Risley

Response
I note the Board’s concerns about the process for dealing with foreign national offenders (FNOs). When a decision is made to detain a time served FNO, a dedicated Home Office team, the Detainee Escorting Population Management Unit (DEPMU), will conduct a careful and timely risk assessment of their suitability to transfer to the immigration removal estate. Decisions to allocate specific individuals, whether time-served FNOs or otherwise, will be based on the presence of one or more of the risk factors or criteria as set out in published detention guidance at Chapter 55 of the Home Office Enforcement Instructions and Guidance. Those individuals deemed suitable will be placed on a waiting list, operated by DEPMU, for transfer to an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) but will remain in prison accommodation pending that transfer. Transfers will take place as soon as reasonably and operationally practicable. When an individual is deemed unsuitable for a transfer to the immigration removal estate, their circumstances are regularly reviewed. Changes in circumstance can impact on this decision and individuals may, on re-assessment, then be considered suitable and accepted for transfer into an IRC.

Response
Since the Board’s report was written, HMP Risley has undergone a significant change in population. One wing has been rerolled to house Men Convicted of Sexual Offences (MCoSOs) which has doubled the MCoSO population, and the population of FNOs has increased significantly. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, OBP delivery ceased nationally. However, recovery work recommenced in the Autumn in line with the Exceptional Delivery Model for OBPs and prisons began delivering as many OBP places as possible, within the constraints of safe systems of work and the availability of trained staff. A process was also put in place to identify high priority prisoners who require a transfer for an OBP treatment place. Following the recent national restrictions announced in January 2021 new OBPs will recommence when it is considered safe to do so. HMP Risley is unable to select the prisoners that are transferred in and due to population pressures within local establishments it is not always possible to transfer men based on need. In response to this, HMP Risley continues to review the needs of the population and change interventions accordingly. There is ongoing work with Psychology to review OBPs for MCoSOs due to the increase in population. Those who are unable to achieve the appropriate intervention will be considered for transfer to another prison. Processes are in place to do this for the MCoSO population with nearby HMP Wymott.

Response
It is unfortunate that it has not yet been possible to publish the new Prisoners’ Property policy framework. Having completed discovery work by visiting around 15 prisons HMPPS has been working closely with stakeholders to consult on proposed changes to the policy. Discussions ahead of consultation with IMB members began with the IMB Secretariat in February 2020, who proposed meetings take place with Board members in April that year. In light of the pressures placed on Boards by Covid-19, HMPPS agreed with the IMB Secretariat to pause this consultation. A meeting with IMB representatives took place in August 2020 and the feedback received from those members is being considered alongside other contributions. There has been a slight delay in HMPPS being able to circulate a revised draft policy framework because of the need to ensure sufficient operational engagement. That work is now progressing well and we anticipate the draft framework will be circulated for wider consultation shortly. Locally at HMP Risley, prisoners are now provided with their property immediately post reception or within 24 hours, providing the property has arrived with them. The prison has a pop-up clothing store in Reception so if a prisoner arrives with little or no property they can be provided with clothes. The process for cell clearances has been reviewed and improved, and complaints are monitored via the weekly performance meeting.

Response
It is unfortunate that it has not yet been possible to publish the new Prisoners’ Property policy framework. Having completed discovery work by visiting around 15 prisons HMPPS has been working closely with stakeholders to consult on proposed changes to the policy. Discussions ahead of consultation with IMB members began with the IMB Secretariat in February 2020, who proposed meetings take place with Board members in April that year. In light of the pressures placed on Boards by Covid-19, HMPPS agreed with the IMB Secretariat to pause this consultation. A meeting with IMB representatives took place in August 2020 and the feedback received from those members is being considered alongside other contributions. There has been a slight delay in HMPPS being able to circulate a revised draft policy framework because of the need to ensure sufficient operational engagement. That work is now progressing well and we anticipate the draft framework will be circulated for wider consultation shortly. Locally at HMP Risley, prisoners are now provided with their property immediately post reception or within 24 hours, providing the property has arrived with them. The prison has a pop-up clothing store in Reception so if a prisoner arrives with little or no property they can be provided with clothes. The process for cell clearances has been reviewed and improved, and complaints are monitored via the weekly performance meeting.