaints/Property Repeated Prisoner property during transfer was still being mislaid or even lost.
Substance Misuse Illicit drugs being still an issue within the prison.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Boredom was an issue for prisoners at the weekend, with many requests for additional television channels.
Mental Health Prisoners had access to a psychiatrist for treatment, and the average waiting time was nine weeks.
Education/Purposeful Activity Lower-level learners have been the most disadvantaged, and motivation has suffered, with a higher level of withdrawal from education than seen previously or than is desirable due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Monitored video calls (Purple Visits) were implemented but this was frustrated by very poor information technology infrastructure and many failed contacts, so uptake declined.
Resettlement/Release As a result of a change of HSBC bank policy, prisoners were unable to obtain a bank card before their release, at a time when banks were often declining access to their branches.

Recommendations

2 items · 1 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

When will capital funding be released for replacement blocks and infrastructure works?

Source text verified

Government response
I appreciate the Board’s continued concerns around maintenance and the fabric of the site. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Estates Team has confirmed that the three units taken out of use have now been approved for demolition. This is due to be completed this summer subject to any unforeseen issues arising.
The current MoJ commitment is to undertake the re-build of a minimum of two 40-bed accommodation units within the 2021-22 financial year. The design process for the replacement units is already underway and it is anticipated the first unit will be located within the established K unit fence-line footprint, and the second unit will be in either the D wing or E wing area. The most appropriate location for the second unit will be determined by discussions between the establishment and design team.
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is an ageing site requiring constant maintenance. To alleviate these ongoing challenges, over £780,000 has been invested to improve the site and overall decency. These improvements include the heating systems and boilers, gym flooring, roads and car parks, and the TV system. The temporary accommodation that was installed (M Unit) enabled extra prisoners to have in-room sanitation and this will now be available to the prison for up to five years.

Recorded status: In progress

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 2

Addressee: HMPPS

Can the process be resolved with some urgency?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
I appreciate the Board’s continued concerns around maintenance and the fabric of the site. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Estates Team has confirmed that the three units taken out of use have now been approved for demolition. This is due to be completed this summer subject to any unforeseen issues arising.
The current MoJ commitment is to undertake the re-build of a minimum of two 40-bed accommodation units within the 2021-22 financial year. The design process for the replacement units is already underway and it is anticipated the first unit will be located within the established K unit fence-line footprint, and the second unit will be in either the D wing or E wing area. The most appropriate location for the second unit will be determined by discussions between the establishment and design team.
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is an ageing site requiring constant maintenance. To alleviate these ongoing challenges, over £780,000 has been invested to improve the site and overall decency. These improvements include the heating systems and boilers, gym flooring, roads and car parks, and the TV system. The temporary accommodation that was installed (M Unit) enabled extra prisoners to have in-room sanitation and this will now be available to the prison for up to five years.

Recorded status: In progress

Topic: Complaints

Applications to the IMB

CategoryCurrentPrevious
Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions 2 4
Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) 0 0
Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions 6 1
Equality 0 0
Finance, including pay, private monies, spends 3 3
Food and kitchens 1 0
Health, including physical, mental, social care 10 7
Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions 3 3
Miscellaneous, including complaints system 4 3
Property during transfer or in another establishment or location 3 2
Property within this establishment 1 1
Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell 6 2
Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorization 9 14
Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying 2 2
Transfers 2 —

Related inspections & investigations

2 Sep 2024 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 4 · Respect 4 · Activity 4 · Release 4
12 Aug 2019 HMIP · Unannounced
— PPO fatal incident Barry Kelly
— PPO fatal incident Paul Miller
28 Jan 2021 PPO fatal incident Individual at Kirklevington Grange · Self-inflicted
24 Dec 2017 PPO fatal incident Individual at Kirklevington Grange · Other non-natural
12 Jan 2008 PPO fatal incident Individual at Kirklevington Grange · Natural causes

Other reports for Kirklevington Grange

2025 Published 14 May 2026 · Self-harm 1 · Concerns
2024 Published 30 May 2025 Population 200 · Self-harm 0 · Concerns
2023 Published 8 Aug 2024 · Self-harm 2 · Concerns
2022 Published 22 Jun 2023 Population 207 · Self-harm 4 · Concerns
2021 Published 30 May 2022 · Self-harm 2 · Concerns