HMP LONG LARTIN Prison Regime Info

Online Library documents for HMP LONG LARTIN

UNLOCKING TIMES

Mon: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 19:15
Tue: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 19:15
Wed: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 19:15
Thu: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 19:15
Fri: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 17:10
Sat: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 17:10
Sun: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 17:10
 

ASSOCIATION

Mon: 17:45 - 19:10
Tue: 17:45 - 19:10
Wed: 17:45 - 19:10
Thu: 17:45 - 19:10
Fri: 13:50 - 17:10
Sat: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 17:10
Sun: 08:00 - 12:20 & 13:50 - 17:10
 

HEALTH & SPORTS

The PE Department operates a seven day per week programme which includes five evening sessions. Prisoners are allowed to apply for two sessions within the working week Monday to Friday, one evening session per week and two sessions at the weekends – enhanced prisoners will get priority at the weekend. The department includes a full size sports hall, a weight-training room with a section for fitness training and a purpose built classroom and an all weather area. The PE programme also offers many opportunities to gain nationally accredited qualifications. A sports representative committee is in operation and sits once per month to raise and discuss issues relating to improving and developing the PE provision at HMP Long Lartin.

Sports available include;

• Badminton
• Basketball
• Circuit Training
• Indoor Bowls
• Light Circuit Training
• Over 40s
• Over 50s
• Remedial
• Soccer
• Soft Tennis
• Sports Field
• Volleyball
• Weight Loss Programme
• Weight Training

LIBRARY

Everyday (Prisoners can access Library for 1 hour).

The library provides a wide range of reading material and music in the form of CDs.

FAITH

Every prison has a Chaplaincy department managed by a Co-ordinating Chaplain and supported by admin staff, other Chaplains and ‘Sessional Chaplains’ (faith leaders who visit for specific services or sessions). The Chaplaincy is considered an important part of the prison structure. When a prisoner arrives at a prison they are usually seen by a Chaplain within 24 hours and are invited to register as a specific religion (if they haven’t already done so) and can change their declared religion at any time.

The Chaplaincy does far more than just pastoral care; they often are able to lend radios, musical instruments and typewriters; they may take part in Sentence Planning and are available as a ‘listening ear’ and are able, sometimes, to help with domestic problems. Most Chaplaincies run various courses and activities which may or may not have a religious theme. Every prisoner has the right to follow their religious practices and attend Chapel for services pertaining to their declared faith (even when segregated).

The Chaplaincy are able to organise faith activities for all main religions (as recognised by the Prison Service; this does not, at present include Rastafarian as a specific religion) and contact faith representatives to visit individual or groups of prisoners for the purpose of religious activities. The chaplaincy can also intercede on matters of religious dress, diet and artefacts. A full list of permitted artefacts can be found in the Glossary Section under Religious Artefacts.

You can contact the Chaplaincy by letter or by telephoning the main prison number and asking to speak to the Chaplaincy. The Chaplaincy works as part of the prison and cannot, therefore, guarantee confidentiality (they can explain this to you in detail). Prisoners can contact the Chaplaincy in person or by Application.

Chaplaincy Statement of Purpose (HMPS)
The Chaplaincy is committed to serving the needs of prisoners, staff and religious traditions by engaging all human experience. We will work collaboratively, respecting the integrity of each tradition and discipline. We believe that faith and the search for meaning directs and inspires life, and are committed to providing sacred spaces and dedicated teams to deepen and enrich human experience. We contribute to the care of prisoners to enable them to lead law-abiding and useful lives in custody and after release.

The Co-ordinating Chaplain at Long Lartin is: Ismail Isakji

The Chaplaincy Team is made up of three full-time and a number of part-time and sessional Chaplains in the multi-faith team.

At present there are two chapels and a range of multi-faith rooms.

The Chaplaincy team provides pastoral care for staff and prisoners alike. The aim is to enable prisoners to discover and develop a spiritual awareness and to practice their chosen faith both individually and in groups.

In addition to the faith specific services and groups, there are a range of general activities involving; art, music, concerts, seminars. Bereavement support is offered. There is a scheme to enable prisoners to send out flowers and to purchase trainers and radios.

