Source · IMB Annual Report
Usk and Prescoed
Year: 2020
Published: 9 Oct 2020
Type: Prison · Cat C, D open
Recommendations: 4
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMPs Usk and Prescoed are identified as effective and well-run prisons, providing safe and humane environments with good staff-prisoner relationships, even amidst the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Key concerns include the postponement of the OMiC pilot at Prescoed, a demotivating transfer policy for MCOSO, and slow transfer of prisoner records. The Board also highlights the poor condition of Lester unit, restrictions to the multi-faith room, and the negative impact of the pandemic on education assessments and future employment prospects.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 2 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 4 | 4 |
| ACCT cases opened | 65 | — |
| Use of force | 44 | — |
| Drug finds | 50 | — |
Positive findings
HMPs Usk and Prescoed are effective, well-run prisons, providing safe environments with low violence and good substance misuse control. Prisoners are treated with respect and fairness, and significant work has been done to support older prisoners and those with disabilities. The prisons coped well with the initial COVID-19 outbreak, and the healthcare department provides a good service. ROTL schemes at Prescoed are highly successful, and the education department effectively helps prisoners gain qualifications and employment skills.
Key concerns
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The OMiC model appears to be working well and providing benefit in the closed environment at Usk. The Board understands that a pilot for the open estate, which was to have been run from March 2020 in Prescoed, has now been indefinitely postponed; this seems unfortunate, in terms of prisoner development.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
MCOSO granted category D status and allocated to Prescoed have to reside in Usk for three months before moving to Prescoed, whereas prisoners granted category D status and allocated to other prisons – for example, HMP Leyhill – do not have to undergo the same regime. This policy remains perplexing to the Board and demotivational for prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board notes that sometimes prisoner records are very slow in reaching the open estate. Assessment records which are locked or unavailable to the receiving establishment cause delay in the smooth transition of prisoners, on a fourfold basis: 1. in terms of liaison with statutory agencies 2. the assessment of risk 3. planning for ROTL and eventual release into the community 4. the related discontentment of newly arrived prisoners, and the impact this has on the smooth running of the establishment.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
As mentioned in last year’s report, Lester, a two-storey prefabricated unit at Prescoed, has been the subject of several renovations. Despite this, it remains somewhat dreary, with unreliable plumbing and drainage systems. In comparison with the rest of the upgraded site, it appears to need complete replacement.
Equality/Diversity
The chaplaincy team discovered that property damage was occurring in the multi-faith room, which it considered unacceptable. In consultation with the security department, the multi-faith room is now locked. Currently, it is only accessible when chaplains are conducting services or groups.
Healthcare
Current social care provision at Usk is good, but further development of social care provision is currently on hold because of funding challenges faced by Monmouthshire County Council following a change to budget allocation arrangements.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The C-19 pandemic has affected the success rates of provision at both prisons, with some learners completing their course but not being able to undertake final assessments because of the management steps taken to isolate the spread of the virus within the prison environment.
Resettlement/Release
The current and post-C-19 economic situation is a cause of concern. While there is confidence that existing large employers will continue to offer placements for the prisoners at Prescoed, there is some anxiety about what will happen if there is large-scale unemployment in the community, and how this will impact on prisoners achieving placements prior to release, and employment post-release.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The prison does not currently use an observation process in the evaluation of its provision. Therefore, it is difficult to form reliable judgments relating to the progress that prisoners make in their formative learning.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The OMiC model appears to be working well and providing benefit in the closed environment at Usk. The Board understands that a pilot for the open estate, which was to have been run from March 2020 in Prescoed, has now been indefinitely postponed; this seems unfortunate, in terms of prisoner development.
