Ashfield

I can fully understand the Board’s ongoing concerns about the time it takes to consider the Parole Board recommendations on transfers to open conditions for those convicted of a sexual offence and subject to a life sentence or indeterminate sentence for public protection. Where a prisoner is awaiting a decision from the Secretary of State on whether a Parole Board recommendation for a move to open conditions will be accepted or rejected, it is the responsibility of the Secretary of State to respond within 28 calendar days, which is the internal target set out in the policy. In some cases, further information is required before a decision can be issued and representations from the prisoner must be sought. The Secretary of State has continued to reduce the backlog of cases requiring a decision on a move to open conditions and it is the aim of the Secretary of State to inform prisoners of the outcome of their parole as soon as possible.

I have looked at the matter you raise of a small number of prisoners being released from HMP Ashfield in the last 12 months not having suitable accommodation prepared for them prior to release. I can confirm that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) offers a three-tier structure of temporary accommodation known as Community Accommodation Service (CAS). This includes CAS1, which is accommodation with a public protection focus for higher-risk offenders, known as Approved Premises, CAS2 for low to medium risk offenders on Home Detention Curfew or bail and CAS3 that provides up to 12 weeks’ basic accommodation for prison leavers at risk of homelessness. HMPPS are also developing a new digitalised approach to Approved Premises referrals, through a National Central Referral Unit. This will oversee assessment for suitability and eligibility and match individuals to placements, whilst maximising occupancy and use of national capacity. Additionally, HMPPS are working closely with Local Authorities, our Strategic Housing Specialists, probation colleagues, and other partners to identify the most appropriate accommodation pathway for individuals who would otherwise be homeless.

As the Board rightly highlights, at present, prisons are not commonly informed about which prisoners released by them go on to reoffend or why. However, proven reoffending figures for offenders who were released from custody, received a non-custodial conviction at court, or received a caution or reprimand are published at the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/proven-reoffending-statistics. By way of clarification, various changes were made in 2017 to the management and rehabilitation of offenders, known as Transforming Rehabilitation. Therefore, the data source was changed for compiling the statistics to better reflect the way in which offenders were now managed by the probation services. The new data source did not enable the Department to break down the reoffending rate by prison, due to data quality issues. This has now been improved, and the Ministry of Justice anticipate being able to resume publication of the reoffending rates by prison in the future.

HMPPS recognises the increase in the number of people convicted of sexual offences (PCoSOs) and other vulnerable prisoners (VP). Work has been taking place to expand the number of prison places offered for this group of prisoners, particularly in resettlement prisons and since March 2024 around 1,000 additional Category C PCoSO/VP places have been made available through a combination of new accommodation and reconfiguring existing main accommodation. Further projects to reconfigure around another 900 places are currently underway and a strategy to deliver more places in the medium to longer term is in the process of being drawn up.

The HMPPS response merely referred to the Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework, already in existence, which outlines that Governors and Directors should ensure management checks are undertaken to have confidence that prisoners’ property is being handled correctly and with care (e.g. that property cards are being completed accurately and that the volume of property held by prisoners is checked regularly and does not become excessive).

The HMPPS response explained that it was developing an ageing population strategy, which would include management of those with dementia and those in need of end-of-life care. As part of this, they would be considering the use of specialist units for prisoners with significant health or social care needs. The strategy would be published in 2024.

The Director informed the Board that, following the introduction of the Incentives Policy Framework, all necessary policies held at HMP Ashfield were reviewed to fall in line with mandatory actions within the Policy, and that the local policy had been adapted to fall in line with any subsequent changes to the Framework. In addition, he informed the Board that Ashfield’s Local Operating Policy is in line with national policy guidance, and this was acknowledged in the 2013 HMIP Inspection. The Board was also assured that the prison’s incentives policy is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure consistency and adherence to the mandatory actions within the National Incentives Policy Framework.

I note you have raised three local issues of concern in your report which the Director will continue to keep you aware of as work continues.