HEALTHCARE

The Healthcare Centre is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of nurses employed by Worcestershire Primary Care Trust NHS. The GPs are employed through the Trust via an agency.

It is essentially a Primary Care facility so you would expect to find the same services here as you would find in your local GP practice. For example, there are nurse-led clinics for long-term condition management such as asthma, diabetes etc and, in addition, regular clinics are held for dentistry, optometry, podiatry and physiotherapy. There is a small x-ray unit for routine x-rays.

There are a number of visiting Consultants and Specialists. Forensic Psychiatry is provided by a Consultant from Reaside Clinic supported by a team of psychiatric nurses who are a part of the multi-disciplinary team.

There is also have a small Acute Admissions Unit for those people who would benefit from some increased nursing intervention in the short-term.

NHS Healthcare Information for Long Lartin

Prison Healthcare Manager: Gill Thomas
Tel: 01386 835100

PCT: Worcester Primary Care Trust
West Midlands Strategic Health Authority

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS is there to help when you need advice, or wish to make a complaint. As a patient, relative or carer PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your NHS care.

The service aims to:
• advise and support patients, their families and carers
• provide information on NHS services
• listen to your concerns, suggestions or queries
• help sort out problems quickly on your behalf

PALS acts independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and where appropriate, relevant organisations to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary they can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

Contact Information

Tel: 0800 917 7919 (Freephone - voice and minicom)
Fax: 01905 763130
Email: PALS@worcestershire.nhs.uk

Freepost RSAS-EKJR-YKRG
PALS
NHS Worcestershire
Ground Floor, West Wing
Wildwood
Wildwood Drive
WORCESTER
WR5 2LG

There is also a Dental Helpline for ALL NHS dental enquiries: 01702 226668
 

EDUCATION

EDUCATION PROVIDER
The Manchester College
The Manchester College, Offender Learning Directorate, Fielden Compus, Burlow Manor Road M1 3HB
Tel: 0800 068 8585

Career Information & Advice Services (CIAS)
JHP Group Ltd
Sutherland House, Matlock Road, Foleshill, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 4JQ
Tel: 024 7666 7891
 

The Education Department offers a wide range of learning opportunities both in the classroom and the workplace. It focuses on the need to raise basic skills with a fully equipped Skills for Life Workshop, whilst also offering Open University courses to those who wish to study at degree level.

Courses available include;

• Art
• Basic Education
• Clait
• Computer Studies
• Cookery
• Crafts
• Creative Writing
• English
• Key Skills
• Language
• Life and Social Skills
• Literacy
• Maths
• Numeracy
• Open University

 OFSTED INSPECTION

OFSTED inspect education establishments from schools to colleges to prisons. They inspect education facilities within prisons and have inspected HMP Long Lartin.

Inspection judgements
Inspectors use a four-point scale to summarise their judgements about achievement and standards, the quality of provision, and leadership and management, which includes a grade for equality of opportunity.

Key for inspection grades

• Grade 1 Outstanding;
• Grade 2 Good;
• Grade 3 Satisfactory;
• Grade 4 Inadequate.

Click Here for further information on how inspection judgements are made.
 

Scope of the inspection
In deciding the scope of the inspection, inspectors take account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and comments from the local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) or other funding body. Where appropriate, inspectors also consider the previous inspection report , reports from the inspectorates’ monitoring visits, and data on learners and their achievements over the period since the previous inspection.

OFSTED NUMBER: 52308
Last Inspection Date: 14/07/2008

Summary of grades awarded

Achievement and standards: 2
Capacity to improve: 2
Effectiveness of provision: 3
Employability training: 2
Equality of opportunity: 3
Leadership and management: 3
Literacy, numeracy and ESOL: 3
Personal development and social integration: 3
Quality of provision: 3

To read their report click here
 

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Prisoners work in busy activity areas assembling plumbing equipment and recycling CDs for commercial companies earning enhanced wages. In addition, there is a range of vocational training opportunities including a woodcraft training area, bricklaying, barbering, industrial cleaning, laundry and painting and decorating. All activity areas are developing accreditation as a key part of the regime to enhance prisoner employability upon release, as well as providing settlement to long-term prisoners. A popular gymnasium, which has been extended, offers a range of accredited courses.

