Safety needed to improve on the closed site of HMP Hewell but
some notable progress had been made and the open site was
generally good, said Peter Clarke, Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Today he published the report of an announced inspection of the
category B local prison and category D open prison in
Worcestershire.
HMP Hewell is a complex establishment. Much of the prison is a
relatively modern local facility holding over 1000 adult male
prisoners and serving courts in the West Midlands. Linked to
the main prison, about half a mile away, is an old country house
which operates as an open prison holding 200 prisoners. The
differences in the purpose and role of both sites led inspectors
to assess each facility separately. On the open site, inspectors
found a successful prison that, while needing some renovation,
was safe and respectful with reasonably good work, training and
education opportunities and did reasonably good work to resettle
prisoners back into the community. On the closed site, Hewell
continued to face many challenges and there were some areas of
serious concern, including safety.
At the closed site, inspectors were concerned to find that:
- prisoners are particularly vulnerable on arrival, yet first
night procedures were chaotic, staff were overwhelmed and
prisoners felt unsafe;
- the level of violence was far too high and although the
prison had begun good work to help reduce it, much was not yet
embedded;
- levels of self-harm had increased, four prisoners had taken
their own lives since the last inspection in 2014 and the prison
had not yet sufficiently implemented recommendations from the
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman following investigations into
these deaths;
- conditions in the segregation unit were very poor, many cells
around the prison were overcrowded and the inpatient facility in
health care was very poor; and
- the availability of drugs remained very high.
However, on the closed site, inspectors were pleased to find
that:
- staff-prisoner relationships were reasonably good, and
mitigated against some of the difficulties, though staff needed
to be more robust in challenging poor behaviour;
- although too many prisoners were locked in cell during the
working day, most had access to some learning and work
opportunities and there were enough to occupy all for at least
part of the day;
- learning and skills management was good and teaching much
improved;
- a restorative justice unit had developed where restorative
and community principles were very constructively applied; and
- services to help prisoners resettle back into the community
on release were reasonably good, with some impressive joint
working with the community rehabilitation company (CRC) and some
very effective work on finding accommodation for prisoners and
changing their offending behaviour.
On the open site, inspectors were pleased to find that:
- there were no safety concerns;
- cleanliness had improved but the site was still in need of
refurbishment and some toilets were in poor condition;
- as on the closed site, teaching and learning for education
and vocational training courses was good;
- useful partnerships had been developed with training
companies, helping prisoners to secure employment;
- as on the closed site, the management of resettlement had
improved and some aspects of offender management were very good;
- a quarter of those on the open site worked out of the prison
each day, after thorough risk assessments; and
- some good work was being carried out with prisoners to reduce
the risk of them reoffending.
Peter Clarke said:
“At the time of the inspection, the deputy governor was in
temporary charge and the prison was awaiting the arrival of a new
governor. But this uncertainty had not led to lack of leadership;
the management team was focused, innovative and committed to
tackling the prison’s problems. We found improvements in many
areas and examples of good practice. Nevertheless, very big
challenges – operationally, managerially and in terms of
resources – were still to be addressed and outcomes for too many
prisoners on the closed site were very poor.”
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
- A copy of the full report can be found on the HM Inspectorate
of Prisons website from 10 January 2017 at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent
inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on
conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those
detained and the public.
- HMP Hewell covers two sites – a category B local male prison
and category D open male prison.
- This announced inspection was carried out from 22 August to 9
September 2016.
