Thameside

The minister and HMPPS are urged to speed up the return of increased out of cell time, as many prisoners are still facing excessive hours locked in their cells, which inflicts mental and physical damage.

I understand the Board’s concern about the amount of time out of cell prisoners are receiving due to the Covid-19 pandemic. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) took the difficult decision to introduce restricted regimes to safeguard the wellbeing of prisoners and staff during this unprecedented time. A National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services is in place which sets out the strategy for recovery of how restrictions in prisons will be eased - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-
national-framework-for-prison-regimes-and-services. This allows senior leaders to make decisions based
on their local circumstances, the advice of local health authorities and is responsive to national restrictions
in England and Wales. To support prisons in their regime management planning Exceptional Delivery
Models have been created to ensure each area of the regime is implemented safely and securely and
HMP Thameside has implemented these. Further relaxation of the regime will be governed by HMPPS
nationally and will be subject to infection rates in the local public population, as well as within HMP
Thameside. It is also recognised that access to the current regime and time out of cell each prisoner
receives at HMP Thameside is variable. Certain individuals may have to shield or, isolate pending Covid-
19 test results or may be held on a Reverse Cohorting Unit having recently arrived at the prison to protect
the rest of the population. Reception testing has now commenced and it is anticipated that this will reduce
the amount of time spent on RCU from 14 to 7 days, subject to two negatives tests.

The Board urges that the welcome Government initiative to ensure that released prisoners have accommodation to go to during the COVID-19 crisis will be continued beyond the current national health emergency.

I would like to reassure you that it is a priority for the MoJ to ensure that prisoners find somewhere safe
and secure to live following their release from custody.
Whilst it remains a challenge to find suitable accommodation my officials are working closely across
Government to access the elements that are not directly within our control. During the initial Covid-19
pandemic, the MoJ secured £8.5 million to support the provision of accommodation for individuals at risk
of homelessness on their release from prison. This scheme ran between May and August 2020 providing
up to 56 nights’ accommodation to ensure individuals could be accommodated in to late October 2020.
While it was designed as an emergency, temporary response, the learning gathered from this scheme will
be utilised to help develop longer-term improvements as part of the wider reforms to probation services.
To support the HMPPS Covid-19 response, seven regional Homelessness Prevention Taskforces (HPTs)
were also set up to work with local authorities and other partners to source accommodation for prisoners
on release. These HPTs are still active and following a recent agreement with HM Treasury to reinstate
the emergency accommodation funding until January 2021, the HPTs will source accommodation with an
increased focus on settled accommodation this time. HMPPS will also consider how the HPTs will feature
in the future probation services to continue to build on the progress already made to engage effectively
with delivery partners.

The wait for a secure outside hospital bed for severely mentally ill prisoners held in HMP Thameside continues to be a serious inhumanity which requires greater government priority.

I acknowledge the Board’s concern about the delays in transferring prisoners with mental ill health. The
MoJ and HMPPS are determined to improve the transfer process, ensure delays are reduced and avoid
prison being used inappropriately. The Secretary of State for Justice is committed to working with the
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and health partners to articulate a coherent picture of how
healthcare is delivered throughout the criminal justice pathway. The Government is also committed to
reforming the Mental Health Act and we are working closely with Department for Health and Social Care
to respond to the recommendations of the independent review, chaired by Professor Simon Wessely
which includes recommendations about improving the secure transfer process. A joint White Paper will be
published in the coming months. The 2011 Prison Transfer and Remission guidance has also been amended following a comprehensive
consultation process and is waiting publication as the planned publication in March 2020 was impacted
by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the meantime, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) continue to
monitor the time taken from referral to transfer and provide support where needed. The Health and
Justice team in the London region is currently working more closely with the Mental Health Trusts, the
Provider Collaboratives and NHSE&I Specialised Commissioning team to ensure that the prison
population remain a priority for transfer. Where there are any challenges delaying the transfer of care
these are escalated within the Trusts and the Clinical Commissioning Groups on an individual basis.
It is recognised that prisoners with mental health needs are, on occasions, held in segregated conditions
whilst awaiting transfer to a secure mental health unit. However, this is always as a last resort and only
where the prisoner has been assessed as suitable for segregation by a healthcare professional. The Care
and Separation Unit (CSU) at HMP Thameside has access to healthcare professionals seven days a
week with daily visits from nurses, GPs, as well as psychology colleagues. The healthcare provider has
also been proactive in managing those prisoners who require a transfer. The availability of mental health
beds in secure hospitals has improved recently and HMP Thameside have not needed to hold a prisoner
in the CSU who requires a secure mental health bed for several months now.

The Board notes with concern the slow pace of relaxing the prison regime set by HMPPS as the COVID-19 crisis eases. While appreciating the need for caution, there is an important balance to be found with bringing a return to humane conditions (see section 6.5).

