Leicester

Response
HMPPS is pleased to advise that the Segregation Unit has seen significant investment in recent months with more robust furniture being installed comprising of replacement beds, metal furniture, integral sink and toilet units and new cell doors. In-cell flooring has also been replaced alongside full decoration of all cells. The main landing of the unit is due to have the flooring replaced in the coming months. Three cells were meshed and rendered three years ago to provide enhanced security and a bid will be submitted at the earliest opportunity to secure funding to complete the work on the remaining cells.

Response
It is unfortunate and regrettable that prisoners’ property continues to be an issue. As the Board will be aware, the development of the new Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework involved a large project undertaken in summer 2019. Following the conclusion of the project, HMPPS has worked closely with stakeholders to consult on proposed changes to the policy. Discussions ahead of consultation with IMB members began with the IMB Secretariat in late February 2020, who proposed meetings take place with Board members in April. In light of the pressures placed on Boards by Covid-19, HMPPS agreed with the IMB Secretariat to pause this consultation until August and September. This work is now moving forward again and the feedback received from IMB members at these meetings will then be considered alongside the comments received earlier this year from other stakeholders, with the intention that the revised draft policy framework will be circulated for wider consultation at the end of 2020. The new Prisoner Escort and Custody Service 4 Generation contract also began during August 2020 with a new fleet of vehicles which allow for an additional half box of consumable items to be carried for each prisoner on top of the existing agreed volumetric limits. In addition to this, HMPPS is looking at what more can be done to encourage prisoners to send out or dispose of excess items to reduce the amount of property that cannot transfer with them. Steps are also being taken to ensure there is a consistent approach when prison staff forward on any excess items to prisoners at their new establishment after a transfer has taken place.

Response
The Board raised this last year and was told that a Ministry of Justice-led project was taking place during summer 2019 to review existing property processes, with the expectation that a new prisoners’ property policy framework would be published later in 2019.

Response
Regarding foreign national prisoners, HMPPS and the Home Office are committed to improving the time taken to resolving foreign national prisoners’ deportation cases and both departments are working closely together to ensure consideration takes place earlier in the custodial sentence. There are several reasons why foreign national offenders are detained longer than we would like such as prisoners unwilling to engage with embassies regarding travel documents and claiming asylum immediately before removal. The Home Office is also committed to ensuring that all processes are expedited, that ongoing detention is reviewed every 28 days to ensure detention remains proportionate to removal timescales, and that foreign national offenders are either deported or released from detention as soon as possible.

Response
Further to last year’s update on the Prison Transfer and Remission Guidance, NHS England has confirmed that this has been refreshed and amended following a comprehensive consultation process during summer 2019 and is awaiting publication as the planned publication was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Aside from the revised guidance, NHS England is developing a whole-pathway approach to the care of offenders including diverting offenders from the criminal justice system where appropriate, and reconnecting those leaving custody with health services in the community. Regarding the two prisoners referred to in your report, both men were subject to regular multi-disciplinary reviews as to whether segregation could continue and they were seen regularly by the mental health team. I note that your report acknowledges that the Gatekeeping process is working effectively, but it is important to recognise that the process does take some time and moves cannot be obtained for men whilst they are going through the process.

Response
Following last year’s update on the facilities management contractor (Amey), although I was pleased to note the contractor’s improved response to urgent repairs, I appreciate that other aspects of the service remained unsatisfactory. HMPPS recognises that some of the project work in 2019 was not completed to the standard required. Amey has now rectified many of the projects and remedial work to the reception is now due to be completed later this summer. As mentioned in the Minister’s letter above, some of the project work in 2019 was not completed to the standard required. Amey has now rectified many of the projects and remedial works for drainage covers and the kitchen floor is now complete. The food waste removal contract was subject to problems. Due to a change in legislation regarding the discharging of food waste into the main drainage system, it was necessary to remove the food macerators. Following the appointment of new contractors by Amey earlier this year, the service has improved greatly in recent months with no issues being reported to Prison Maintenance Group. A Fire Safety Improvement project is in the capital maintenance programme for this financial year which is preparing for recommendation for delivery subject to Population Management approving the decant requirement. Contractors are expected to be on site in the coming months.