REPORT ON AN UNANNOUNCED FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION OF HM PRISON EXETER 4 – 6 SEPTEMBER 2001 BY HM CHIEF INSPECTOR OF PRISONS 2 CONTENTS Paragraph Page INTRODUCTION 5 FACT PAGE 7 CHAPTER ONE THE PRISON 1.01-1.03 9 CHAPTER TWO PROGRESS SINCE THE 1999 REPORT 2.01-2.189 10 CHAPTER THREE TESTS OF A HEALTHY PRISON AND 3.01-3.28 49 CONCLUSION CHAPTER FOUR SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE Recommendations Director General 4.01-4.02 54 Area Manager 4.03-4.06 54 Governor 4.07-4.43 55 Examples of Good Practice 4.44-4.50 59 3 4 INTRODUCTION Short inspections have been developed to ensure that the Inspectorate visits and checks establishments between full inspections. These inspections are usually unannounced, are carried out by a small team and invariably last for two or three days. Short inspections do not serve the function of full inspections will we believe that they are important in highlighting issues of concern and in identifying areas of progress, innovation and achievement in the treatment of prisoners. There are not intended to cover every aspect of the function of the prison. Four inspectors, Mr Geoff Hughes, Mr Peter Titley, Ms Joss Crosbie and Mrs Marjorie Simonds-Gooding carried out an unannounced short inspection of HM Prison Exeter between the 4 and 6 September 2001. The inspection’s main purpose was to review progress on recommendations made after the last inspection in May 1999. The team also monitored the treatment of prisoners using the model of the healthy prison described in Chapter Seven of ‘Suicide is Everyone’s Concern’ which was published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons in 1999. During their visit they met prisoners and staff, had discussions with the Governor and his senior management team and with the chairman of the Board of Visitors. The findings of the inspection were summarised and shared with the Governor, Senior Management Team and Board of Visitors Chairman immediately prior to the team’s departure. 5 6 FACT PAGE Task of establishment The establishment provides a Local Prison to Courts in the SouthWest of England and houses Adult male offenders and male Young Offenders in separate wings. As a local prison it houses both unconvicted and convicted prisoners. The prisoner population On 4 September 2001 there were 250 convicted prisoners in an adult population of 419. In addition there were 47 convicted Young Offenders with a further 13 Young Prisoners on remand. Ten of the adults were serving Life sentences. There was a notable number of Sex Offenders in the Vulnerable Prisoner Unit. White prisoners made up 96% of the population. Area Organisation Prison Service South West Area Number held At 4 September 2001: Convicted Adults: 250 Convicted YO: 47 Remanded Adults: 169 Remanded YO: 13 TOTAL 479 Cost per place per annum £29,242 Certified Normal Accommodation 321 7 Operational Capacity 547 Last Full Inspection Inspected May 1999 Published August 1999 Description of residential units Prisoners are accommodated in four wings, one of which (D Wing) acts as the Young Offender Unit. This Unit is a re-furbished, former Remand Centre. Despite its modernisation it has no integral sanitation. The other three wings are of traditional, Victorian galleried structure, which have benefited from ongoing maintenance and decoration to provide a generally bright and airy environment. The hillside location of the establishment makes for difficulty in providing access for disabled persons or those with restricted mobility. 8 CHAPTER ONE THE PRISON History 1.01 The prison was built in 1850 and provided the original Devon County Jail. It is now the Local prison for the South West of England. Its architectural style is typical of the era and the prison comprises three galleried Wings plus a refurbished Unit which acts as a separate Young Offender Institution within the campus. The prisoner population 1.02 There were significant indications of mental health issues amongst both remanded and sentenced prisoners. Additionally there was considerable call upon substance-use services and the incidence of crimes related to drug use was significantly higher than that indicated by the index offence alone. 1.03 At the time of the inspection the distribution of sentences by length was as follows: Adult Young Offender Under 6 months 84 19 6-12 months 55 12 12m-2 years 32 7 2 – 3 years 29 4 3-4 years 16 2 4-10 years 20 3 Over 10 years 4 0 Life 10 0 TOTAL 250 47 9 CHAPTER TWO PROGRESS SINCE THE 1999 REPORT Introduction 2.01 In order to examine the progress that had been achieved following our last inspection in May 1999 we have used the recommendations from that report as a framework for our examination of the establishment. 