Thorn Cross

To look again at the re-sentencing of IPP prisoners

I sympathise with your repeated concerns about prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. This Government supported the changes in opposition to the IPP licence period and creating a statutory requirement for the Government to publish an IPP annual report in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. It is right that IPP sentences were abolished, and we are committed to working at pace to make progress on the IPP sentence. I hope that the Board is now aware that the IPP sentence has been reformed in the Victims and Prisoners Act, which gained Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, providing a clear pathway to a definitive end to the 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 and I can confirm that the Government has commenced these IPP measures in a phased approach from 1 November 2024. This means the IPP sentence ended for around 1,800 people in the community on 1 November 2024. On 1 February 2025, the qualifying period for when the Secretary of State must refer an IPP licence to the Parole Board for consideration of licence termination will be three years, or two for those convicted when under the age of 18. This was previously ten years and means that around 600 people will be referred to the Parole Board. I can also provide my assurance that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) remains committed to supporting those serving IPP sentences in both custody and the community. In February 2024, the HMPPS Director General of Operations commissioned each of the Area Executive Directors for England and Wales, as well as the Long-Term High Security Estate, the Women’s Estate and Contracted Prisons to develop operational IPP delivery plans. These Delivery Plans directly target front-line delivery to help support those serving IPP sentences to achieve the objectives within their sentence plans and move towards a future prospective safe and sustainable release and, when in the community, towards a future termination of their licence. Locally at HMP/YOI Thorn Cross, although the number of IPP prisoners are low, the Governor has engaged with the Prison Reform Trust and carried out some meaningful work to understand the impact and struggles faced by an offender deep in custody. The learning from this study is being acted on during 2024/25.

To develop more robust ways of monitoring building projects.

It is recognised that the new Offender Management Unit (OMU) does not meet building regulations. This was identified through the assurance process that is in place, for all projects, to monitor the constructor and their performance. The constructor is obliged to rectify the building where it is not compliant with building regulations at their own cost and presented their revised rectification plan in September 2024, including the programme for completion. The programme includes demolition of the existing new build which has already taken place to allow for re-construction which is forecast to be completed in August 2025. It is acknowledged that the impact of this delay has had severe consequences in terms of other projects being delayed and has placed a strain on the staff occupying the old and current OMU building. As with all projects, lessons are captured, and applied where appropriate to future work and as a goodwill gesture, the constructor will weatherproof the roof of the current OMU which is underway.

To ensure that body worn video cameras, with pre-record function, are used in every instance where force is used and that the footage continues to be reviewed as part of ongoing training.

To reduce the number of staff who are overdue control and restraint training.

To monitor any benefits to the men and the prison from the introduction of the ISFL unit.

To provide better facilities for those men who wish to cook their own meals and allow men to use the kitchen facilities on unit 8.

A review has been completed but not yet implemented.

To improve the completion of adjudication records, especially where the sanction given falls outside those recommended.

The new Deputy Governor is reviewing tariffs and has identified areas for improvement. These will be shared with Governors who carry out adjudications.

To establish a planned programme of decoration for residential units.

To interrogate the data collected by the equalities action team more thoroughly and use it to inform future planning.

To continue to reduce the number of men who do not turn up for their healthcare appointments.

To develop mental health provision.

To improve outcomes for those following English and mathematics courses.

To develop more opportunities for men working in the community to work in construction /painting and decorating.

To return the transfer of prisoners with life sentences and IPP prisoners to previous levels, when over 90% of parole board recommendations were accepted as opposed to the 11% at the end of the reporting year.

I sympathise with your repeated concerns about prisoners subject to Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. This Government supported the changes in opposition to the IPP licence period and creating a statutory requirement for the Government to publish an IPP annual report in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. It is right that IPP sentences were abolished, and we are committed to working at pace to make progress on the IPP sentence. I hope that the Board is now aware that the IPP sentence has been reformed in the Victims and Prisoners Act, which gained Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, providing a clear pathway to a definitive end to the 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 and I can confirm that the Government has commenced these IPP measures in a phased approach from 1 November 2024. This means the IPP sentence ended for around 1,800 people in the community on 1 November 2024. On 1 February 2025, the qualifying period for when the Secretary of State must refer an IPP licence to the Parole Board for consideration of licence termination will be three years, or two for those convicted when under the age of 18. This was previously ten years and means that around 600 people will be referred to the Parole Board. I can also provide my assurance that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) remains committed to supporting those serving IPP sentences in both custody and the community. In February 2024, the HMPPS Director General of Operations commissioned each of the Area Executive Directors for England and Wales, as well as the Long-Term High Security Estate, the Women’s Estate and Contracted Prisons to develop operational IPP delivery plans. These Delivery Plans directly target front-line delivery to help support those serving IPP sentences to achieve the objectives within their sentence plans and move towards a future prospective safe and sustainable release and, when in the community, towards a future termination of their licence. Locally at HMP/YOI Thorn Cross, although the number of IPP prisoners are low, the Governor has engaged with the Prison Reform Trust and carried out some meaningful work to understand the impact and struggles faced by an offender deep in custody. The learning from this study is being acted on during 2024/25.

To resolve the continuing issues with the transfer of property so that less of it goes missing; and, when it does, to ensure that there is a swift remedy.

The Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework should ensure property is handled correctly. Men are transferred with a maximum three bags of property and all other property is then sent at the earliest opportunity. There has been a marked decrease in complaints about property.

To provide limited internet access for men studying at university and college.

Restricted internet access is available that covers around 70% of the internet. Investment in additional education programmes is being considered. Further work is planned to improve internet access, but at present access remains the same and is a barrier to those men following university courses.

To provide mobile phone access for remote visits for those who would benefit.

Mobile phone access/visits can be requested. This has not been provided. Some men have access to mobile phones when working in the community.

To review the guidance for the use of handcuffs.

The control and restraint co-ordinator will conduct a full review. The use of handcuffs is no longer mandatory when escorting a prisoner to segregation, also knowns as the care and separation unit, or CSU, and is replaced by a dynamic risk assessment.

To reconsider the current proposals for central food/dining.

A full review of all food/dining options is to be done by the projects manager. Central dining is considered part of the proposal to increase the operational capacity. A new kitchen is to be provided as part of the increase in the number of prisoners, but the plans are not yet complete.

To make the Prison council a more effective means of consultation and communication.

A prisoner is employed to take minutes and create an action plan, which is circulated to managers. This is reviewed monthly by the Deputy Governor. The structure of prisoner consultation meetings has been overhauled, with meetings for different areas of the prison and an overarching meeting. Meetings are to be held regularly and at the same time.

To provide the Board with regular and timely evaluation of all aspects of the prison’s performance.

Performance data will be emailed monthly. This data is now available and reviewed at the monthly performance meeting. However, there should be more robust questioning of what the data shows and what action is needed.

To make mental health provision available in the evenings and at weekends.

A new delivery model is being developed. Plans are still being developed.

To develop a suitable strategy for men transferred under the Temporary Re Categorisation Scheme (TPRS), to monitor its impact on the men and the prison as a whole.

Very few men have been transferred under this scheme. Provision for such men has been discussed with the prison council. A strategy will be developed if numbers increase.

To minimise disruption for the men attending education by reducing their requirement to be elsewhere during core day.

The aim is to gradually increase the number of men working in the community, ensure all men are allocated a work area and that all are fully occupied. Efficiency in activities remains a performance target, which is monitored on a monthly basis. Men are not expected to attend anywhere else other than their allocated work/education placement. This is now fully monitored.