Lewes

Will the Minister endeavour to increase the number of mental health beds available in residential institutions for men suffering from severe mental health problems, whose needs cannot be catered for in prison, and thereby reducing the length of time these men have to wait for treatment?

I understand the Board’s concerns around mental health provision and bed availability. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are determined to improve the transfer process and ensure delays are reduced. This is dependent on strong collaborative efforts with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHSE&I. A White Paper titled ‘Reforming the Mental Health Act’ was published on 13 January 2021 which builds on recommendations made by Professor Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review in 2018 and provides a commitment to introduce a statutory time limit of 28 days for transfers to mental health hospitals from custody. NHSE&I published new good practice guidance on 10 June 2021 which sets out the timeframe for completing the assessment, transfer and remission of individuals detained under the Mental Health Act in more detail which will reduce the length of time prisoners have to wait for treatment.

Will the Minister engage with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to improve the coordination between the prison service and local authorities so that pre-release assessments are completed by both parties in advance of prisoner release in all cases?

Everyone leaving prison should have somewhere safe and secure to live and I appreciate the Board’s concerns around coordination between different authorities. Those leaving prison face significant barriers to securing suitable accommodation for many reasons and overcoming these barriers is something that the MoJ cannot do alone. The department is therefore working together with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Welsh Government and Other Government Departments, to address this issue, ensuring an effective contribution towards the Government’s goal to eliminate rough sleeping by the end of the current Parliament.
To support and strengthen collaborative working between agencies, HMPPS has recently published its National Accommodation Framework that sets out the agency’s responsibilities, and their partners’ responsibilities (including local authorities). Additionally, to deliver the COVID-19 response, HMPPS introduced the Homelessness Prevention Taskforces (HPTs) to work with local authorities and other partners to find accommodation for those released from prison. These have now been retained as a permanent feature.

Will the Minister recognise the inhumanity of long term IPP prisoners who have no prospect of release and are exacerbating the overcrowding of prisons, and redouble efforts to ensure these men are given a date for release?

Turning to prisoners serving Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP), HMPPS remains committed to doing all they can to support their progression and efforts to reduce their risk to the point where the Parole Board determines that they may be safely released. This commitment has in recent years delivered a substantial reduction in the number of IPP prisoners who have never been released. The most recent published figures show that the number stood at 1,784 at the end of March 2021, a reduction from 2,039 at the end of March 2020.
It is important to note that whilst there are some prisoners serving IPP sentences who are post-tariff, these prisoners are still assessed to pose a high risk of committing further violent or sexual offences and have a complex set of risks and needs. These must be addressed before the Parole Board can consider release. This is not a simple task, and we continue to work with these individuals to offer them opportunities to reduce their identified risks. This work includes HMPPS’ and the Parole Board’s joint IPP Action Plan. An element of this is the psychology work stream consultancy/case file reviews (CFRs) covering IPP prisoners in custody that have failed to make any progress after two or more post-tariff parole hearings. These CFRs reinvigorate cases that are not progressing and, where necessary, with consultation, practitioners agree and identify appropriate individual progression pathways. HMPPS also continues to monitor progress at four prisons across the country that are dedicated to progressing indeterminate prisoners struggling to achieve release via the usual routes.

Will the Minister recognise the commitment of prison staff during the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure that a Covid recovery fund is available to restore facilities and services for prisoners and recognise the hard work of staff?

The commitment of staff throughout HMPPS during the pandemic has been outstanding and exemplary. We recognise this and that is why I am pleased to advise the 2020 Spending Review provided £246 million for the justice system’s continued recovery from Covid-19, including funding of £43 million to ensure the continued safety of prisons and to support the probation service during the recovery process. Locally, the Governor and her senior management team continue to work on recovery plans to safely restore regime and activities, which include a focus on the wellbeing of staff and prisoners alike. Many services and activities have resumed, and the local Reward and Recognition Committee continue to recognise individual staff members and teams who have exceeded the usual expectations of their role.

Will the Prison Service facilitate and fund staff training that has been missed or reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic?