Accredited Course include:

• Barbers - Barbering NVQ Level 1/2
• Basic Construction Skills (Bricklaying) - C&G
• Basic Construction Skills (Electrical) - C&G
• Basic Construction Skills (Painting & Decorating) C&G
• Industrial Cleaning - BICSc
• Laundry Technician's Certificate
• Practical Crafts (wood) OCN
• Performing Manufacturing (Woodcraft) NVQ Level 1
• Print Shop
• Various First Aid courses

Note: some workshops are mainstream and some VP.

Using ICT (Entry 3) (QCF)

Current Wages

Employed: £4.00 - £39.00
Education: £5 (Basic), £13.50 (Standard & Enhanced)
Retired: £5 (Basic), £10.00 (Standard & Enhanced)
Long term sick: £5, (Basic) £10.00 (Standard & Enhanced)
 

OFFENCE FOCUSED COURSES

• Cognitive Self Change Programme (CSCP)
• Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it (CALM)
• FOCUS - Drug Treatment Programme
• HLS

RESETTLEMENT

• Careers  and housing advice
• Self employment classes

FAMILY DAYS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PRISON PERFORMANCE
Ministry of Justice Performance Rating for this prison: 3
This is on a scale from 1 (serious concerns) to 4 (Exceptional) and is worked out by the Ministry of Justice taking into account 34 criteria such as overcrowding, purposeful activities etc. A score of 3 is considered a good performance. Published quarterly.

Average weekly hours of Purposeful Activity: 20.3 (2010)
This figure is supplied by each prison to the Prison Service. Actual hours are usually dependent on activities etc. and should be taken as the maximum time either in workshops or education over a whole week.
Both of these figures are published retrospectively by the MoJ and HMPS and may have changed since the figures were published but they give a simple comparison between prisons.
 

PRISON BUDGET
Annual Budget: £28,4 00,000 (2011-12)*
Approx cost per prisoner place (2010): £69,331
*The annual budget allocated to the governor covers all major costs of running the prison but excludes most costs related to education and healthcare.
 

Parliamentary Information
CONSTITUENCY: Worcestershire Mid
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Peter Luff (Conservative)

Prisoners may write to either their ‘Home MP’ or the MP in whose constituency their current prison lies.
The address to write to is:
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephones
Most prisons now have PIN phones. Your relative or friend usually needs to apply to have your name and number on his/her telephone account. You will usually receive a call from the prison to check who you are and to ensure you are happy for them to call you. Prisoners cannot receive telephone calls.

There is no restriction on who prisoners can call except in the case of calls to journalists intended to be broadcast. In some cases child protection measures may mean extra checks on who they call.

Prisoners can normally make calls only during ‘association’ periods. Some prisons limit the length of time a call can last to avoid queues and people being disappointed. Prisoners’ telephone calls are very expensive; calls to landlines now cost 10p per minute and 37.5 p to mobiles (compared to 2p in a public phone box). In most prisons the phone calls can be listened to and/or recorded.

If a prisoner is newly convicted or transferred they should be offered an immediate ‘Reception’ phone call to tell you where they are. It may take a few days for numbers to be transferred or added.

Letters
When you write to a prisoner you must include your full name and address. In most prisons the letters are searched and can be read before being given to the prisoner.

You can write about anything but letters must not be obscene, name ‘victims’, or be a threat to discipline or security. Do not enclose any items with letters. Make sure you put sufficient postage to cover the costs (anything bigger than A5 counts as ‘large’). Prisoners can normally receive a ‘reasonable’ number of letters per week.

If you send greetings cards these should be of reasonable size and not padded or pouched. Do not send musical cards. If you are sending more than one card put them all inside one outer envelope, this saves postage. Remember to include your full details (you could put your details on a ‘Post-It’ note stuck to the card or include a letter which has your details).

Always put the prisoner’s full name and prison number. If the person has been moved their mail will be forwarded.

