Recommendations 5 items · 2 repeated
Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
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.
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Administration · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
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 (as published)
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.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
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.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Complaints
Recommendation (the Board's words)
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.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Healthcare · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
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 (as published)
Following a freedom of information (FOI) request, the healthcare provider - CHCP have explained this as being a result of COVID-19 and prioritisation.