Lincoln

Response
Planned increases are monitored closely and we are continuing to pursue all options to alleviate prison capacity pressures, including through temporarily reducing the time those sentenced to standard determinate sentences (SDS) serve in prison from 50% to 40% of that sentence, as well as through the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate. The PGD recognises that HMP Lincoln have operated at or close to operational capacity for some time and supports all national projects to increase capacity, with a business plan objective to explore options for expansion within the prison group. Recent proposals to increase the Operational Capacity at HMP Lincoln have been paused, with no current expectation they will proceed.

Response
HMP Lincoln will run an annual “needs analysis” exercise to identify the needs of the population. Courses can then be commissioned to meet the needs of all, including those within the transient population. Qualifications are made up of units which can be adapted to suit differing length of sentences. Course tailoring will enable prisoners to access courses that are in line with their length of stay at Lincoln, and complete sections of a longer course that can be continued at another prison.

Response
Careful consideration will be given to the findings in the recently received IMB national thematic report on how property loss impacts on prisoners, as well as those due to be received from Independent Prisoner Complaint Investigations in the coming months following a thematic review of the property complaints they have received in the last five years. A common area for problems is when excess prisoner property is forwarded on when a prisoner transfers. HMPPS is focusing on what more can be done to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Framework.

Response
The Pre-Release Team will see all prisoners who come into HMP Lincoln on remand in order to complete the Basic Custody Screening Tool 2. This will include discussions relating to their accommodation, employment, finances, relationships, substance misuse and health. The team will signpost them to agencies within the prison who can assist them with their specific needs. The Commissioned Rehabilitative Service (CRS) remand contract is now live and due to be rolled out early 2025 following the provider (Shelter) recruiting to the position. Ordinarily, remand prisoners are not subject to allocation of a prison offender manager (POM). However, HMP Lincoln have taken the approach that all prisoners, regardless of sentence, will be allocated a POM during their time at the establishment. The allocation of a POM to all prisoners at HMP Lincoln is a local decision and outside of national policy. Men’s Accommodation Unsentenced Services contract roll out, which is supported by the establishment, aims to ease any concerns raised, addressing and supporting those prisoners affected. The ‘through the gate’ service providing support on release day is available to all prisoners released from HMP Lincoln, and an Employment Hub displays job opportunities in the main release areas.

Response
As part of HMPPS’ work to redevelop the prison estate, we are exploring options to improve our ability to support older prisoners. On palliative and end of life care, HMPPS and NHS England produced a refreshed practice improvement tool to support palliative and end of line care in custody in England in June 2024. HMPPS have provided a guide to PGDs with the objective to improve access to adapted accommodation for people who need it and increase PGD assurance for adapted accommodation in region. A bid to install accessible accommodation has been submitted and will be considered for funding in future financial years, noting that demands for maintenance are much greater than the available funding.

Response
There has been around a 10% increase to the Governors food budget. Budgets are reviewed annually at the start of each financial year, in recognition of inflation and associated costs.

Response
FM acknowledges that some reactive jobs take longer than others, work is prioritised to ensure statutory and mandatory tasks are completed first and within the service level agreement. Currently all statutory and mandatory tasks are being completed within the given timescale. Outstanding work orders are discussed in the establishment’s tri-partite meeting with the governor, health & safety representatives & the FM provider. Concerns over outstanding tasks and the quality of the repairs is discussed and recording in the minutes of each meeting. Complaints received around poor work is also discussed for the FM provider to respond. The Governor remains concerned for the site will continue to challenge poor work and chase partners for a timely resolution and keep all parties informed of any plans for repairs and ongoing works. The Governor and PGD hold regular contract management meetings with the maintenance providers to track progress of ongoing work.

Response
I appreciate the Board’s continued concerns about prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. On 5 September, the Lord Chancellor announced that the Government would implement reforms we supported in opposition to the IPP licence period in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. These commenced on 1 November, when the licences for 1,742 IPP offenders in the community were terminated. The remaining reforms will be implemented on 1 February 2025, when the reduced qualifying period for consideration of licence termination will see around 600 additional referrals made to the Parole Board. The Secretary of State will also have two new powers, the power to use ‘Risk Assessed Recall Review’ (RARR) for recalled IPP prisoners and the power to disapply a recall. The first enables her to re-release people who have been recalled at any point without referring the case to the Parole Board, where safe to do so. The second enables her to not reset the two-year period after someone is re-released from a recall. The Government is determined to support the rehabilitation of IPP offenders through a refreshed Action Plan, which we published on 15 November. The refreshed Plan puts an important emphasis on effective frontline delivery in our prisons and the Probation Service, to ensure that those serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans, which they are actively engaging with, and that they are in the correct prison to access the right interventions and rehabilitative services. This is the most effective way to help them to reduce their risk so that they can progress towards safe release from custody. The refreshed Action Plan was published in our IPP Annual Report and can be accessed online at GOV.UK. I am very mindful of the specific and substantial challenges faced by those serving IPP sentences and this is an issue I feel passionately about. It is right that IPP sentences were abolished. The Government is committed to working with organisations and campaign groups to ensure the appropriate course of action is taken to support those still serving IPP sentences.

Response
No response given.

Response
This issue is subject to capital investment. The capital project to provide a new heating and hot water system has experienced significant delays. Temporary boilers are in place to provide heating and hot water, and this will continue until the capital project is complete. Temporary boilers are currently serviced and fully functioning. There has been a reduction in breakdowns since the replacement of all the temporary boilers and the installation of fixed pipework this year.