On conviction or transfer a prisoner should be given a ‘Reception’ letter to write to tell you where they are.

Prisoners are given a free letter each week to post out, they can send more, but at their own expense. Some prisons allow you to send in stamps.

Photographs
You can usually send in photographs but in some prisons these must not include any image of the prisoner. Child protection measures may mean that some prisoners may not receive pictures of children, unless they are their own and were not ‘victims’. If you send pictures of children include an explanatory note identifying who the children are and their relationship to the prisoner.

Money
It is not a good idea to send cash. Prisons prefer postal orders, but you could send a cheque. Make these payable to ‘H M Prison Service’, write your name on the back and also the prisoner’s full name and prison number. Any money sent which is deemed to be ‘anonymous’ can be stopped.
Money you send is paid into the prisoner’s ‘Private Cash’ account and they get access to a certain amount (depending upon IEP) each week [currently £15.50 for Standard prisoners].

Visits
For full information about visits please refer to our ‘Visit Info’ section for this prison. Visits are very important to prisoners. At most prisons you may not give any item to the prisoner. Any items you wish to give them must usually be posted to the prison, and often after the prisoner has placed an ‘application’ for authorisation to have it sent in. The items which can be posted in are very limited. Check with the prisoner first and wait until they confirm that you can post it.

Emergencies
If there is a serious emergency - close family serious illness, death, or other reason you need to inform the prisoner immediately, you should telephone the main prison number and explain the problem to the operator who will transfer you to the appropriate person. If you are unhappy about their response redial and ask to speak to the Chaplaincy. Prison staff will not pass on general messages but only critical and very urgent messages. You should provide full details of the prisoner including their number.

Support and Advice
There are many very good charities and agencies who offer support and advice to people with family or friends in prison. We have a special section ‘Help/Support’ which has details and contact information for many of these. Do not hesitate or feel shy about calling any of these; they are there to offer support and advice.

EMAIL A PRISONER
This service operates at this prison. Email a Prisoner enables you to send messages to prisoners, in the UK and Irish prisons that operate the service, from any computer, without any of the hassles of writing and posting a letter, and it costs less than a second class stamp!

Your message is delivered to the prison within seconds so that it can be delivered to the prisoner by the prison staff in the next delivery.

It is free to sign up to Email a Prisoner and only takes a few seconds - all you need is an email address (EMaP can help you if you don't have an email address).

Once a member you will be able to send a message to any prisoner in the UK or Ireland, provided you know their prisoner number, from just 25 pence per message.

Click Here for link to Email a Prisoner website

Story Book Dads/Mums
Story Book Dads/Mums operates at this prison.
The imprisoned parent records a story and a message which is then edited and enhanced using digital audio software and editors remove mistakes and add sound effects and music. Finally a CD is made, a personalised cover created, and the finished disc sent to the child. The whole service is free.

Click Here for more information

Prison Video Link (PVL)
All prisons with video link facilities have at least one courtroom and two briefing rooms where the defendant can hold a conference with their solicitor before and, if required, after their court hearing.

If court hearings are not taking place it may be possible for solicitors, barristers and Probation Officers to hold interviews with a prisoner via video link to save having to visit the prison.

The facility is also available to assist the Parole Board in dealing with oral hearings.
It should be noted however that court hearings must take priority.

At other times, operational reasons may mean bookings are refused or cancelled at short notice.

To book the Video Link facility telephone: 01386 835130 (Direct dial)
 

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP)

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMI Prisons) is an independent inspectorate which reports on conditions for, and treatment of, those in prisons, young offender institutions and immigration detention facilities. They provide independent scrutiny of the conditions for and treatment of prisoners and other detainees, promoting the concept of 'healthy prisons' in which staff work effectively to support prisoners and detainees to reduce reoffending or achieve other agreed outcomes.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) is appointed from outside the Prison Service, for a term of five years. The Chief Inspector reports to Ministers on the treatment of prisoners and conditions in prisons in England and Wales.

The Inspectorate’s programme of inspection is based on a mixture of chronology and risk assessment. Full inspections run on a five or three year cycle; all unannounced follow-up inspections run on a risk-assessed basis.