I understand the Board’s concern about the amount of time out of cell prisoners are receiving due to the
Covid-19 pandemic. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) took the difficult decision to introduce
restricted regimes to safeguard the wellbeing of prisoners and staff during this unprecedented time. A
National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services is in place which sets out the strategy for recovery
of how restrictions in prisons will be eased - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-
national-framework-for-prison-regimes-and-services. This allows senior leaders to make decisions based
on their local circumstances, the advice of local health authorities and is responsive to national restrictions
in England and Wales. To support prisons in their regime management planning Exceptional Delivery
Models have been created to ensure each area of the regime is implemented safely and securely and
HMP Thameside has implemented these. Further relaxation of the regime will be governed by HMPPS
nationally and will be subject to infection rates in the local public population, as well as within HMP
Thameside. It is also recognised that access to the current regime and time out of cell each prisoner
receives at HMP Thameside is variable. Certain individuals may have to shield or, isolate pending Covid-
19 test results or may be held on a Reverse Cohorting Unit having recently arrived at the prison to protect
the rest of the population. Reception testing has now commenced and it is anticipated that this will reduce
the amount of time spent on RCU from 14 to 7 days, subject to two negatives tests.

A more flexible approach, such as is being adopted in the wider community, which recognises local conditions and gives greater empowerment to Directors/Governors, would be welcome in allowing prisoners more out of cell time for exercise and meaningful activities.

I understand the Board’s concern about the amount of time out of cell prisoners are receiving due to the
Covid-19 pandemic. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) took the difficult decision to introduce
restricted regimes to safeguard the wellbeing of prisoners and staff during this unprecedented time. A
National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services is in place which sets out the strategy for recovery
of how restrictions in prisons will be eased - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-
national-framework-for-prison-regimes-and-services. This allows senior leaders to make decisions based
on their local circumstances, the advice of local health authorities and is responsive to national restrictions
in England and Wales. To support prisons in their regime management planning Exceptional Delivery
Models have been created to ensure each area of the regime is implemented safely and securely and
HMP Thameside has implemented these. Further relaxation of the regime will be governed by HMPPS
nationally and will be subject to infection rates in the local public population, as well as within HMP
Thameside. It is also recognised that access to the current regime and time out of cell each prisoner
receives at HMP Thameside is variable. Certain individuals may have to shield or, isolate pending Covid-
19 test results or may be held on a Reverse Cohorting Unit having recently arrived at the prison to protect
the rest of the population. Reception testing has now commenced and it is anticipated that this will reduce
the amount of time spent on RCU from 14 to 7 days, subject to two negatives tests.

Within Thameside, one long-standing source of complaint that is entirely within the control of prison staff is the safe collection and transfer of property when a prisoner moves out of a cell. Last year, the Board’s annual report highlighted regular staff failure to apply the correct procedures, and a wide range of views, reaching to senior levels, on how and where completed cell clearance forms should be stored for later reference.

I note you have raised some local issues of concern in your report which the Director will continue to keep
you aware of as work continues.

The Director should address the repeated gym cancellations and ensure prisoners have consistent access to gym facilities.

I note you have raised some local issues of concern in your report which the Director will continue to keep
you aware of as work continues.

The Director should address endemic facilities failures, including the unreliability and slow repair of the in-cell CMS, serially broken lifts, and the inadequate virtual campus system.

I note you have raised some local issues of concern in your report which the Director will continue to keep
you aware of as work continues.

The Director should ensure prompt and reliable responses from prison managers when the Board raises concerns on behalf of prisoners.

I note you have raised some local issues of concern in your report which the Director will continue to keep
you aware of as work continues.

The Director should overhaul investigations into prisoner allegations against staff, ensuring they are timely, reach meaningful conclusions, and provide valid responses to prisoners.

HMPPS contract management team recently conducted an investigation surrounding the reporting and
investigation of allegations of assault and use of force by members of staff on prisoners. The contractor
has been required to produce an action plan to address areas of concern that were identified and this will
be monitored by the contact management team.

The Board would like to see more targeted understanding of the triggers to self-harm.

Despite the progress being made, HMPPS recognises that the level of violence in prisons remains too
high and is continuing to provide prisons with the tools they need to help them reduce violence and self-
harm. As well as safety data available on the Performance Hub, the Safety Diagnostic Tool (SDT)
provides detailed information on safety issues, from prison to individual level. The Challenge, Support and
Intervention Plan (CSIP) has also been developed to provide a consistent national case management
model for managing those who pose a raised risk of being violent. CSIP is being used alongside the SDT
to identify who may benefit from this proactive case management to prevent violence. HMPPS has also
recently piloted changes to the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork case management system,
improving the focus on individual needs and effective multi-disciplinary working, as well as revising
documentation to make it more user friendly.
Cases of violence at HMP Thameside decreased during the early stages of lockdown, from a monthly
high of 72 incidents in March 2020 down to between 30 and 43 incidents during April to June. Along with
a decrease in self-harm, bullying and drug use this led to a greater feeling of safety amongst prisoners. It
is recognised that incidents did begin to increase during the summer due to the frustrations being felt by
some prisoners with the restricted regimes. However, as set out in the Minister’s response the pace at
which HMP Thameside is able to build its regime recovery, as is the case for all prisons, is guided by the
National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services. HMP Thameside continues to work proactively
with those prisoners identified as either being vulnerable, at heightened risk of self-harm or being involved
in incidents of violence. To support prisoners locally the number of Key Work sessions have increased,
and further increases are planned as and when the prison is as able to continue its recovery safely.