Training recommenced at HMP Lewes in Autumn 2020 and has continued into 2021. The primary focus has been on fire safety and use of force training. Use of Force instructor revalidations is scheduled to recommence during July 2021 and Advanced Use of Force training is scheduled to recommence at the end of September 2021. Training also included the delivery of TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) and packages for the introduction of Assessment Care and Custody Teamwork (ACCT) Version 6. A comprehensive training plan for 2021/22 will shortly be completed and will be monitored regularly by the Prison Group Director as part of her normal assurance visits and discussions with the Governor. HMPPS has a range of learning that includes mental health and several specific e-learning courses covering equalities. A review is underway to further develop the equalities learning portfolio for HMPPS staff.

The IMB urges the Prison Service to find a way to reduce the delays between contracts awarded for significant repairs and improvements and their start dates.

HMP Lewes has experienced some delays in delivery between contracts awarded and their start dates. To address this, HMPPS is now developing a direct route to market to allow Prison Maintenance Group (PMG) to self-deliver some projects. PMG have introduced new funding streams that target specific issues across the estate, and these projects will be managed by a dedicated team to improve delivery. Within the region, HMPPS works closely with the Government Facility Services Limited (GFSL) Projects Team as there were issues with GFSL during the last financial year. HMPPS is therefore utilising the lessons learned from that period and working with GFSL to ensure that this year’s allocation of projects is delivered on time as far as possible. Regarding smaller repairs and improvements such as the showers, toilets etc., PMG monitor the service level agreement (SLA) to ensure that work is prioritised correctly. The local GFSL team and Site Delivery Manager are actively working to improve delivery and service levels. The Governor and local Senior Management Team will also continue to monitor and audit the Key Performance Indicator scores.

The IMB again asks the Prison Service to improve the transfer of prisoners’ property between establishments and set up a better system for investigating, cataloguing and storing lost property.

Further to last year’s response there was a pause in the development of the new Prisoners’ Property policy framework due to COVID-19, however a meeting with IMB representatives took place in August 2020. The feedback received from those members was considered alongside the comments received from other stakeholders, together with comments from subsequent operational engagement. HMPPS has now circulated the draft framework with internal and external stakeholders, including the IMB Secretariat and the IMB representatives previously consulted, and the comments received are being considered. The new framework is due to be published later this year. The framework will provide greater direction and standardisation on a national basis and has been designed with procedural justice at its core. It will strengthen guidance on known problem areas such as volumetric control and seeks to ensure prisoners’ property is managed efficiently, effectively, consistently and with care and respect. While digital improvements to property processes are being explored, the nature of that work means that any digital changes are likely to be longer-term and as such will not be part of the forthcoming framework.

Will the Governor redouble her efforts to eliminate the disproportionate use of force against BAME prisoners, whether this be by ensuring all staff undertake inclusivity, diversity and awareness training with the aim of improving their understanding of BAME prisoners, or any other means?

I note you have raised some local issues of concern in your report, particularly about Diversity and Inclusion, which the Governor will continue to keep you aware of as work continues. HMPPS has a range of learning that includes mental health and several specific e-learning courses covering equalities. A review is underway to further develop the equalities learning portfolio for HMPPS staff.

Will the Governor ensure that key working sessions and work and education opportunities are reinstated as soon as practically possible to give the prisoners the support and activity that they need for resettlement?

Locally, the Governor and her senior management team continue to work on recovery plans to safely restore regime and activities, which include a focus on the wellbeing of staff and prisoners alike. Many services and activities have resumed, and the local Reward and Recognition Committee continue to recognise individual staff members and teams who have exceeded the usual expectations of their role.

The IMB urges the Governor to take steps to reduce the number of men on an assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) plan and on constant watch in the care and separation (CSU) unit.

Will the Governor take further steps to ensure that all staff use body worn video cameras (BWVCs) when appropriate, especially in the area of the prison where there is no CCTV?

The IMB encourages the Governor to continue and redouble her efforts under the clean and decent programme, in particular to ensure that at long last in-cell toilets have covers.