Full inspections
Prison establishments holding adults and young adults are inspected once every five years. Establishments holding juveniles are inspected every three years. This type of inspection lasts for at least one week. The Inspectorate collects information from many sources, including the people who work there, the people who are imprisoned or detained there, and visitors or others with an interest in the establishment. Inspection findings are reported back to the establishment’s managers. Reports are published within 16 weeks of inspection. The establishment is then expected to produce an action plan, based on the recommendations made within the report, within a short period following publication.

Full follow-up inspections
Follow-up inspections are unannounced and proportionate to risk. In full follow-up inspections inspectors assess progress made and undertake in-depth analysis of areas of serious concern identified in the previous full inspection, particularly on safety and respect.

Short follow-up inspections
Short follow-up inspections are also unannounced and conducted where the previous full inspection and their intelligence systems suggest that there are comparatively fewer concerns.

Escort inspections
Three escort inspections are conducted every year.

Pre-inspection visit
One month prior to each full announced inspection, an inspector will visit the establishment to plan the inspection and request a range of preliminary information. In addition, researchers will attend to conduct a confidential survey of a representative proportion of the prisoner population. Results from the prisoner survey are provided for inspectors prior to the inspection and constitute an important source of evidence.

The inspection
All inspections are conducted against the Inspectorate's published inspection criteria, 'Expectations'. Expectations' are based on international human rights standards, as well as Prison Service Orders and Standards, and over all issues considered essential to the safe, respectful and purposeful treatment of prisoners in custody and their effective resettlement.
'Expectations' is the document which sets out the detailed criteria HMI Prisons uses to appraise and inspect prisons. These criteria are used to examine every area of prison life, from reception to resettlement, including;

• safer custody
• health services
• good order
• work
• diversity
• resettlement

The concept of a healthy prison is one that was first set out by the World Health Organisation, but it has been developed by this Inspectorate, and is now widely accepted as a definition of what ought to be provided in any custodial environment. It rests upon four key tests:

• safety: prisoners, even the most vulnerable, are held safely
• respect: prisoners are treated with respect for their human dignity
• purposeful activity: prisoners are able, and expected, to engage in activity that is likely to benefit them
• resettlement: prisoners are prepared for release into the community, and helped to reduce the likelihood of reoffending

Post-inspection action
Inspection reports are published within 16 weeks of the inspection. Prior to publication, the Prison Service (or whoever is responsible for the establishment) is invited to correct any factual inaccuracies within the report. The establishment is then expected to produce an action plan, based on the recommendations made in the report, within two months of publication. A progress report on the action plain is produced after a further 12 months.

HMCIP REPORT
Last Inspection by HMCIP: 17–26 August 2011 - unannounced full follow-up inspection
Published: January 2012

The vulnerable prisoner wings have a night sanitation system, which amounts to slopping out

They said:
“HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire is a high security dispersal prison holding some of the country’s most dangerous prisoners. This follow-up inspection found the prison sustained reasonably good outcomes for most prisoners in most areas. However, within that generally good picture we had a number of significant concerns.

“ The prison was divided into two parts. The older wings held prisoners who were vulnerable because of the nature of their offence, who could not cope with the main prison or who needed protection for other reasons.

“ Most prisoners in the main prison felt safe. However, a high proportion of the prisoners on the vulnerable prisoner wings told us they did not feel safe at the time of the inspection and we did not believe the prison had taken sufficient steps to understand and address their concerns. One of the factors they said made them fearful was the availability of drugs. Diverted medication was indeed a problem but despite this, suspicion testing rates were very low. There were relatively few violent incidents but those that did occur were often serious. The supervision of and efforts to address bullying and violent behaviour were not sufficiently rigorous.

“ Incidents of self-harm were similarly low – but once again we were concerned about how the few prisoners involved were dealt with. Too often prisoners subject to formal self-harm prevention procedures were held in the segregation unit. Those thought to be at most risk were held in gated observation cells and normally placed in strip clothing. Almost half of those held in the segregation unit were there for their own protection. Others were confined in their cells as a punishment because they said they were too frightened to go back to the main wings and had refused to do so. The segregation unit was undoubtedly a challenging environment but the regime was very limited, staff often appeared disinterested, the gated cell in use was dirty and the grim ‘exercise yard’ consisted of two rows of individual cages. In the prison as a whole, the use of force appeared proportionate and we saw good evidence of the use of de-escalation techniques.

