HMP Whitemoor was generally safe, with reasonable living
conditions and relationships between staff and prisoners had
improved, said Peter Clarke, Chief Inspector of Prisons. Today he
published the report of an unannounced inspection of the high
security jail in Cambridgeshire.
HMP Whitemoor held 431 men at the time its inspection. All were
serving long sentences for serious offences. Over 30% were
category A prisoners. Just over half the population were black
and minority ethnic men and the prison continued to hold a
disproportionate number of Muslim men, who accounted for over 40%
of the population. The Fens unit held men who had
diagnosed personality disorders and there was further specialist
provision in the close supervision centre (CSC), which is subject
to a separate inspection. At its last inspection in 2014,
inspectors had serious concerns about the use of force and the
culture and regime in the segregation unit. This more recent
inspection was more positive overall, but concerns remained about
some aspects of segregation.
Inspectors were pleased to find that:
- safety outcomes for the vast majority of prisoners were
reasonably good;
- levels of violence were remarkably low given the population
mix, and security was well managed;
- use of force more generally was now well managed and
proportionate;
- care for those susceptible to self-harm was appropriate and
was excellent in the Fens unit, where many of them
lived;
- living conditions were reasonable although some prisoners
were frustrated about getting hold of prison clothing, bedding
and everyday items;
- relationships between staff and prisoners were reasonably
good and in some aspects had moved forward since the last
inspection;
- time out of cell was reasonable, but access to the open air
remained too restricted;
- all men had access to good quality work, training and
education and achievements were very strong; and
- some excellent specialist programmes were on offer and the
prison had been recognised as a centre for excellence for its
work with men with personality disorders.
Muslim men were negative about many aspects of prison life and
while these perceptions needed to be better understood, staff
appeared to have developed more understanding of the issues. Few
prisoners were released directly from Whitemoor and
‘resettlement’ meant recategorisation and/or progression to a
training prison or specialist unit. Most of the work was well
managed, though many men felt ‘stuck’ with little hope of
progression and work to address these perceptions required
further development.
Inspectors were, however, concerned to find that:
- the segregation unit was full and the regime offered was
poor, although there had been improvements in the staff culture
and the use of force had dropped considerably;
- some men with persistently challenging behaviour were held
for long periods in the segregation unit and others who were not
segregated under prison rules were refusing to relocate back to
the normal location; and
- the prison was not particularly well supported by other
high security prisons or the long-term category B estate in
providing respite or a fresh start for men who had been
segregated.
Peter Clarke said:
“Overall, and given the complexity of the issues being dealt with
at Whitemoor, we were heartened by what we found. For the vast
majority, it was a generally safe prison, conditions were
reasonable and relationships with staff had improved. The
prison’s approach to diversity was developing and every prisoner
could be involved in activities that would be of benefit to them.
Resettlement work was appropriately focused and, despite there
being many frustrations about progression, it was reasonably well
supported. Our overriding concern was about the small but
significant number of men in the segregation unit for long
periods, and we considered that this needed urgent attention.
Nevertheless, we commend the new governor, his senior team and
staff for their work.”
Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of HM Prison & Probation
Service, said:
“I’m pleased that the Chief Inspector has commended the work
being done at Whitemoor. The Governor and staff deserve real
credit for what has been achieved in difficult circumstances.
Work is already in hand to provide more support for men held in
long-term segregation, to assist them in returning to the main
prison population as soon as it safe to do so.”
