Eastwood Park

Response
With regard to the project to install a new Offender Management Unit at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park, this should have started before March but due to unforeseen issues in the contract tendering this has been delayed. The project will, however, commence in the 2021/2022 financial year and the Governor will keep you updated on progress.

Response
I fully understand that Board’s concerns about the long-term segregation of . Minister Frazer wrote to you on 17 February regarding the individual’s circumstances and providing assurances that appropriate action has and continues to be taken to enable her complex needs to be met. I have received your further letter of 26 March on this matter and a response will be sent in due course. I also understand that the Board is receiving regular updates through attendance at the local multi-disciplinary meetings about the individual’s circumstances. In terms of adult secure Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) services, these are more specialised secure services and currently apply to males only as the number of females requiring this service is extremely small. Where a female patient requires this type of service, they would access a female adult secure service (relevant to the level of security they require based on the risk they present) and an appropriate package of care from a specialist team with expertise in ABI would be put in place to support the placement, taking into consideration individual, clinically assessed need. As with all adult secure services commissioned capacity will be kept under review taking into consideration demand, however, ongoing indicative numbers at this time would suggest that the approach described above would continue to be the favoured option due to the very low numbers of women who require adult secure ABI services. HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Probation, with support from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, have been asked by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to conduct an independent evidence review on neurodiversity in the criminal justice system (CJS). The review is part of MoJ’s commitment that everyone who encounters the CJS is treated fairly, including people with neurodiverse conditions. The findings will help the MoJ to develop effective policy to improve awareness of neurodiversity in the CJS. There are four strands to the work: a call for evidence; a series of round- table events; consultation with practitioners; and feedback from those involved in the CJS. A report of the findings is due to be published in summer 2021.

Response
Further to Minister Frazer’s response of 29 May 2020 to the Board’s last annual report up to £800,000 seed funding has been allocated for preparations to establish the first pilot Residential Women’s Centre in Wales, subject to securing further funding. The Centre will offer an alternative to short prison sentences by providing safe accommodation for vulnerable women with complex needs who would otherwise receive short custodial sentences. No decisions have been made on the location in Wales, but HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will work with the Welsh Government and delivery partners in Wales to ensure the location is appropriate.

Response
Your report indicates that there are differences in sentencing practice based on postcode. Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, but it is important to recognise that imprisonment rates in any given area will not just be a result of sentencing practice; account must be taken of factors such as differences in crime rates, types of crimes committed, police numbers and successful prosecutions. The Sentencing Council for England and Wales aims to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, while maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The Council issues guidelines on sentencing, which the courts must follow unless it is in the interests of justice not to do so.

Response
The National Women’s Prisons Health and Social Care Review (Women’s Review) has been jointly commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) and HMPPS. Its purpose is to improve health and well-being outcomes for women in prison and upon their release, to reduce health inequalities and ensure equity of access to the full range of health and social care services across the Women’s Estate. It will achieve this through a better understanding of the current ability of, and challenges faced by the Women’s Estate and prison health and social care services in delivering high quality care, treatment and support of women in prison in England. One of the key lines of enquiry is to undertake a review of the needs analysis of all 12 women’s prisons, identifying needs across the population to guide commissioning. The Health Review is due to formally report back in December 2021 but will also be taking certain recommendations forward prior to that date where there is the opportunity to do so.

Response
Where windows have been identified as requiring replacement either due to damage or being at the end of their life cycle, these would either be dealt with on an individual basis using local Prison Maintenance Group funding, or if several windows are required, this would be submitted as a bid for funds. Whilst Prison Industries can provide replacement windows free of charge, funding is still required for the installation of the windows and this would be based on risk. It is acknowledged that Prison Industries were requested to produce windows for HMP/YOI Eastwood Park. As it is not unusual for orders to take until the following financial year to be fulfilled, funding for installation is now sought once the product has been delivered. Maintenance funding is limited and must be based on risk. At the present time there are other works considered to be of a greater priority for the current available funding for the prison. The windows are therefore being held in storage at HMP Leyhill until funding becomes available for their installation. It is also recognised that a full fire door assessment needs to be undertaken to establish the extent of the work required. Whilst the local prison Health and Safety (H&S) Team has initially undertaken a survey, Gov Facility Services Ltd (GSFL) has recently appointed a member of staff who is qualified to assess fire doors and they will be working with the H&S Team to conclude this work.

Response
The general process for local funding allocation is for the Service Delivery Manager, in conjunction with the Regional Estates Manager and GFSL Site Manager, to discuss concerns on site which can be rectified with local project works under £150 thousand. This is based on risk, for example the loss of accommodation attributed to a leaking roof.