Recommendation 1
In view of the decision taken to increase the capacity of Guys Marsh significantly, will the minister ensure commitment to all the agreed redevelopment, without compromise?
Source · IMB Annual Report
Guys Marsh
AI-generated report summary HMP Guys Marsh successfully kept COVID-19 out of the prison during the reporting year, with a commendably managed restricted regime contributing to a reported sense of safety among prisoners and a reduction in violence. However, this success was tempered by persistent issues including the availability of illicit substances, poor education provision, and a lack of purposeful activity, which led to boredom and frustration. Long-standing concerns like property loss during transfer and insufficient offending behaviour programmes remain unaddressed, while staffing and the humane incarceration of prisoners with complex needs require urgent attention.
Year: 2020
Published: 31 Mar 2021
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 400
Recommendations: 9
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 1 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryHMP Guys Marsh was commended for successfully keeping COVID-19 out of the prison during the reporting year, with careful management of incoming prisoners. The IMB noted improvements in safety, including reductions in violence and use of force, and positive feedback from prisoners who felt safer during the restricted regime. The healthcare team provided good care, with a commendable initiative in custodial officer immediate life support training saving lives. Communications and family contact innovations, such as e-tablet and telephone visits, were also praised.
Key concerns
Persistent availability of psychoactive substances (PS) and dangerous in-house alcoholic mixes.
Shortfall in purposeful activity.
Disappointing lapses of oversight and discipline on some wings undermined aspects of dignity and cleanliness.
There is still concern about the timely distribution of appointment slips for healthcare.
Education provision has fallen short of the standards required, through no fault of the establishment.
The offending behaviour programmes on offer provide too few places for the needs of the prison population.
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) gives urgent consideration to the provision of more support to offending behaviour programmes in view of the increasing numbers of prisoners presenting with poor behaviour.
Property loss during transfer is a persistent grievance and is still not resolved. It continues to generate a disproportionate number of applications to the Board and has been an issue for attention for many years.
Incidents of violence and self-harm are still considered to be too high.
The Board was concerned about the introduction of rigid bar handcuffs and their initial excessive use.
Recruitment and retention of competent and experienced prison officers is a challenge.
Challenges with the configuration of the estate, age and condition of the buildings and services together with the difficulty in managing repairs, including vandalism, electrical problems, water leaks, and rat infestations.
5 There were no cells with wheelchair access. There were limited facilities for older prisoners with significant extra accommodation needs- for example, some slightly wider showers with a seat and grab rails. The Board noted that no account had been taken of the needs of prisoners with sensory impairments, or with autism spectrum and related social processing disorders.
Litter around the wings included discarded food and was a recurring blight.
The IEP scheme did not incentivise good behaviours.
The condition of the food trolleys and the hygiene standards of the orderlies employed as servers were recurring themes.
There is a national concern about the increase in the number of prisoners with poor mental health, and those with educational or physical needs.
Wing officers on Anglia admitted to being overwhelmed by the management of the wing at times, owing to variable levels of staffing.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
What steps will the minister take to ensure that properly supported recruitment, training and professional development of a sufficient number of competent prison officers will continue to be a priority?
Recommendation 3
There is a national concern about the increase in the number of prisoners with poor mental health, and those with educational or physical needs. How will the minister work with relevant departments in a coordinated way to facilitate a better strategy for the humane incarceration of all prisoners with complex needs?
Recommendation 4
Once again, the Board asks that Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) gives urgent consideration to the provision of more support to offending behaviour programmes in view of the increasing numbers of prisoners presenting with poor behaviour.
Recommendation 5
The performance of the education provider has been poor and the subject of an improvement notice for six months. What steps is HMPPS taking to ensure an urgent resolution so that the education and training provision at Guys Marsh will not be held back any further?
Recommendation 6
Property loss during transfer is a persistent grievance and is still not resolved. It continues to generate a disproportionate number of applications to the Board and has been an issue for attention for many years. What progress has HMPPS made in the development of the long delayed framework for prisoners’ property?
Recommendation 7
The year has been difficult, and the Governor is commended for keeping the prison COVID-19 free during 2020. However, the management of discipline and good working practice on some wings has not been rigorous, for example, the timely distribution of appointment slips for healthcare appointments. When circumstances fully allow, how is this going to be addressed?
Recommendation 8
How advanced are plans to implement the revised incentives and earned privileges (IEP) scheme?
Recommendation 9
Recruitment and retention of competent and experienced prison officers is a challenge. How are plans for mentoring and professional development schemes progressing?
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Adjudications | 2 | 16 |
| Bullying/intimidation | 15 | 15 |
| Communication (internal/external) | 11 | 11 |
| Complaints | 1 | 1 |
| Conditions and daily living | 15 | 15 |
| Drugs and alcohol | 2 | 3 |
| Employment/training/education | 1 | 3 |
| Equality & Diversity | 0 | 0 |
| Health and social care (general) | 16 | 18 |
| Health and social care (mental health) | 9 | 10 |
| Incentives and earned privileges (IEP) | 3 | 4 |
| Legal (including parole) | 11 | 16 |
| Money/debt | 2 | 3 |
| Other | 3 | 5 |
| Property | 35 | 26 |
| Release/resettlement | 3 | 6 |
| Staff conduct | 2 | 4 |
| Visits (including domestic violence) | 1 | 1 |
Other reports for Guys Marsh
Population 490
· Concerns
Population 483
· Concerns
Population 500
· Concerns
Population 491
· Self-harm 416
· Concerns
Population 466
· Self-harm 294
· Concerns