2.02 We have commented where we have found significant improvements and where work remains to be done. We have also highlighted additional information relating to work being undertaken and reported on new good practice examples. During this inspection, we concentrated on aspects that directly affected the treatment and conditions for prisoners and therefore not all the recommendations from the last inspection were examined. The numbers in brackets at the end of each recommendation identify the paragraph of text in the last report. To the Director General Health Care 2.03 The Royal College of General Practitioners should be invited to take on the role of support and advice to doctors working within prisons. (6.04) Achieved. The Prison Service recognised the need to address issues around the qualifications of prison doctors. A working group was approved by Ministers in late 2000 and is expected to report in the Autumn of 2001 and the brief for this included consideration of the importance of clinical governance and the maintenance of up to date skills by prison doctors. 2.04 The Health Care Directorate should give instructions that a form F1981 should be issued whenever a prisoner is placed in restricted circumstances. (6.20) Not achieved. There has been continuing delay and the matter is under review by the Prison Health Policy Unit. We were told that the relevant existing Prison Service 10 Standing Order 13 will be cancelled by Spring 2002 and that new guidance will relate to Form 1981. The recommendation is repeated. Finance 2.05 The demands by Headquarters for an increasing amount of financial information from establishments should be minimised and rationalised. (9.17) This area is no longer inspected. The Estate 2.06 A new gatehouse complex should be built and the opportunity taken to incorporate other departments such as visits and administration. (8.05) Not inspected. 2.07 There should be an annual, continuous programme of repair to preserve the integrity of the wall. (8.07) Not inspected. 2.08 The heating system which uses plenum ducts should be replaced with a wet system with at least four thermostatically controlled zones per wing landing. (8.08) Not inspected. 2.09 Cell windows should be progressively replaced by the modern pattern. (8.11) Not inspected. 2.10 All sash windows should be replaced. (8.11) Not inspected. 2.11 Plans should be drawn up to replace the roof coverings and fit smoke vents at the same time. (8.12) Not inspected 11 2.12 All flat roofs should be covered over with lightweight pitch roofing. (8.13) Partly achieved. See observations at 2.176 To the Area Manager Employment 2.13 Restoring both workshop facilities should be progressed as a matter of priority. (5.35) Achieved Substance Use 2.14 A passive drug dog should be acquired. (4.25) Achieved Segregation Unit 2.15 All cells should be fitted with integral sanitation, proper provision of light and beds. (7.07) Achieved. 2.16 The segregation unit should be closed and alternative accommodation found until the conditions are improved. (7.15) See observations under 2.142 To the Governor Reception 2.17 The shower should be relocated and showers should be offered to all new receptions. (1.04) Not achieved. The establishment accepted that the shower should be moved, but work in Health Care, and improvements in regime activity have taken priority. Therefore, we repeat the recommendation. 12 2.18 The design of the cubicle for holding vulnerable prisoners should be improved. (1.05) Partially achieved. Some work had taken place to reduce the potential for self-harm, and a fan had been installed to improve ventilation. At the time of our inspection, the cubicle was not in use – a statement to this effect being displayed on the door. The cubicle contained the sealed bags of personal belongings of those prisoners due to be transferred to an alternative establishment on that day. However, if the cubicle were to be used to house any prisoner in future, attention would have to be paid to the matter of ligature points. We therefore repeat the original recommendation and draw attention to comments about ligature points elsewhere in this report. Induction 2.19 Phone calls should be offered to all new receptions. (1.07 and 1.08) Achieved. 2.20 All prisoners should receive a full induction programme. (1.11) Achieved. Self Harm 2.21 More Listeners should be recruited. (1.13) Achieved. There were nine Listeners in the prison at the time of this follow-up Inspection, where there had been only four Listeners at the time of our last inspection. One Listener was located in B wing, one in Health Care, one on A2 and six on A4, which was the enhanced wing. The Listeners were able to move between wings at night, and other times, when needed and were working in the gym, Health Care and other locations.