Segregation unit is ‘Dickensian’ - prison report

PRISONERS in segregation at HMP Northumberland face ‘Dickensian’ conditions in a unit which may no longer be fit for purpose, a report claims.

The annual report carried out by the prison’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) was broadly positive about the privately-run jail, which has, in the past, been put in the spotlight over drug use and violence among inmates.

Prisoners were treated both “fairly” and “humanely”, the report said, with staff in several blocks praised for their “exceptional patience and kindness”.

The report commended “continuing efforts to clamp down on violence and the use of drugs”, which initiatives such as the use of body-worn cameras by prison staff proving effective.

Although the “possibility of violence erupting” remains “ever present”, the report said, there were no reports of significant breaches of security over the last year, and the national ‘tornado’ team did not need to be called in at any point.

However, some problems remained. The IMB raised concerns about the lack of 24-hour healthcare facilities at the comparatively remotely-located Acklington prison.

It said the need to transport prisoners offsite both acted as a drain on resources, and made life more difficult for older prisoners and those with lifelimiting conditions.

And, it said, despite staff who deserved the “highest praise”, the segregation, or ‘care and separation’ unit, was beset by “inadequacies” as a place to house people, some of whom stayed on the unit for over a month, with one prisoner kept there for 78 days.

Prisoners can be sent to such units for discipline reasons, or for the safety of themselves or others.

The board said: “Our concerns about a stay of more than a week on the unit stem from our previously documented concerns about the inadequacies of the unit itself, where cells are dark and poorly ventilated, and the heating system is inadequate.

“The available exercise space is outside, cold and bleak, even on a warm day. The term ‘Dickensian,’ used by a new member, is, we consider, a fair description.

“Despite the considerable dedication and efficiency of staff, the state of the cells prompts us to ask whether it really is fit for purpose any longer.”

But, the report added: “There is a high standard of cleanliness on the unit, and all cells have been repainted and are properly furnished.”

Prison management were praised for arranging a number of new forms of employment for prisoners.

However, the board noted 185 prisoners (against a target of 140 or less) were currently unemployed.

An HMP Northumberland spokesperson said: “We are grateful for the generally very positive feedback received from the IMB.

“Whilst the separation and care unit is not of a modern design, we note the praise for the staff who work there and would contend that Sodexo [the private company which runs the jail] have invested significantly in upgrading and decorating the area, including a full new heating system in 2018 which complies with all relevant standards.”