Dartmoor

Response
I appreciate that the Board are keen to have clarity and confirmation on the future of HMP Dartmoor. Consideration of the situation remains ongoing. Your report details the chronology of events and I recognise the effects this can have on all parties. I can confirm that we are continuing to take advice from specialists and explore how HMP Dartmoor can be reopened. This is a complex situation and a long-term decision on the future of Dartmoor is yet to be made. Whilst this may be frustrating for the Board, the new Government set out its long-term plan for prison capacity through the publication of the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy on 11 December 2024. This sets out our plans to deliver 14,000 prison places and create a resilient prison estate. Whilst this does not address HMP Dartmoor’s future, the strategy underlines our commitment to improving the overall estate and future direction.

Response
I understand and sympathise with the Board’s frustrations around the apparent lack of progress with concerns raised in its previous reports. I want to reset our relationship with IMBs so that we better address the important issues identified through your monitoring activity. It is though becoming increasingly clear to me that matters raised by IMBs often reflect system-wide issues across the prison estate, criminal justice system or wider Government services. These are often not straightforward to solve, requiring progressive and collaborative action over a period of time to make the necessary changes. I believe that the voice of IMBs should be actively listened to, and I am working hard to arrange opportunities to engage further wherever possible, such as the Independent Monitoring Board event at HMP Berwyn on 11 November 2024 where I spoke and answered questions from a number of members from across the country. I would like to reassure you that concerns raised by IMBs feed into the department’s own performance monitoring and the development of key policies. IMB intelligence is shared with ministers, policy teams and operations on a weekly basis, and is frequently used in tackling key thematic issues.

Response
HMPPS is content that applicable policies were complied with generally. However, action has been taken to learn lessons and improve policies, processes, and guidance in order to maximise compliance.

Response
There is an ongoing Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the management of radon at HMP Dartmoor during the period cited in the report, and HMPPS is fully cooperating with the HSE. Given the ongoing investigation by the HSE, it would not be appropriate for HMPPS to comment further at this stage.

Response
In relation to the concerns you have raised around assurances by the previous administration to develop a national strategy for older prisoner, HMPPS is currently reviewing its approach to strategy development, focusing work on a small number of core operational strategies to successfully deliver key outcomes and priorities. As part of this, discussions are ongoing about whether a bespoke strategy would be best or if "mainstream" support for older prisoners in existing strategies and forthcoming strategic initiatives, including long-term estates work and the Sentencing Review, is a better option. In the interim, HMPPS has a range of work ongoing to improve provision for older prisoners, focusing on health and care support for older prisoners, and how the estate is being used to best meet their needs and share best practice for this prisoner population.

Response
Further to last years’ response, a new sixteen-bed social care unit opened at HMP The Verne in late 2023. This pathway is available to individuals from Devon, with several prisoners having been transferred and cared for in the unit during 2024. Discussions relating to overnight care at HMP Channings Wood will be included in ongoing expansion planning. The current clinical needs across the prison population at HMP Channings Wood is not underlining the need for full time overnight care. Where overnight care is required across the region’s prisons, usually social care, NHS England, prison healthcare providers and HMPPS have worked in partnership to deliver what is required and overnight individual care plans were delivered during 2023/24. Prisoners requiring overnight care tend to require additional cellular space for profiling beds, hoists, double handed care etc. Whilst this care is facilitated, at present there are no Equality Act (2010) complaint cells available in the region.

Response
Regarding publication of the Imprisonment for Public Protection Annual Report, the first report was written on 22 April 2024 under the previous Government and covered the reporting period for the financial year 2023/24. Publication of the first report was delayed due to the General Election. The Lord Chancellor laid the first report in Parliament on 15 November 2024.