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Prisons still failing to support rehabilitation, Chief Inspector warns

Published:

Despite the lifting of the final pandemic restrictions in May 2022, many prisons are still failing to return to pre-pandemic regimes which support prisoners’ rehabilitation, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, warns in his 2022–23 annual report.

The report, which draws on data from 83 reports from inspections, independent reviews of progress and thematic reviews, highlights the continuing decline in the provision of purposeful activity. This was particularly marked across the men’s estate, where standards of purposeful activity were rated poor or insufficiently good in all but one prison inspected, marking a decline in standards in 17 of those jails since their previous inspection. With prison population figures only expected to increase, the Inspectorate will be monitoring the impact of overcrowding very closely, not least the effect it has on purposeful activity and time out of cell.

Over the last year I have consistently raised concerns with governors, the prison service and ministers that prisoners who have not had sufficient opportunities to become involved with education, training or work, and have spent their sentences languishing in their cells, are more likely to reoffend when they come out. While I recognise the challenges in reopening regimes and am not encouraging practice that would increase the risk of violence for either prisoners or staff, I have become increasingly frustrated by prisons whose future plans are so vague that it is hard to see when progress is going to be made.”

Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Mr Taylor said he was particularly concerned by the situation in category C prisons, where men can spend many years, making their role in supporting prisoners’ progress crucial. Many, such as Onley and Ranby, are situated in large, open sites with some very good facilities. It was therefore disappointing to find in such prisons empty workshops, overgrown farms and gardens, broken greenhouses and demotivated and disillusioned prisoners either locked in their cells or aimlessly stuck on the wing with nothing meaningful to do. While in some category C jails there were acute staffing difficulties, there did not appear to be an overall correlation between staffing levels and levels of purposeful activity.

Women also continued to be locked in their cells for long periods of time, which, given the lower risk posed by most female prisoners, was unacceptable. Mr Taylor also noted particular concerns about the treatment of women who were suffering from the most extreme mental health difficulties, particularly those who prolifically self-harmed.

Violence, meanwhile, remained a significant issue in youth custody with institutions falling back into the use of ‘keep aparts’ to manage high levels of conflict between groups. This had far-reaching consequences: many children continued to spend far too long locked in their cells and far too little time in education and other purposeful activity.

Inspections of immigration removal centres were largely positive, with improvements in conditions for women in particular, although the Home Office continued to take too long to process cases, creating uncertainty and frustration for detainees and considerable cost to the taxpayer. Inspection of the short-term holding facilities in Kent, meanwhile, noted improvements from previous facilities at Tug Haven, but serious underlying weaknesses in the leadership of the site which resulted in severe overcrowding and spread of infectious disease by autumn 2022.

In every setting that we inspect, it is the quality of leadership that makes the most difference in all places of detention. One of the most valuable resources in our prisons is the best 20 or 30 governors who are visionary, dynamic, courageous and inspiring. In the next year I hope to see a significant improvement in the amount of time prisoners are spending in purposeful activity. The best governors have showed us what is possible; it is time for others to follow. If prisoners are locked up all day, they won’t be rehabilitated or learn the skills they need to get a job on release, that makes them even more likely to reoffend.

Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Notes to editors

  1. Read the 2022-23 Annual Report, published on 5 July.
  2. The annual report draws on data from 83 reports published between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
  3. HM Inspectorate of Prisons regularly inspects prisons, young offender institutions, immigration removal centres, immigration short-term holding facilities and overseas escorts and court custody. With CQC we support Ofsted in inspecting secure training centres. By invitation, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons also carries out inspections of military detention facilities, prisons in Northern Ireland, and some other overseas prisons and custodial institutions in jurisdictions with links to the UK.
  4. HMI Prisons is a member of and coordinates the UK’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The NPM was established under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It consists of 21 existing bodies throughout the UK, which are independent and have the right regularly to inspect all places of detention, and reports to the UN treaty body.
  5. Read the FAQs for journalists (224 kB) for more information about the issues covered in the annual report.
  6. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.