Ligature points

HMP Bristol, a Category B local prison, navigated the reporting year (August 2019 – July 2020) under significant COVID-19 restrictions, which impacted the daily regime but also led to a more settled environment and improved staff morale. Despite efforts, safety ratings remained low, with high levels of self-harm, violence, and increased use of force incidents. Challenges persisted with delayed mental health transfers, unsuitable Victorian accommodation for disabled prisoners, and resource issues affecting key work and healthcare.

The IMB report for HMYOI Cookham Wood covers 1 August 2019 – 31 August 2020, focusing heavily on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown. While staff are commended for their caring approach and efforts to maintain safety and welfare, particularly during initial lockdown, the severe and protracted regime resulted in boys being locked in their rooms for over 23 hours a day, raising significant concerns about inhumane treatment, especially for those in segregation or with mental health issues. Key challenges include the unfit Phoenix segregation unit, national shortages of mental health beds, delays in transferring young adults, and an increasing remand population, all exacerbated by the lack of IT capacity during the pandemic.

HMP Cardiff maintained a reasonably safe environment with low violence, but self-harm incidents increased to 712, with four deaths in custody (three self-inflicted). The COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted the regime, impacting purposeful activity, time out of cell (1.5 hours daily), and overall prisoner wellbeing. Persistent staffing shortages hampered healthcare and mental health services, while disparities for BAME prisoners in areas like segregation and dangerous prisoner labels remained a concern.

This IMB annual report for HMP/YOI Eastwood Park for the year ending October 2020 highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prison operations and monitoring. While staff efforts and communication were generally commendable, concerns persist regarding rising self-harm incidents, ongoing violence towards staff, and the continuous flow of illicit substances. The Board remains particularly concerned about the prolonged segregation of a brain-injured prisoner and the lack of appropriate secure specialist facilities for women with complex needs.

HMP/YOI Foston Hall operated under severe COVID-19 restrictions for most of the year, leading to drastic regime changes, including confinement to cells for most of the day. Despite significant staff commitment and efforts by healthcare and resettlement services, key concerns persist regarding persistently high self-harm, staff assaults, and use of force, alongside infrastructure issues in D wing and the CSU. The report highlights the inhumane impact of the restricted regime and the challenges in maintaining essential services and progression opportunities.

The Independent Monitoring Board for Dungavel House IRC reports a generally safe and humane environment for detainees in 2024, with good staff-detainee relationships and healthcare provision. Key concerns include the uncertainty of detainees' futures, high numbers of night-time arrivals and departures, and ongoing issues with roof accessibility and building maintenance. The Board also noted that female facilities are considered inadequate.

HMP Bure, a Category C training prison for sexual offenders, holds 639 prisoners against an operational capacity of 643. While commendable for humane treatment, high time out of cell, and low violence metrics, the Board identifies critical challenges. These include budget cuts impacting education and purposeful activity, inadequate healthcare for the aging population, and persistent staffing shortages affecting regime and support. National policy issues around prisoner wages and property management also remain significant concerns for the Board.

HMP/YOI Bronzefield, a local female prison, effectively managed the initial COVID-19 lockdown, maintaining a nearly virus-free environment, but the sustained restricted regime led to a significant rise in self-harm and mental health concerns. Key issues included a high proportion of prisoners released without stable accommodation, persistent challenges with timely mental health transfers, and a shortage of cell keys affecting prisoner property security. Despite these, the Board noted positive developments in food quality, key worker implementation, and effective education provision during the pandemic.

Gatwick IRC experienced a volatile year ending March 2024, marked by high levels of violence, self-harm, and one death in custody. The Board expresses significant concerns over inadequate safeguards for vulnerable detainees, long detention periods, and systemic failures in healthcare, particularly around Rules 34 and 35. Detainees also face issues with interpretation services, excessive handcuffing, and an inhumane regime with long lock-up times and increased segregation.

HMP/YOI Pentonville, a category B/C local prison, faces significant challenges in providing a safe and rehabilitative environment. While staff demonstrated resilience during COVID-19, and some improvements were made in drug reduction and key working, the prison's deteriorating infrastructure, high levels of violence, and persistent issues with regime delivery severely impacted prisoner welfare and resettlement. The Board highlights a lack of investment, poor maintenance, and inadequate staffing as root causes, resulting in concerns about safety, healthcare access, and purposeful activity.

That a gap be created at the top of the toilet doors, at Festival Court HR, to allow DCOs to monitor the safety of detainees.

The Board reiterates the concerns of Dame Anne Owers in her letter of 11 November 2020 to the Director General of Prisons regarding the decision that the making of a ligature by prisoners is no longer a nationally reportable self-harm incident.

