An independent monitoring board report of HMP Isle of Wight – where 98% of inmates are sex offenders – has identified 8 areas of recent improvement, but a number of concerns have been raised about the prison.
In their report, the IMB acknowledges and welcomes improvements in a number of significant areas affecting the daily life of prisoners. The report, which has been released today (Friday), covers 1st January – 31st December 2018.
The 29-page document highlights the following improvements:
• An increase in the frequency of Equalities meetings in the last quarter of 2018
• A substantial decrease in Indeterminate sentence for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners
• Improved communication through ‘You said’ and ‘What we did’ notifications
• An improvement and continuity developments to the complaints process
• The development and commitment to key working
• Significant improvements in the managing of the Segregation and Reintegration Unit (SARU)
• Improved performance in Reception
• Team working between Psychology and Mental Health
The positive improvements within the establishment are demonstrated by the numbers of staff nominated, runners up and winners of the Prison Officer of the Year and Long Term High Security awards.
However, a number of concerns have been identified by the Board. Concerns include:
• The lack of a toenail cutting service for elderly and disabled prisoners
• Access to the prison library for disabled prisoners
• The need for more employment which is of a meaningful nature to ensure prisoners achieve usable skills demonstrated by qualifications for eventual release
• The rising number of applications with regard to prisoners’ property, which creates anxiety and frustration
• Availability of appropriate and professional mental health awareness training for staff particularly in view of the number of new officers joining the service
• Prisoners with special needs e.g. ASD are not identified
• Lack of training for ‘Buddies’
• A lack of ownership of the prisoner support plans limited reviews undertaken
• Insufficient adequate safeguarding training not planned until middle 2019
• No agreed MOU in place regarding Social Care with the local council (still in draft from 2015)
• Over the last year there have been numerous wing closures at weekends, which affect access to the Gym for workers. For example, in Parkhurst in October/November 2018 there were closures on 4 out of 5 consecutive weekends this particularly disadvantages working prisoners, which was raised in the boards annual report in 2017
• The laundry had experienced significant problems over a lengthy period of time which resulted in laundry being sent elsewhere to be processed or not being washed at the regulation temperature
• Lack of funding to improve the visitors area in Albany
The report reveals that a total of 92 cells are out of action at Albany prison due to a serious fire in 2015. This has led to 202 complaints in 2018 about overcrowded cells, something which should be resolved following the restoration of House Block 15 in 2019.
Chair Linda Johnson has said:
“To improve the overall safety of prisoners with complex needs, (CSIP) was introduced towards the end of the year. This was urgently required as there was a significant increase of 26% self harm incidents during 2018.
“The Board continues to be concerned regarding the prison’s elderly and disabled prisoners, who are disadvantaged due to the age and structure of the establishment, together with the lack of funding for much-needed alterations to provide an appropriate physical environment”.
Statistics
HMP Isle of Wight is a category B male training prison with an average population of approximately 1,080 prisoners. Over 50% of the prisoners are over 50, with 96 prisoners aged between 70 – 91. Over 98% are sex offenders with 101 serving life sentences, 61 with an Indeterminate sentence for Public Protection (IPP); the remainder are determinate sentences, mostly of 4 years or more together, with a few remand prisoners from the local Isle of Wight Courts.
The average age of prisoners at HMP IOW is now over 50 years, which accounts for over 50% of the population (43% in 2017) – 1 of the prisoners is aged in their 90s. This figure is said to be significantly affected by convictions for historic sex offences.
There were a total of 9 deaths in HMP IOW in 2018, 7 natural deaths and 2 suspected self-inflicted.
Figures show that in 2018 there was a 13.5% increase in staff assaults (65 v 59) and prisoner on prisoner assaults rose from 122 to 124. Furthermore, between 2017 and 2018 there was an increase in self harm incidents of 26% – from 535 to 656 – but that increase is significantly less than the 88% rise between 2016 and 2017.
There were 33 prisoners due for release in 2018; 21 were released from the gates of HMP Isle of Wight, 2 were sent for deportation from the Island and 10 were transferred out for local release.
The Prison Act 1952 requires every prison to be monitored by an independent Board appointed by the Secretary of State from members of the community in which the prison or centre is situated.
To enable the Board to carry out these duties effectively, its members have right of access to every prisoner and every part of the prison and also to the prison’s records.
What the actual……….?
HMP Isle of Wight isn’t unique in its failings here.
Many Isle of Wight hotels fall below standard due to years of neglect. Perhaps Tripadvisor then would be a more worthwhile place for the poor suffering guests there to air their complaints rather than Board of sympathetic volunteers?
Toenails! Really?
IMB, what a sad bunch of freaks – ashamed of yourself. Uniformed staff are the core, the rest of you are their helpers, and dont forget it.
It seems like nothing is being done to help inmates keep in touch with families which is very healthy for prisoners. Why have phones not been installed in cells yet? Like other prisons