Ranby

Response
It is unfortunate and regrettable that prisoners’ property continues to be an issue in many parts of the estate. The Governor is aware of these concerns, including the requirements for cell clearances, and has implemented local systems to minimise the impact on prisoners. Nationally the development of the new Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework is being informed by a project which was undertaken in summer 2019, involving stakeholders across HMPPS and the escort services, consultation with staff and prisoners, and engagement with external stakeholders such as the Independent Monitoring Board Secretariat and Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Its purpose was to support the policy review and identify areas where immediate and more long-term changes may be required to improve operational practice. Discussions ahead of consultation with IMB members began with the IMB Secretariat in late February 2020, however in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, HMPPS agreed with the IMB Secretariat to pause this consultation. This work is now moving forward again and a meeting with IMB members took place in August. Consultation with operational colleagues is also expected to resume soon. It is hoped that the revised draft policy framework will be circulated for wider consultation at the end of 2020 subject to any further impact from Covid-19.

Response
The Prison Group Director (PGD) acknowledges and recognises that there are some concerns within the prison group in respect of prisoners returning from open conditions. The PGD has raised this issue with the Governor and emphasised the need for HMP Ranby to ensure all appropriate paperwork follows a prisoner’s return to closed conditions and that this is linked to any subsequent adjudication. Prisoners have access to the complaints procedures which affords them the opportunity to challenge any decision that impacts on them.

Response
Releasing prisoners with no fixed abode is not ideal under any circumstances and the prison tries to secure suitable accommodation on release in all instances. This can be very challenging at times as HMP Ranby holds prisoners from all over the country. Overcoming this challenge is something that Ministry of Justice cannot do in isolation and we are working together with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Welsh Government and Other Government Departments to address this issue. The current Covid-19 emergency has focused attention on the significant challenge in this area and the importance of regional partnership working in addressing accommodation needs for those leaving prison. As part of its Covid-19 response, HMPPS set up seven Homelessness Prevention Taskforces (HPTs) to work with local authorities and other partners to find accommodation for offenders released from prison. The taskforces are still active and HMPPS is keen to utilise the learning gathered during the current Covid-19 emergency to help develop longer-term improvements, including as an aspect of the probation reform programme. Regarding releases on Home Detention Curfew (HDC), it remains the case that accommodation must be approved, therefore prisoners with no fixed abode cannot be released on HDC nor if the address is deemed inappropriate.

Response
Turning to prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP), HMPPS remains committed to doing all it can to support their progression and efforts to reduce their risk to the point where the independent Parole Board determines that they may be safely released. A range of work to improve the management and progression of people serving IPP sentences has been underway for some time. This is evident in the decreasing number of unreleased prisoners serving IPP sentences in recent years and the latest published figures show the figure standing at 1,969 at the end of June 2020, a reduction from 2,134 as at the end of December 2019. This is good progress considering this population of prisoners was at its highest in 2012 with over 6,000 cases. We have also invested in the commissioning of four specialist Progression Regimes across the country, providing 385 places in the prison estate, which offers prisoners serving IPP sentences that are struggling to progress an environment in which they may work to understand and address their risks with dedicated support from staff. It is important to note that as the unreleased IPP population continues to decrease, there is a growing proportion of the most complex and challenging cases remaining in the population, and therefore the current release rate may not be sustainable. As I am sure the Board will appreciate, many of these prisoners are still assessed to pose a high risk of committing further violent or sexual offences and have a complex set of risks and needs. These must be addressed before the Parole Board can consider release. This is not a simple task but HMPPS will continue to work with these individuals with a multi-disciplinary approach to offer them opportunities to reduce their identified risks.