“ In contrast to their perceptions of safety, most prisoners on the vulnerable prisoner wings felt staff treated them with respect and it was mainstream prisoners whose perceptions were worse in this area. This was born out by our own observations. Relationships were, at best, mixed and too many staff appeared distant and unapproachable. The prison itself had identified similar concerns.

“ The vulnerable prisoner wings had a night sanitation system. This involved prisoners using their night sanitation button at night to join a queue so they could leave their cell one at a time to use the toilet. Inevitably, the system did not work effectively and prisoners often had to use a bucket in their cell which they emptied in the morning. Whatever the official title, this was slopping out.

“ There was good diversity work and an effective, energetic chaplaincy. Five per cent of prisoners overall and 10% on the vulnerable prisoner wings identified themselves as Gypsy or Traveller. Efforts to meet their needs and understand the implications of their background for resettlement and offender management were (as they are nationally) superficial. The prison also needed much more help from the Prison Service nationally to work successfully with around a quarter of prisoners who were Muslim. It is disappointing that little progress appears to have been made in responding to our thematic report on Muslim prisoners’ experiences, published last year. Eid took place before inspection and those held in the Detainee Unit were not allowed to celebrate with the rest of the prison population. Although not the subject of this inspection (we reported separately on the Detainee Unit in April 2011) there had been little change in the position of the detainees, some of whom had been held without trial for a number of years. One of the detainees has now been released back into the community, which appears to further undermine the case for a blanket policy of detaining all of these men in isolation from other prisoners.

“ Communal dining and simple self-cooking arrangements were appreciated. Health care was good and well organised. There were good inpatient facilities for very ill patients and the quality of palliative care had recently been commended following an independent clinical investigation. However, it was unacceptable that sick prisoners who needed transfer to mental health facilities faced excessive waits. In 2010 it took over nine months to get one prisoner transferred to an NHS medium secure unit.

“ Purposeful activity was of reasonable quantity and quality, although there was scope for improvement in both. There was broadly sufficient activity to meet the needs of the population and additional vocational training places were planned. The prison had worked effectively to ensure vulnerable and mainstream prisoners both had access to equivalent activity. Workshops reflected commercial conditions but there were not always enough orders to provide sufficient work. The library and PE were good.

“ Few prisoners were released from Long Lartin and most were subject to offender management over the length of their sentence to reduce the risk of their reoffending. Although a good strategy and procedures were in place, some offender supervisors lacked the training, experience, supervision and time to carry out their duties effectively. Measures to identify and manage the public and child protection risks some prisoners posed were effective.

“ For most prisoners, most of the time, Long Lartin provided a reasonably safe and decent environment with sufficient purposeful activity and work to reduce the risk that they would reoffend on their eventual release. Some aspects of the prison, such as health care, were very good. However other aspects – the segregation unit cages and slopping out – were unacceptably poor. The contrasts in the perceptions of vulnerable and mainstream prisoners were striking. The fears of vulnerable prisoners for their safety need to be taken seriously, understood and addressed, as do mainstream prisoners’ concerns about the way they are treated, which were reflected in our observations and the prison’s own concerns. Long Lartin successfully holds some of the most challenging prisoners in the system; this report notes its achievement in doing so but recognises that there is no room for complacency.”

Nick Hardwick October 2011
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Click Here to download the full report

Previous Report
by HMCIP: July 2008 (Announced Full Inspection)

They said:
"Long Lartin in Worcestershire is one of the country’s five high security dispersal prisons and holds some of the most serious prisoners in the system. Shortly before this announced full inspection, the profile of the population changed, with the arrival of a large number of vulnerable prisoners, mainly sex offenders, from HMP Whitemoor. This transition had been well managed and, despite some early concerns among vulnerable prisoners, the prison was reasonably safe. In general, there were good staff-prisoner relationships, although staff needed better training to engage and support effectively the significant number of Muslim prisoners. 

"As befits a high security prison, there was an appropriate focus on safety and security. Reception, first night and induction arrangements had all been revised to separate mainstream and vulnerable prisoners, and these changes were still bedding in at the time of the inspection. Some vulnerable prisoners were not yet convinced about their safety, and policies and procedures across the prison needed to be reviewed to ensure they reflected the changed population profile. Anti-bullying and suicide prevention procedures were generally good, although it was inappropriate that some self-harming prisoners were routinely stripped of their clothes. The large segregation unit was generally well managed, and use of force did not appear excessive given the nature of the population. 

"Staff-prisoner relationships were generally good and supported by an effective personal officer scheme. However, work was needed to ensure that diversity issues were more fully developed. In particular, the sizeable Muslim prisoner population in the main prison felt disproportionately poorly treated by staff. Conversely, Muslim prisoners in the small category A immigration detainee unit commended their treatment by committed staff. Lessons from the unit had evidently not been learnt across the prison, and mainstream staff were left to balance as best they could the need to engage with and ensure proper treatment for Muslim prisoners and the need to monitor and prevent radicalisation. As we have previously said, there needs to be a national strategy to equip staff better to engage and support Muslim prisoners. 

"Primary health services were good, but in a population with significant mental health issues, it was worrying that these services were overstretched. There were shortfalls in all grades of staff providing primary and secondary mental health services, and the prison needed to work urgently with the local primary care trust to address these shortcomings. 

"The quality and quantity of work, training and education were satisfactory, and prisoners spent a reasonable amount of time out of cell. However, there had been some delays in developing sufficient accredited vocational opportunities, and more could be done to ease movement to activities without jeopardising security. Gym and library facilities were good. Resettlement and offender management arrangements were generally adequate, with an appropriate emphasis on reducing risk among a very serious offender population. However, strategies needed to be reviewed to ensure they adequately reflected the needs of the expanded vulnerable prisoner population. While there were some excellent offending behaviour programmes, more work was also needed on the other resettlement pathways. 

"Staff and managers at Long Lartin are to be commended for successfully managing the recent influx of a large number of vulnerable prisoners, and for ensuring that the prison remains a generally safe place despite its very challenging population. Staff-prisoner relationships, purposeful activity and resettlement were generally positive. However, we identify a number of areas that require further work. In particular, policies and procedures across the prison need to take account of the expanded vulnerable prisoner population, mental health services need   improvement, and staff must be much better equipped to engage with and support the significant number of Muslim prisoners. "

Anne Owers October 2008 
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Click here to read the full report  (Large File 1MB)
 

Independent Monitoring Board

By law every prison and immigration removal centre must have an Independent Monitoring Board. IMBs in prisons derive their responsibilities from the Prison Act 1952 (Section 6). Prison Rules dealing with IMBs are numbers; 74 to 80

IMBs were known as ‘Boards of Visitors’ and are still referred to in the legislation under their old titles, although this is likely to change in the near future.

The Independent Monitoring Board for each establishment is made up of independent and unpaid volunteers from the local area. They monitor the day-to-day life in the establishment and ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained. Members have unrestricted access to all areas of the prison at all times and can talk to any prisoner they wish, out of sight and hearing of a members of staff. They visit all areas such as; kitchens, workshops, accommodation blocks, recreation areas, healthcare centre and chaplaincy.

If a prisoner or detainee has an issue that they have been unable to resolve through the usual internal channels, they can place a confidential request to see a member of the IMB. Problems might include concerns over lost property, visits from family or friends, special religious or cultural requirements, or even serious allegations such as bullying. In addition, if something serious happens at the prison, for example a riot or a death in custody, IMB members may be called in to attend and observe the way in which it is handled.

IMB members sample food, can attend adjudications and should visit people held in the segregation unit. They must also be kept informed on such issues as the use of restraints.

The IMB meets regularly, usually once per month, and has an elected Chair and Vice Chair. Members work together as a team to raise any matters of concern and to keep an independent eye on the prison.

Last Update: March 2012