Hindley

Response
I appreciate the Board’s concern regarding the continued detention of prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. I understand the challenges this sentence poses, not only for the prisoners and their families but also for the establishments housing them. I am committed to ensuring that all those serving IPP sentences are supported to progress through the system as safely and efficiently as possible. While the IPP sentence was not within the scope of the recent Independent Sentencing Review, I want to reassure the Board that the Government remains committed to increasing support for IPP prisoners. The refreshed IPP Action Plan, published in November 2024 focuses on practical and measurable improvements in sentence progression and placement. This includes ensuring that IPP prisoners are held in establishments appropriate to their rehabilitative needs, an area in which we have made progress. Around 80% are now in the right type of prison which is up from 70% the previous year. The unreleased IPP prison population has reduced significantly, and it is anticipated that this will continue falling. At HMP/YOI Hindley, the prison runs dedicated IPP forums to ensure this group receives tailored support, even though the prison’s regime is primarily geared toward its resettlement function. The establishment encourages prisoners to transfer to progression units where appropriate, and staff actively support sentence planning in partnership with regional colleagues.

Response
The concerns expressed by the Board about accommodation quality are valid and HMPPS recognises the issues around the two-tier standard of accommodation at HMP/YOI Hindley, and the potential emergence of a third tier once new build work is complete. Less than half of the current accommodation is modern and the existing wings A–D, in particular, no longer meet current cell size standards. While cleanliness standards remain good across the prison, the underlying infrastructure poses significant limitations. Though there are currently no funded plans for full refurbishment of older wings, HMPPS remains committed to delivering sustained improvement across the prison estate. HMP/YOI Hindley continues to undertake local infrastructure improvements. These include the successful replacement of secure windows in newer wings, which has led to a reduction in both littering and drug ingress. A project to replace all windows and install external window grilles on wings A-D has been mandated in the 2025/26 capital maintenance programme and will be considered for funding for delivery once designs are complete. A project to replace the electronic gate locking system completed in March 2025. Prior to that, a new Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) was installed, alongside the refurbishment of showers in Residential Block 1 and the upgrade of the CCTV DVR system. Fire detection has been upgraded in several areas and the project to upgrade fire detection site-wide is projected to complete in September 2026. HMPPS Estates has also received a number of bids for future projects, including replacement of the cell-call system, upgrades to heating and shower facilities, new roofing for the chapel and gymnasium, enhancements to electrical infrastructure, refurbishment or replacement of the kitchen, ventilation upgrades in the visits and security areas, and the replacement of the perimeter security fence. All future proposals will be underpinned by the data collected in recent condition surveys which assessed the fabric, cells, and critical assets at each prison. These will inform long-term forward maintenance registers, which can be prioritised against future capital budgets. All requests from the establishment will be considered, noting that demands for maintenance are much greater than the available funding. Therefore, once a bid for a project is received, HMPPS has to prioritise works very carefully to make best use of that funding, focusing on risk to life and risk to capacity and decency. HMPPS continues to actively review and assess investment needs across the estate to ensure ongoing improvements and safety. HMPPS is committed to delivering sustained improvement in living conditions and performance across the prison estate, to promote a safe and secure environment that facilitates genuine rehabilitation.

Response
Whilst you haven’t raised specific issues for my consideration around the Board’s concerns on the rise in violence, given the seriousness of these issues I wanted to provide a brief update. HMP/YOI Hindley has implemented a strategic tripartite forum covering safety, security and drugs to coordinate responses, supported by weekly violence scrutiny meetings that enable timely action. The establishment’s partnerships with Greater Manchester Police and other regional prisons are enhancing intelligence sharing through Gang Initiative Groups, and the launch of the City Walls project is helping to shift entrenched behaviours. There is other work being done locally around reducing drug dependency which the Governor will update you on as part of continued local engagement.

Response
Regime changes have improved the periods of time that men should be out of cell. Staff absence continues to cause periods of lockdown to an unacceptably high level.