Source · IMB Annual Report
Rochester
Year: 2024
Published: 7 Aug 2024
Type: Prison · Cat C resettlement YOI
Population: 758
Recommendations: 3
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP/YOI Rochester, a Category C resettlement prison for adult and young adult men, is grappling with increasing self-harm and violence, attributed to unsuitable prisoner transfers, drug-related issues, and new gang activity. Significant concerns include a deteriorating prison estate, a critical shortage of probation officers hindering resettlement efforts, and persistent problems with property management and the inefficient escort system. Despite these challenges, the report notes positive staff-prisoner interactions, satisfactory mental health provision, and commendable purposeful activity initiatives like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 1 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 238 | — |
| Use of force | 560 | 409 |
| Drug finds | 30 | 27 |
Positive findings
The Board views Rochester as a safe environment with good ACCT provision. Positive interactions between staff and prisoners are noted, and adjudications are fair. Mental healthcare and drug recovery arrangements are satisfactory, with the incentivised substance-free living area proving successful. The chaplaincy provides high-quality pastoral support, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme for young prisoners and officers is commended. Offender management is performing well, and education, vocational training (including a unique stonemason workshop), and resettlement planning efforts are praised. A new neurodiversity support manager has made a significant positive impact on awareness and support.
Key concerns
Safety
Incidents of self-harm have increased, particularly since December 2023, although it is noted that some individuals are prolific self-harmers. There has also been an increase in the number of prisoners arriving at Rochester with a history of self-harming.
Safety
Levels of violence have increased. Analysis shows this increase is related to the transfer of prisoners who, in the past, would not have been considered suitable for a resettlement prison such as Rochester. Much of the violence is caused by drug-related debt and intimidation, and, for the first time, gangs.
Safety
The large open footprint of the prison makes it easy for illicit items to be thrown over its fences, and the use of drones delivering such items has been seen for the first time.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The majority of wings at the prison have a failing infrastructure and are just about meeting an acceptable level of accommodation.
Estate/Conditions
There is a continuing issue with vermin.
Staffing
The lack of probation officers at the prison has greatly impacted negatively on how prisoners are progressed towards release.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Education, skills training and behavioural programmes offer prisoners an opportunity to gain more life-skills. However, lack of trainers impacts on delivery of these services and affects a prisoner’s ability to follow their sentence plan.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board’s view is that more activity for prisoners is required, and it supports the prison in its aim to provide more meaningful occupation.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
While noting the Minister’s comments from last year, the Board is still aware of the limitation of suitable bail accommodation in the South East. The Board retains its view that re-offending rates cannot be reduced unless there is support for all prisoners who have completed their sentence or are being released on home detention curfew (HDC).
Staffing
The introduction of the early release schemes, while understandable given the pressures on the prison estate, have had repercussions for those staff managing this change. In particular, the lack of probation officers, both in the community and within the prison, is a serious problem.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The introduction of volumetric control of property does not seem to be working. As a prison from which prisoners are released, Rochester regularly receives property in excess of the volumetric control number. This in turn has to be sorted and stored, and is a time-wasting exercise for all concerned.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Many of the buildings at Rochester continue to deteriorate and, in the Board’s view, are barely meeting acceptable standards of accommodation. It would be useful to learn if Rochester is still part of the Long-term Prison Estate Strategy – as the Board’s continuing view is that it should be completely redeveloped.
Segregation
While there has been some improvement in cell-checks when a prisoner is moved to the CSU, there is still an ongoing problem with loss of the individual’s property in these circumstances.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The provision of escorts for all kinds of prisoner movements has been an ongoing issue for some time – causing delays to activities and missed healthcare and other appointments.
Resettlement/Release
Too many transferring prisoners arrive without their possessions, including family photographs (the loss of which is detrimental to their wellbeing). It is a needless source of frustration for both prisoners and hard-pressed wing staff who are left to deal with the consequences.
Resettlement/Release
Too many prisoners are released to be homeless.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Board urges the Minister to look into this further, and to see how more accommodation can be provided.
Repeated
Response
I fully understand the Board repeating its concerns surrounding the limitation of suitable bail accommodation in the South East. The Board will be aware that the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Community Accommodation Service Tier 2 (CAS-2) provides accommodation for those applying for bail or home detention curfew (HDC) who don’t have other suitable accommodation. CAS-2 is currently in the process of expanding its provision further to 1,350 bed spaces by December 2025, which will include accessible bed spaces. As part of the expansion there will be a further 15 bed spaces expansion in Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) region, to keep it in proportion to overall demand and HDC levels against the national share. I am aware that the KSS Probation Service region is fully engaging with key stakeholders to minimise the risk and increase the possibility of housing all prisoners and prison leavers identified as likely homeless and will continue to do so going forward. Whilst there is more to do it is worth noting that in total, more than 85% of homeless releases last year in the KSS region were subsequently? housed and it is predicted that this will increase to above 90% in the coming year. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 2 |
The Board believes it should be implemented more rigorously.
Repeated
Response
Referred to Property Policy Framework |
HMPPS | |
| 3 | The Board is asking for a form of controlled freeflow to be considered. | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 22 | 14 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 24 | 12 |
| Equality | 10 | 11 |
| Food and kitchens | 5 | 5 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 103 | 103 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 52 | 59 |
| Miscellaneous | 92 | 70 |
| Property within the establishment | 162 | 215 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 33 | 27 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 103 | 84 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 37 | 26 |
| Total number of applications | 660 | 660 |
| Transfers | 17 | 25 |
Related inspections & investigations
2 Jun 2025
HMIP · IRP
30 Aug 2024
HMIP · Urgent Notification
12 Aug 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 2
· Respect 1
· Activity 1
· Release 1
11 Mar 2025
PFD
Sean Higgins · State Custody related deaths | Mental Health related deaths | Suicide (from 2015)
19 Jul 2024
PFD
Benjamin Harrison · State Custody related deaths | Alcohol, drug and medication related deaths
Other reports for Rochester
Report details
- Establishment
- Rochester
- Type
- Prison · Cat C resettlement YOI
- Report year
- 2024
- Published
- 7 August 2024
- Responsible body
- HMP Rochester
- Recommendations
- 3
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 1 — Serious concern
Population
| Population | 758 |
| Operational capacity | 766 |
Service providers
Canteen (purchased items delivery)
DHL
Drug/alcohol rehabilitation
Change, Grow, Live
Education
Milton Keynes College
Employment advisors
CXK
Family services
PACT
GP service
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Healthcare
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Maintenance
Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL)
Substance recovery
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust