Lincoln

Response
I am sorry to hear that the Board remains concerned about maintenance work at HMP/YOI Lincoln. I wrote to the previous Chair on 30 August 2019 and in that letter, I explained that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) would continue to closely monitor this issue. HMPPS Prison Maintenance Group have advised that they have seen an improvement in the timeliness of repairs and reactive/planned maintenance tasks are now being completed within the timeframe set out in the contract with Amey. Nevertheless, to ensure performance is maintained monitoring will continue.

Response
I acknowledge the efforts that have been made locally in terms of assisting with housing matters. I would like to reassure the Board that it is a priority for the MoJ to ensure that offenders find somewhere safe and secure to live on their release from prison. My officials are working closely across Government to access those levers to this that aren’t directly within their control. As part of the Rough Sleeping Strategy published by the Government in 2018, the MoJ and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), have invested approximately £6.4 million in a pilot scheme. The pilot has been operating since August 2019 to help ex-offenders secure suitable accommodation from three prisons, namely HMPs Pentonville, Bristol and Leeds. The pilot focused on male prisoners sentenced to 36 months or less and identified as having a risk of homelessness. Just over 300 prisoners enrolled onto the pilot which concluded last month. Subject to evaluation, lessons learned from the pilot will be used to inform future provision of accommodation for offenders through the new Probation model. In addition, HMPPS has recently published its operational national Accommodation Framework that sets out the agency’s responsibilities, their partners’ responsibilities (including local authorities) and provides a framework for how to build on success and working together with partners to ensure that offenders can access and maintain settled accommodation. This framework will set out HMPPS and partner responsibilities and outline how to build on success and collaborative work. As the Board will be aware, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the MoJ secured funding to support the provision of accommodation for individuals released from prison during this unprecedented period, who are at risk of homelessness. This time-limited scheme is open to individuals who meet the appropriate criteria, which at the time of writing includes all individuals at risk of homelessness following release from prison. MoJ is keen to utilise the learning gathered from this scheme to help develop longer-term improvements and will draw on that learning as part of wider reforms to probation services. Locally, the Governor has reported that Shelter (commissioned by the Community Rehabilitation Company to provide Through the Gate services) staff based at the prison now hold weekly meetings to identify prisoners awaiting housing allocation and have made better use of their staffing resources. Furthermore, Shelter has reviewed and established a more transparent referral process for interventions and external housing providers are considering investment in properties to help with housing. The Governor will keep you informed of any further developments.

Response
A repeat capital bid to install CCTV on E wing has been rejected due to other competing priorities. A standalone CCTV system has, h, been purchased utilising the Governor’s budget.

Response
MoJ Estates have mandated the replacement of the ceiling in the Care and Separation Unit and have employed consultants to draw up designs and produced a working brief, which will inform a business case to reapply for funding for the project.

Response
The Board will be aware that numerous bids for funding to replace the main lift have been unsuccessful, due to competing priorities. A further bid has been costed and submitted. Staff at HMP/YOI Lincoln work hard to support prisoners with mobility difficulties and if their needs cannot be met, they are transferred to a more suitable prison.

Response
I am pleased to report on several improvements. In particular, HMP/YOI Lincoln’s kitchen is now fully functioning, the exercise yard has been cleared of debris, in-cell phones have been installed and over the last six months staff have kept the number of cells that are out of use to a minimum.