Recommendations 9 items · 5 repeated
Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.
Addressee: Other, minister · Topic: Estate · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Given the longstanding deterioration of the estate, repeated delays to essential capital projects, including the care and separation unit, what specific funding commitments, delivery milestones and completion dates will the Minister set out to ensure that HMP Winchester is brought up to a safe, decent and sustainable standard, and how will progress be monitored and reported?
Response (as published)
Following the invocation of an Urgent Notification (UN) by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) on 24 October 2024, a comprehensive action plan was developed, which included clear timeframes for all remedial works. Work on the CSU continues to stall.
Addressee: Other, minister · Topic: Staffing
Recommendation (the Board's words)
What national measures will be implemented to address chronic staffing shortfalls, including the persistent gap between budgeted headcount and staff in post, which continue to undermine safety, access to healthcare, offender management and the delivery of a meaningful prison regime?
Addressee: Other, minister · Topic: Overcrowding
Recommendation (the Board's words)
How will Government policy support the prison system, including prisons such as HMP Winchester, to manage prisoners numbers and flows more effectively so that overcrowding can be reduced and prisons are better able to deliver safe rehabilitative regimes and improved resettlement outcomes?
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Safety · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
What system-wide interventions will HMPPS implement to reduce persistently high violence and drug availability across the prison estate?
Response (as published)
A capital bid has been submitted for the Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) area segregation. Window grilles are to be installed to prevent ingress via B wing windows. The prison aims to re-commence ISFL testing. The ingress and presence of illicit substances in the prison continues to be a major concern, with spikes in certain types of ingress (e.g. throwovers) noted. The installation of grilles over the B wing windows produced a positive effect. ISFL accommodation separation work complete.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
How will HMPPS ensure sustainable staffing levels so that key services (e.g. the key worker scheme, healthcare escorts, bed-watches and time out of cell) are delivered effectively and consistently?
Response (as published)
No response received. Key work continues to be adversely affected due to staff pressures arising from constant watches and escort duties.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Education
Recommendation (the Board's words)
What steps will HMPPS take nationally to ensure that education, work and purposeful activity provision in high‑turnover local prisons are fit for purpose and contribute to successful rehabilitation and reduced reoffending?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Safety · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
What short-term operational actions are being taken locally to reduce violence, self-harm and the impact of drug misuse within current constraints?
Response (as published)
The introduction of a core day with its associated measures (see above) is expected to improve safety outcomes. There is also an increased focus on key work. Incidents of self-harm have reduced in the current reporting period. Violence continues to be a problem, with periodic spikes observed. These occur especially when there is an unforeseen change in the composition in the prisoner population, for example in relation to gangs, which can result in external conflicts being carried on in the prison.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Staffing
Recommendation (the Board's words)
How will you improve daily staff deployment and engagement to ensure consistent delivery of, for example, the key worker scheme, complaints handling and prisoner support?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Regime · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
What changes will you make to increase time out of cell, education attendance, and effective resettlement planning, given the current limitations in staffing and infrastructure?
Response (as published)
Through the introduction of a core day. This is designed to increase engagement at education, skills and work and provide more time out of cell. It went live on 16 June 2025 and needs to be embedded. The regime changes introduced during this period have resulted in some improvement in the time out of cell. There are plans to expand this further through the deployment of additional staff. Explore opportunities to stretch activity spaces via Activities Review Board meeting. Continue to plan for short courses offered AM and PM. Continue to press for increased Career, Information, Advice and Guidance provision. Embed changes to deconflicted core day that supports better attendance. Education continues to be singled out as unsatisfactory by HMIP. However, the head of education, skills and work is working hard to improve the uptake and relevance of the core education offering to the diverse and rapidly churning prisoner population.