Response
I am pleased to hear that the Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) model is working well at HMP Usk but acknowledge the Board’s concern about the postponement of the model at HMP/YOI Prescoed. The OMiC Project Board has recently agreed for HMP/YOI Prescoed to act as an early adopter prison and will run a dual model, this will entail Welsh prisoners being case managed under OMiC procedures until the model goes live in March 2021. HMP/YOI Prescoed has completed key implementation steps and are therefore in a position to provide valuable feedback on lessons learned, which will assist in the implementation of the model to the rest of the Open Estate. However, these plans will be subject to a further potential pause, should the current Covid-19 infection outbreak situation worsen. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 2 |
MCOSO granted category D status and allocated to Prescoed have to reside in Usk for three months before moving to Prescoed, whereas prisoners granted category D status and allocated to other prisons – for example, HMP Leyhill – do not have to undergo the same regime. This policy remains perplexing to the Board and demotivational for prisoners.
Response
To provide some background on the issue of men convicted of sexual offences who are granted Category D status but have to reside at HMP Usk for up to approximately three months before they are moved to HMP/YOI Prescoed, this is not a local policy decision. Following an enquiry into the abscond of two sex offenders in July 2006, a Ministerial Directive was issued requiring all sex offenders to spend a period of time in HMP Usk before being moved to HMP/YOI Prescoed. The purpose of this is to provide the necessary risk assessment and minimisation planning prior to progression into HMP/YOI Prescoed. The assessment process has previously identified prisoners that are not suitable for progression into HMP/YOI Prescoed in which case the matter is either referred to the Parole Board for further consideration, or alternative arrangements are made for the prisoner to be transferred to another open prison or recategorised. There are no imminent plans to overturn this Directive, however, the Executive Director of HMPPS Wales and the Public Protection Group intends to carry out a review of this in due course. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 3 |
The Board notes that sometimes prisoner records are very slow in reaching the open estate. Assessment records which are locked or unavailable to the receiving establishment cause delay in the smooth transition of prisoners, on a fourfold basis: 1. in terms of liaison with statutory agencies 2. the assessment of risk 3. planning for ROTL and eventual release into the community 4. the related discontentment of newly arrived prisoners, and the impact this has on the smooth running of the establishment.
Response
All prisoners transferred to HMP/YOI Prescoed are accompanied by paper records containing their personal information. HMPPS Central team is working at making certain elements of a prisoner’s record electronic. It is very rare that there will be significant missing records and where any issues arise, staff liaise directly with the sending establishment to resolve any issues. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 4 |
As mentioned in last year’s report, Lester, a two-storey prefabricated unit at Prescoed, has been the subject of several renovations. Despite this, it remains somewhat dreary, with unreliable plumbing and drainage systems. In comparison with the rest of the upgraded site, it appears to need complete replacement.
Repeated
Response
A bid is submitted each financial year for an upgrade/renovation to the Lester Unit to ensure it is maintained to a satisfactory standard and fit for purpose. The corridor areas on the unit were decorated at the beginning of 2020 and the sanitisation facilities, including installation of privacy shower screens and changing areas will be completed by the end of this financial year. An Estates Investment Proposal to replace the unit was submitted to the Ministry of Justice Estates in August 2018 but unfortunately this was declined. Upgrade/renovation works to the unit will continue where funding allows and, until such a time a strategy to replace the unit is approved. |
HMPPS | Partial |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Discipline (including adjudications) | 2 | 2 |
| Drugs and alcohol | 1 | 1 |
| Equality and diversity | 1 | 2 |
| Finance (including pay) | 3 | 4 |
| Food | 5 | 4 |
| Healthcare | 18 | 28 |
| Other | 22 | 34 |
| Property | 5 | 12 |
| Safety (including bullying and violence) | 8 | 12 |
| Segregation | 0 | 0 |
| Staff behaviour | 2 | 5 |
| Visits | 0 | 2 |
| Work, education and training | 1 | 12 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Usk and Prescoed
Report details
- Establishment
- Usk and Prescoed
- Type
- Prison · Cat C, D open
- Report year
- 2020
- Published
- 9 October 2020
- Responsible body
- Usk and Prescoed
- Recommendations
- 4
Population
| CNA (designed for) | 538 |
Service providers
Dental Services
Time for Teeth Ltd
Employer Partner
DHL
Employment & Careers Support
Careers Wales
General Medical Services (GP)
Malpas Brook Health Centre
Healthcare
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Optical Services
Pen Optical Ltd
Pharmacy Services
Raglan Pharmacy