Onley

Response
I fully understand the Board repeating its concerns about prisoners’ property, despite implementation of the Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework in September 2022. As the Board identifies, particular problems can occur when a prisoner transfers. The Framework does place an emphasis on ensuring compliance with volumetric control limits, since anything within these limits will be transferred with the prisoner to avoid the problems you describe with sending on excess items. I hope the Board can understand it is not possible to transfer with a prisoner all the excess property which they might have accrued above these limits. I do note the Board’s dissatisfaction that excess property can take up to four weeks to be sent on from the previous prison, which is in line with the Framework. Greater emphasis has also been placed on the accurate recording of items but it is acknowledged that feedback commonly identifies the need to introduce digital systems to replace existing paper-based processes for recording prisoners’ items. Digital proposals will be longer term due to the need to prioritise but I can assure the Board HMPPS is aware of the problems around property and will continue to look at what further improvements can be made. In addition to the Ministers response, the Framework is clear that Governors should ensure management checks are undertaken to have confidence that prisoners’ property is being handled correctly and with care. The new national delivery system has improved HMP Onley’s ability to track parcels and property, whether sending or receiving. Locally, HMP Onley has also improved its ability to issue property in a timely manner but recognises that there can on occasions still be issues with cell clearances and property and is working on improvements to remedy this with residential staff. In addition, Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) review complaints during monthly formal meetings with the PECS Supplier. During the last 12 months there has been 1 complaint received from HMP Onley in relation to the loss of property attributed to the supplier.

Response
I also sympathise with the Board’s concerns about prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP). To provide further support to prisoners in custody, in February 2024 the HMPPS Director General of Operations commissioned Area Executive Directors in 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 directly target front-line delivery to support those serving IPP sentences to work on achieving the objectives within their sentence plans and move towards a future safe and sustainable release. The Board may also be aware that the IPP sentence was recently reformed in the Victims and Prisoners Act which gained Royal Assent on 24 May 2024 and on 5 September 2024 the Lord Chancellor E https://contact-moj.service.justice.gov.uk/ T +4420 3334 3555 102 Petty France www.gov.uk/moj F +44870 761 7753 London SW1H 9AJ announced the timings for these important legislative changes which will directly impact IPP offenders being supervised in the community. From 1 November 2024, anyone who was released on an IPP licence for the first first time five or more years ago and has spent at least the last two years of that period continuously in the community without being recalled will have their IPP licence terminated without the need for a review by the Parole Board. The Secretary of State will have two new Risk Assessed Recall Review powers. The first enables her to not reset the two year period after someone is re-released from a recall. Secondly, she will be able to re-release people who have been recalled at any point without referring the case to the Parole Board.

Response
Turning to the conditions of windows and frames, I am pleased to say that a programme of works to replace windows site-wide and install anti-barricade doors, which to date has been unable to be progressed as a result of funding and capacity pressures, can now be developed and will be considered for funding once current costs are understood. In the interim, the Governor has also agreed to fund the installation of some new windows and window grills from the prisons budget which have been highlighted as a drone risk and as such Amey projects have been asked to cost this. This is expected to significantly reduce the risk of drones and following completion HMP Onley will locate prisoners strategically based on their risk.

Response
HMPPS continues to work hard to deter, detect and disrupt the illegal use of drones targeting our prisons. The Risk and Capabilities Unit, in the Directorate of Security have provided support and guidance to HMP Onley through the completion of a Drone Vulnerability Assessment to understand the local threats and identify appropriate mitigations. This includes engagement with the police and has resulted in the arrest and conviction of two individuals relating to conveyance of articles into the prison via a drone. A 400 metre drone Restricted Fly Zone has been introduced around all closed prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales making it an offence to pilot a drone without authorisation. The Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act 2021 allows prisons to authorise the use of counter-drone technology and the Act also enables the police to stop and search those suspected of committing drone-related crimes. HMPPS are exploring other options to mitigate this growing risk, including technological deployments and resourcing to maximise their impact, working closely across government to assess the effectiveness in a rapidly changing technological landscape. HMPPS will also approach HM Treasury under the next Spending Review to seek funding for capability, resource and physical countermeasures. Locally, HMP Onley recognise that this is a risk for the prison and act quickly following intelligence. The prison has implemented a local process to take immediate action following the sighting of a drone. All new staff are briefed about the procedure and the actions that need to be taken. Additionally, local operating procedure has been revised and staff deployed strategically following intelligence regarding areas vulnerable to drone activity. This has had a direct effect on the number of attempted drone incursions. All confirmed drone sightings are reported to the police and national security teams, and the prison will continue to work closely with the local police to target organised crime gangs involved in drone activity.

Response
Previously in 2024, HMP Onley funded a recruitment campaign for workshop Instructors that worked to recruit directly from appropriate industries. There has been significant interest recently in the current vacancies for Instructional Officer which is positive and HMP Onley is reviewing the staffing model to attract an increased number of Instructors at the appropriate level as quickly as possible. Additionally, New Futures Network have been working closely with HMP Onley to set up commercial contracts for workshops and finding additional work. This includes the setup of a new call centre adding 14 activity spaces. There has also been significant progress in the workshop during 2024, with increased activity spaces in commercial workshops from 132 to 220.

Response
It remains the responsibility of the sending prisons and HMP Onley to ensure that prisoners allocated meet the guidance in the national offender flows model that relates to the receiving prison, and to consider what interventions or courses are available to suit their needs. However, it is recognised that the remand population continues to grow to unprecedented levels because of the courts backlog and this impact is being felt in the training estate. The convicted unsentenced population has also put significant pressure on the availability of spaces in reception prisons, resulting in fewer prisoners in the training cohort to move from reception to training prisons. HMPPS continues to do its very best to maintain offender flows in the face of ongoing population pressures across the entire adult male prison estate. Where HMP Onley identifies that a prisoner needs further interventions that are not provided locally, the prison and Prison Group direct raise this need with the appropriate allocations team. It is also recognised that the resettlement cohort in HMP Onley consists of prisoners from the London probation region as the prison operates as a satellite for London. There has been a slight increase in the number of London resettlement prisoners and a decrease in the number of prisoners from the West and East Midlands probation region held at the prison. HMP Onley is staffed by the East of England probation region which currently works with London to provide an in-reach service. No decision has been made yet for HMP Onley to stop serving London. However, this is the longer-term objective, working with the Probation Service and the Governor, when it is the right time to formalise a change. In the meantime, the priority remains to maximise capacity in reception prisons to serve the courts and to encourage prisons to support offender flows as much as possible to allow the rehabilitation needs of each prisoner to be met.

Response
When staffing levels allow, this will be re-introduced.

Response
Previously in 2024, HMP Onley funded a recruitment campaign for workshop Instructors that worked to recruit directly from appropriate industries. There has been significant interest recently in the current vacancies for Instructional Officer which is positive and HMP Onley is reviewing the staffing model to attract an increased number of Instructors at the appropriate level as quickly as possible. Additionally, New Futures Network have been working closely with HMP Onley to set up commercial contracts for workshops and finding additional work. This includes the setup of a new call centre adding 14 activity spaces. There has also been significant progress in the workshop during 2024, with increased activity spaces in commercial workshops from 132 to 220.