Can funds be found for replacing cell windows and grills?

Can the minister expedite approval of the necessary funding [for safer custody windows]?

The board repeats its recommendation from its 2019 report that consideration should be given to installing robust preventative measures to ensure that roofs are not accessible to detainees. This would help towards the safety of detainees and staff.

With respect to the promotion of prison safety, the Board supports the concerns of Dame Anne Owers (letter to the Director General of Prisons, November 2020) regarding the decision that making a ligature (also known as noose making) by prisoners should no longer be a nationally reportable self-harm incident.

The number of out of use cells, particularly in the care and separation unit (CSU), was a concern. Is there a plan to accelerate the repair of damaged cells and to a standard that reduces the potential for future damage?

As has been mentioned in previous reports, consideration should be given to installing robust preventative measures to ensure that roofs are not accessible to detained persons. This would help towards the safety of residents and staff.

What immediate actions will be taken to address the inadequate and potentially dangerously deficient constant watch cell?

As has been mentioned in previous reports, consideration should be given to installing robust preventative measures to ensure that roofs are not accessible to detained persons. This would help towards the safety of residents and staff. This remains an issue due to the accessibility of the fire escape stair.

As has been mentioned in previous reports, accessibility to roofs is an ongoing issue and the installation of preventative measures to ensure that roofs are not accessible to detained persons was commenced during the year.

Will you commit to funding the repair or replacement of all remaining insecure cell windows and grilles, which were identified four years ago as needing urgent attention?

When will the low mobility cells be made safe and brought into full use?

Again, there is a lack of sufficient constant-watch cells during times of crisis. The Board noted the response last year that in-patient department cells were being considered, but no decision appears to have been made and G wing’s cell has been intermittently out of action. When will a decision be made?

To ensure that any work in regard to toilets in double cells is addressed: broken screens, lack of toilet seats, etc.

The Board was very concerned that the 12-bed Addison unit remained unfit for purpose, with insufficient beds and cells frequently awaiting repair. The waiting time for a bed in the unit was up to seven days. What is being done to improve capacity for mentally ill prisoners?

ensure that plans are in place to prevent a return to the levels of self-harm over the first three months of the year, when a normal regime is resumed (see section 4.2)

To ensure that work previously planned to introduce screening of toilets within double cells is completed as soon as possible (paragraph 5.1.2).

Install CCTV in the healthcare waiting area (6.1.17)

When can we expect more stringent guidance on cell clearance?

We hope that this year the segregation unit will finally be moved from its underground location.

HMPPS should refurbish the antiquated cell bell system.

What more can be done to enhance safety to ensure the reduction of young people making protective weapons?

Remove prisoners’ access to razor blades as an instrument of self-harm and replace these with safer electric shavers.

Whilst the detaining officers have a direct view to constantly watch and monitor detained individuals within the holding room at East Midlands Airport, the Board recommends that the facility be upgraded to include the current safety and security standards used in new facilities.

Due to the number of self-harm incidents using razor blades, will the Governor consider removing wet shave razors and replace them with electric shavers, as is happening across other prison establishments?

Although the care and separation unit (CSU) is currently undergoing renovation, the underlying problems with its physical size and layout mean it is likely to continue to have serious limitations which will impact on the experience of women held there (see paragraph 5.2.1).

Will the Governor prioritise the fitting of bedrails to top bunk beds in all cells to reduce the risks of injury and litigation? (See paragraph 5.1.1).

The lack of in-cell telephony in the inpatients department (IPD) still needs to be addressed. (see sections 5.4 and 6.1)

Some elements of the prison’s physical security require immediate improvement.

Address the deficiencies in the temporary CSU?

When will CCTV be installed in Healthcare?

The prison lacks CCTV, resulting in some prisoners feeling unsafe. Can consideration be made for funding to be made available to resolve this issue?

Will the minister ensure that sufficient funds continue to be available to the prison for the continuation and enhancement of measures taken to increase the safety of prisoners?

Are there plans for refurbishment of the outdated buildings e.g. the healthcare unit, L wing, E wing and the segregation unit, alongside the planned refurbishment of a previously closed wing and the installation of a new M wing?

Provide the funding to install CCTV in the healthcare building.

What plans are there to ensure that design omissions in this new design prison are addressed in future builds?

The prison continues to be a violent and unsafe environment for both prisoners and staff. What more can the Prison Service do to address this issue?

Will the Prison Service urgently prioritise funds for the installation of enhanced security gates at both sites, in line with the security arrangements at other LTHSE establishments?

Will the prison service directly review the capital funding needed within HMP Hull to improve security measures?