Haverigg

I understand the Board’s concerns about discharge planning and provision and appreciate your acknowledgement that these are complex issues. Both prison and probation staff work hard together to engage with the appropriate local authority personnel to make arrangements for safe discharge from prison. We recognise that this can sometimes take longer than we would like but it is essential to ensure the discharge plan is in place before release.
I am pleased to advise that Commissioned Rehabilitative Services is currently procuring new contracts for men’s services which will go live in July 2027. These new contracts will better reflect the tenacious, time-consuming support needed to secure and maintain housing, jobs and assisting individuals with finances. The service will address immediate needs on reception and other issues that arise throughout someone's time in custody. We also expect providers to offer a pre-release meeting with the community-based provider and also a ‘meet at the gate service’ for vulnerable prisoners who will benefit from being accompanied to accommodation or appointments on the day of release. The future services will also help individuals develop new lifestyles and relationships which are not linked to offending or substance misuse.
Although not directly related to the issue or HMP Haverigg, the significant reforms contained in the Sentencing Act, which received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026, will provide the Courts with options to end the cycle of less serious offenders going in and out of prison and consequently the demands on discharge services nationally. Whilst not part of the Act, this coincides with our decision to sanction the biggest ever expansion in tagging together with a probation budget increase of up to £700 million over the next three years to bolster community justice, including the probation service’s resource and ability to tag offenders. The government is also investing in new technology to reduce admin so staff can focus on work that reduces reoffending and we have committed to halving the number of people with no fixed abode when they leave prison and altering short term recall policy.

HMPPS has considered carefully the IMB national thematic report on the impact of property loss on prisoners, and the thematic review by Independent Prisoner Complaint Investigations of the property complaints they have received over the last five years. In considering the reports, consultation with prison staff took place on the issues raised. A revised version of the Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework was published on 17 November 2025 and includes additional guidance on the sending on of excess property, the handling of prisoners’ laundry and on the correct completion of the cell clearance certificate, as these have been identified as common areas of difficulty. Alongside that, HMPPS has reminded Governors and other senior leaders of key points around property handling, including the importance of prisoners complying with volumetric limits. Compliance with volumetric control remains of key importance, since property within those limits (as well as certain items, such as legal papers, which are exempt from the limits) will be moved with prisoners when they transfer to other establishments.
The introduction of the digitally recorded Prisoner Escort Record (dPER) included a property section that accurately records the number and type of sealed property ‘owned’ by and transferred with the prisoner and an accurate record of property handover between different Stakeholders. This is now embedded as business as usual. The digital process has assisted with investigations for property that is lost in transit with prisoner transport services suppliers.

All health treatment in custody is the responsibility of NHS England and NHS Wales. HMPPS is committed to working in partnership with health and social care partners so that people in prison can access the equivalent standard and range of health and social care services as they would receive in the community and when transferring, typically, prisoners will be transferred with at least 7-days supply of medications.
HMPPS recognises there have been times where prescribed medication has not been transferred correctly with prisoners on transfer. Historically transfers were generally completed within core healthcare hours, however more recently the open estate is receiving late, evening and weekend transfers/receptions and the current healthcare models do not account for this. The current healthcare model is not flexible to HMPPS decision making and unfortunately there is no additional funding available to provide increased out of hours cover. This issue has been escalated at national level to the relevant NHS England team.
Prison Escorting and Custody Services (PECS) suppliers are contractually required to return prisoners by the establishment Latest Reception Time. The dispersed nature of the prison estate requires the supplier to effectively manage their fleet however, there may be occasions when late court sittings, together with long distances coupled with traffic conditions or adverse weather that the supplier encounter on route that have a detrimental impact on arrival times. The escorts are required to ensure that the receiving prisons are informed of delays, and agreement is sought in advance for the safe receipt of any late arrivals. PECS continue to monitor all aspects of the supplier's performance and where it fails to meet the agreed levels it is raised with the contractor for improvement.
HMPPS procured the PECS contract and measure performance through contract delivery indicators including one which specifically measures the arrival times of prisoners 30 minutes prior to the latest reception time which is consistently achieving around 95%.
Prisoners on occasion may be delivered to prisons outside the agreed latest reception time, and this can be for a variety of reasons including the requirement for a hospital escort or redirections with longer journey times than that to the aligned establishment and as previously stated performance is measured through the contract delivery indicators. The contracts are not procured to deliver direct runs to and from prisons, courts or police stations, as such suppliers will plan routes which may have more than one delivery location.
Enhanced reporting is being used during PECS and stakeholder meetings. As an open establishment the number of vehicles allocated is low in comparison to reception establishments. Regular engagement with the supplier and the prison is overseen by the PECS Contract delivery Manager. PECS along with the supplier will continue with engagement and sharing of data to ensure the commitment remains for improvements.