HMP North Sea Camp, a category D resettlement prison near Boston
in Lincolnshire, mixed sex offenders with other prisoners but
achieved an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence, according to a
report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP).
Inspectors found negligible levels of violence and use of force
by staff, earning the prison – home to just over 400 men, most
serving long sentence and 60% of them sex offenders
- the highest rating of ‘good’ for safety.
Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: “There was no
segregation unit, and no need for one. The fact that the
population was fully integrated yet there was little if any
hostility towards sex offenders was a tribute to the ethos of the
prison and the care that was taken to generate an atmosphere of
peaceful co-existence and tolerance.” The report noted: “A ‘don’t
ask, don’t tell’ policy was used well to address the fears of men
who were vulnerable because of their offence about living in a
mixed population.”
HMP North Sea Camp was also rated as good for resettlement work –
its core function as an open prison. Mr Clarke said the prison
had “moved on dramatically” since the last inspection, in 2014.
At that time there was still concern about a serious
incident that took place during a release on temporary licence
(ROTL), exposing weaknesses in the resettlement process.
Mr Clarke added: “Relationships between staff and prisoners were
respectful, which was a major strength of the prison and the
basis on which much of the progress of the past few years was
clearly built. The senior leadership, and indeed all staff, were
committed to producing a safe and decent environment in which the
men could make progress towards eventual release and successful
resettlement.”
Inspectors, however, raised some concerns:
- Prisoner accommodation was in a poor state. The residential
units were old, far too many of the rooms were too small to be
used for double occupancy and the showers and toilets urgently
needed refurbishment. However, it was clear that a comparatively
modest investment could deliver significant improvements.
- The prison had several houses outside the gate known as the
Jubilee units, which offered men coming towards the end of their
sentences excellent opportunities to gain resettlement
experience. However, several of these houses were unused,
virtually derelict and needed refurbishment.
The inspection also found a tension between performance measures
used by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), which judged
performance based on the numbers of prisoners placed in work
within the prison, and what should have been the objective of the
prison, which was to maximise the use of ROTL.
The report noted: “The prison was not credited for those
prisoners employed under ROTL outside the confines of the prison.
The governor was, appropriately, concerned to get as many men
working under ROTL as possible but the performance targets were
causing some concern.”
It seems, Mr Clarke said, that the HMPPS performance measure had
been designed for the closed prison estate, and it should be
revisited to make it appropriate for open prisons. “As it stood,
there was an incentive not to achieve in full the core purpose of
the prison.”
Mr Clarke said:
“Overall, HMP North Sea Camp had made very real progress since
the last inspection. It was a safe and decent prison with some
bold policies relating to the management of its complex
population, and it was now a successful establishment.”
Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of HM Prison & Probation
Service, said:
“I’m pleased that the excellent work being done by the Governor
and her staff at North Sea Camp has been recognised in the
report. The focus on skills training and effective resettlement
is really important in supporting effective rehabilitation and
keeping the public safe. The Governor will build on the progress
made to further improve performance at North Sea Camp over the
next twelve months.”
- ENDS -
Notes to editors
- A copy of the full report, published on 14 November 2017, can
be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website
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 North Sea Camp is a category D resettlement prison
near Boston in Lincolnshire. At the time of the
inspection it held just over 400 men. Most were serving long
sentences of more than four years, around half were serving
indeterminate sentences, and about 60% were sex offenders.
- This unannounced inspection took place between 3-13 July
2017.
