Send

The Board reiterates that the needs of complex individuals with multiple mental health issues are not served well in prison. Such prisoners also take up a great deal of staff time.

I understand the Board’s continued concerns regarding prisoners with multiple mental health issues at HMP Send. I am committed to improving mental health outcomes for individuals in contact with the criminal justice system, to ensure that those with acute mental health needs receive timely support, in the most appropriate setting. We at the Ministry of Justice are working with the Department of Health and Social Care to introduce the Mental Health Bill as soon as possible. This will include a range of reforms to support people suffering with severe mental illness in the criminal justice system and aims to speed up access to specialist inpatient treatment so that those affected are able to access the timely care they need. NHS England are also working strategically across the system to improve the pathways into treatment.

The Board continues to believe that the continued detention of IPP prisoners is unfair and inhumane.

I acknowledge the Board’s ongoing concern surrounding indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP) prisoners. As the Board will be aware, the IPP sentence was recently reformed in the Victims and Prisoners Act which gained Royal Assent on 24 May 2024. The changes will provide a clear pathway to a definitive end to the licence and sentence by reforming the termination of the licence for IPP offenders. On 5 September 2024 the Secretary of State announced the timings for these changes. I can confirm that the Government commenced the IPP measures in the Act in a phased approach from 1 November. This means the IPP sentence automatically ended for around 1,800 people on 1 November and c.600 referrals will be made to the Parole Board for consideration of licence termination following commencement of phase two on 1 February 2025. I hope the Board will welcome that there is also support for those in custody, with the HMPPS Director General of Operations commissioning Executive Directors for England and Wales, including the Women’s Estate to develop operational IPP delivery plans. These directly target front-line delivery to support those serving IPP sentences to work to achieve the objectives within their sentence plans and move towards a future sustainable release. At HMP Send there is small cohort of IPP prisoners. This cohort has been identified as a priority in relation to Key Work and are provided with specialist support from IPP Keyworkers, which ensures that the individuals are fully informed regarding how their sentences are managed as well as reducing risk.

The Board is concerned about the practice of potentially using an escort chain or handcuff of a prisoner to an officer during a breast screening.

Prior to any external escort taking place, HMPPS will undertake a robust risk assessment, which is a multi-disciplinary approach. This will ensure that all relevant information is gathered and used to inform the decision-making process. Healthcare staff are always included in the escort risk assessment process and security departments work collaboratively with healthcare to inform their decisions. The need for the prisoner’s privacy must be considered as part of the escort risk assessment, with the decision clearly documented, particularly where the prisoner is to undergo an intimate examination or procedure. Privacy should be accommodated in so far as it does not compromise the security of the escort. Further information on Prevention of Escape – External Escorts policy framework can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevention-of-escape-external-escorts-policy-framework HMP Send is exploring the possibility of escorting prisoners to mobile breast screening buses that are visiting HMP Downview and HMP Bronzefield, where no restraints would be needed.

The Board remains concerned about the absence of in-cell technology at Send. There has been no progress on this subject and no evidence available of plans for future change.

HMPPS is keen to deliver in-cell technology across the estate, which is subject to funding being available. However, in the interim prisoners are able to access IT via the Education provider, allowing prisoners to complete distance learning along with other courses. Additionally, HMP Send have also sourced ten laptops, which are available to prisoners to use as part of their education.

There have been persistent comments to the Board from prisoners about low local levels of pay. There is a lack of consistency of pay across the female estate.

As the board will be aware, the national minimum and flat pay rates for prisoners have been in place for a number of years and are set through the Prisoners’ Pay PSO 4460. However, budgetary pressures for prisons does mean that there is little scope to significantly improve the prisoner pay budget. Nevertheless, Governors do have the discretion to pay above the nationally set minimum rates of pay and are required to review their local pay policy annually. At HMP Send prisoner pay was reviewed earlier this year resulting in an increase of 12.5% across all activities. In September 2022, a national approach to the rising cost of living was implemented and a 10% uplift in private cash allowances was introduced to help mitigate against price increases. In November 2022, several new value brand product lines were made available through the Prison Retail service which give prisoners the choice to purchase less expensive, non-premium branded items just as people in the community are doing. Purchases of the value brands are becoming increasingly popular.

The shortage of offender managers, both at Send and in the community, has a damaging effect on prisoners and on their ability to successfully reintegrate into society (7.3) (7.5).

Recruitment and retention remains a priority across the Probation Service. HMPPS has launched various initiatives to deliver more robust supervision, recruit more staff as well as reducing caseloads. Between 20 June 2021 – 31 March 2024, overall staffing numbers have increased by 17% across the entire Probation Service. In addition to this, HMPPS remains committed to recruiting 1,000 new trainee Probation Officers by March 2025. Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Regional Probation Director (RPD) continues to work proactively on recruitment of Probation staff at HMP Send. There are firm plans to utilise Probation Service Officers (PSOs) to support the team at HMP Send.

The Board would like to see a consistent approach to induction paperwork.

The Board is concerned about the increased number of applications received concerning delays in refunds from DHL.

The initiative to tackle obesity in prisoners needs to be followed through.

The Board would like to see more prisoners in education.

The Board has been told that the prison sees education as important and that participation in other types of purposeful activity is as important to prepare a prisoner for life back in the community (7.1).

The long-term absence of a computer in the library impacts on the provision of this valuable service.

Staff shortages within OMU need to be addressed.

Recruitment and retention remains a priority across the Probation Service. HMPPS has launched various initiatives to deliver more robust supervision, recruit more staff as well as reducing caseloads. Between 20 June 2021 – 31 March 2024, overall staffing numbers have increased by 17% across the entire Probation Service. In addition to this, HMPPS remains committed to recruiting 1,000 new trainee Probation Officers by March 2025. Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Regional Probation Director (RPD) continues to work proactively on recruitment of Probation staff at HMP Send. There are firm plans to utilise Probation Service Officers (PSOs) to support the team at HMP Send.