The Mount

In January, representatives from HMPPS Public Sector Prison Industries (PSPI) visited HMP The Mount to review the waste management and land based activities workshops. PSPI advised that it was within their capability to increase prisoner places and deliver Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) qualifications using the Band 4 qualified Instructor. PSPI also helped to highlight some other potential areas where workshop performance could be improved.
HMP The Mount have since redesigned a number of workshops and education activities to increase activity spaces. However, for the greater number of the population it is likely that the prison will only be able to offer part time work, whilst a restricted regime is operated due to Covid-19.
New Futures Network (NFN) colleagues are in regular contact with staff at the prison to explore and develop new opportunities for future work. This activity has been paused temporarily whilst prisons operate restricted regimes as mentioned above. NFN national leads are also looking to establish a co -ordinated approach to attracting and enabling current and future work opportunities within all prisons.

Locally, HMP The Mount has introduced new programmes to support long term and IPP prisoners such as Building Better Relationships and Identity Matters.

I share the Board’s concern about drugs entering HMP The Mount. To reduce the violence that is driven by debt and the operation of the illicit economy, HMPPS is working to restrict the supply of drugs, reduce demand through rehabilitative activities, and support prisoners to recover from substance misuse. You will be aware that HMPPS is investing in enhanced gate security as well as X-Ray body scanners for prisons on an unprecedented scale as part of the £100 million security investment announced last summer. This investment will help them to go further and move faster to tackle the drug supply to prisons. HMPPS has embarked on a rigorous site selection process to distribute this investment and I can reassure you that HMP The Mount is on the priority list and so will be considered in due course.
In addition, HMPPS published a National Prison Drugs Strategy in 2019 to support prisons develop and implement Local Prison Drug Strategies. HMP The Mount received direct support in December 2019 from the Drug Strategy and Delivery Team. This is a multi-disciplinary team including representatives from health and law enforcement, which supported the prison to produce a local drug strategy to meet specific needs. A dedicated Drug Strategy Custodial Manager has been recently appointed at the prison and, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, staff were learning from other prisons with successful drug tackling strategies. As well as this, key risk areas have been netted to reduce the risk of illicit items being thrown into the prison.