Reports published 25 November
Reports on inspections of HMP/YOI Swinfen Hall and HMP Peterborough (Men)
HMP/YOI Swinfen Hall
Type of inspection: full inspection
Dates of inspection: 20 August – 13 September 2024
Summary of findings: The regime lacked purpose. During the working day, 30% of prisoners were locked in cells and the regime at weekends was even worse. Too many prisoners were unemployed and there were not enough activity places for the population. On some wings, officers failed to enforce basic rules or maintain standards of cleanliness, and while violence had been reducing, disciplinary procedures, use of force and segregation had all increased and self-isolating prisoners needed more support to reintegrate into the main prison population.
Points to note: Mandatory drug tests showed 45% of prisoners were actively using drugs, with the prison lacking the resources to tackle this. Work to support contact with family had improved but was still too limited; however families of prisoners on the offender personality disorder pathway could visit their relative’s cell and residential areas four times a year to allay their fears and increase their understanding of the therapeutic process.
Read the report: Swinfen Hall
HMP Peterborough (Men)
Type of inspection: independent review of progress
Dates of inspection: 21–23 October 2024
Summary of findings: A lack of funding to install netting over exercise yards and make other improvements to security undermined leaders’ efforts to stop drugs getting in, so the rate of positive drug test results remained high. The quality of teaching had improved and there were now spaces for all prisoners in education, skills and work, but staff shortages meant some spaces were not used and too many men were locked in cells for longer than planned. Assaults between prisoners had increased, but violence against staff had reduced.
Points to note: Prisoners arriving late in the evening experienced delays in accessing their medication and overnight clinical observations and monitoring were inconsistent, leading Care Quality Commission, the health care regulator, to identify a breach in safe care and treatment.
Read the report: Peterborough (Men)