Recommendation 1
The Board has grave concerns about the potential for long-term damage to the prisoners. We are keen to hear from the minister about the proposals he has to address this, as restrictions are removed.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Humber
AI-generated report summary HMP Humber faced significant challenges in 2020, operating under severe COVID-19 restrictions for nine months. The Governor and staff were highly commended for their professionalism in maintaining safety and minimizing virus spread. However, the Board expressed grave concerns about the long-term impact of extended lock-up on prisoner mental health, progression, and purposeful activity, while persistent issues like property loss and PALS response delays remained problematic.
Year: 2020
Published: 18 May 2021
Type: Prison · Cat C training
Population: 898
Recommendations: 5
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 1 | 5 |
| Self-harm incidents | 544 | 797 |
| ACCT cases opened | 541 | 569 |
| Prisoner assaults | 108 | 229 |
| Assaults on staff | 46 | — |
| Use of force | 263 | 458 |
| Drug finds | 47 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe Board was impressed with the professionalism of the Governor and SMT, commending their swift action to implement restricted systems and mitigate COVID-19 threat. Staff were praised for their outstanding work, dedication, and compassionate care towards prisoners. HMIP identified two notable positive practices: enhanced healthcare screening for mental health/substance misuse at reception and the well-established 'Humber Pilot' peer support scheme. The Board also observed improvements in social care and positive staff/prisoner relationships.
Key concerns
The Board has grave concerns about the potential for long-term damage to the prisoners as a result of the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The loss and mismanagement of prisoners’ property, both within the prison and during prison transfers, continues to be the biggest single cause of complaints to the IMB and was raised in the 2019 report, demonstrating the current approach is too slow and detached.
The slow pace of recovery set out by national guidance from HMPPS has hindered the prison’s ability to progress, demonstrating a need for a higher degree of dynamism and autonomy as one size does not fit all.
A substantial number of applications received by the IMB relate to complaints within the prison process not being satisfactorily concluded, without encumbrance.
The number of Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) submissions not responded to within the stipulated 10 days (50% in 2020) is a significant concern that predates the COVID-19 pandemic, despite explanations given by the healthcare provider.
Source wording under review
Complaint forms are not always readily available on all wings, and secure boxes for complaints are emptied at night by uniformed staff, which is not good practice as it can potentially undermine prisoner confidence in the system.
A number of applications have stated that allegations about staff behaviour are not taken seriously, and that prisoners either get no reply or one they regard as inadequate (see section 5.4). Many prisoners say they fear reprisals if they complain about poor behaviour by prison officers.
At the time of the HMIP scrutiny visit in November, there was a caseload of 300 prisoners, which inspectors stated as being an exceptionally high number. In the HMIP survey, 57% of respondents said that they had a mental health problem. Staff had, and continue to have, serious concerns that the long periods that prisoners are confined to their cells would affect these patients’ wellbeing, and cause boredom, low mood and sleep inversion, leading to increased prescribing.
The dental surgery has continued to offer an emergency service during the COVID- 19 regime and prisoners are normally seen within seven days if they are in pain. A telephone triage service was trialled early in the pandemic but was not successful, and in June a limited number of patients were permitted to be seen on a face-to-face basis. This has resulted in a wait of up to six months for a routine appointment.
Approximately 300 prisoners were awaiting initial assessment by Novus in August to establish suitability for work or education, and the Board was disappointed that the Prison Service did not put pressure on suppliers to be more effective.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
The loss of prisoners’ property, both within the prison and during prison transfers, is still happening on a regular basis. It continues to be the biggest single cause of complaints to the IMB and was raised in our 2019 report. It causes stress to the individuals affected and also significant additional work for the prison staff, together with unnecessary costs to the tax payer. In the minister’s response of 3 September 2020 to Dame Anne Owers’ national annual report for 2019/20, Lucy Frazer QC MP refers to the drafting of a new policy framework to replace Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 2011/12. This initiative was started in 2019, and is still not showing any benefits, in terms of addressing the relatively simple challenge of not losing prisoners’ property. The Board believes that the current level of property losses and mismanagement is wholly unacceptable, especially with the limited movement and transfers of prisoners from one establishment to another. The current approach is too slow and detached. It needs a more engaged approach to understand and address urgently the practical reasons for this chronic problem.
Government response
In the minister’s response of 3 September 2020 to Dame Anne Owers’ national annual report for 2019/20, Lucy Frazer QC MP refers to the drafting of a new policy framework to replace Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 2011/12.
Recommendation 3
The national leadership of the Prison Service has, in the opinion of the Board, hindered the ability of the prison to progress with the recovery process. They have been frustrated at the slow pace of recovery set out by national guidance from HMPPS, which has allowed little, if any room, for autonomy. The Board is of the opinion, in relation to the conditions required to operate the different stages of recovery, that one size does not fit all, and that a higher degree of dynamism needs to be demonstrated.
Recommendation 4
Complaints within the prison: we are of the opinion that a substantial number of applications that we receive is in relation to ‘complaints within the prison process’, and, as such, should be satisfactorily concluded within that process and without encumbrance.
Recommendation 5
The number of Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) submissions which are not responded to within the stipulated 10 days is of concern to the Board. There was a total of 530 PALS submissions in 2020, 264 (50%) of which were not replied to within the specified timescale. Following a freedom of information (FOI) request, the healthcare provider - CHCP have explained this as being a result of COVID-19 and prioritisation. However, this is a problem which has been mentioned to the Board by prisoners since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government response
Following a freedom of information (FOI) request, the healthcare provider - CHCP have explained this as being a result of COVID-19 and prioritisation.
Related inspections & investigations
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 2
· Release 3
Scott Berry · Self-inflicted
Declan Carr · Self-inflicted
Richard Cosgrove · Other non-natural
Craig Chappell · State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Humber
Population 977
· Self-harm 879
· Concerns
Population 1,034
· Self-harm 1,175
· Concerns
Population 1,007
· Self-harm 725
· Concerns
Population 960
· Self-harm 344
· Concerns