Worrying findings from our inspection at HMP Foston Hall - the first time we have awarded a 1 - our lowest grade for safety for a woman's prison for more than ten years - levels of violence and self-harm were much higher than we see elsewhere.
I'm very sorry to hear of the death of David Ramsbotham. He was fearless in his fight to improve the treatment of prisoners and to maintain the independence of the inspectorate - a fight he continued in his time in the House of Lords. He will be very much missed.
When prisoners are released do we want them to
A. Return to crime and be a burden on the state?
or
B. Get a job, work hard, pay taxes and take care of their families? -
If the answer is B then we need more of what
@HMPAskham
and
@McDonaldsUK
are doing
In all the noise about Wandsworth, it is important to remember the many
#hiddenheros
at the prison - staff who do an amazing job often in the most difficult circumstances.
HMIP have recently inspected 6 woman's prisons - See our findings in this short paper. We saw some good examples bespoke support for the most vulnerable, but huge concerns about the use of prison as a "place of safety" for acutely mentally ill women.
Great news! - prisoners coming to the end of their sentences getting into proper jobs that they will be able to keep after release. Well done to the excellent
@HMPAskham
and
@McDonaldsUK
To prevent reoffending, the creation of new victims of crime and the waste of taxpayers’ money, we must transform youth custody- my article in today’s
@spectator
I have sent and Urgent Notification to
@AlexChalkChelt
about HMP Bristol - 7 self-inflicted deaths in the last 10 months, one suspected murder, drugs are rife and most prisoners locked up for 22 hours a day.
Just to be clear - the awful situation at Cookham Wood we report on today was not about funding - there were more than 360 staff and 24 senior managers for just 77 boys. It was a failure to provide for this group of challenging and vulnerable boys.
My article about the state of our prisons in today's
@spectator
over-crowded, inexperienced staff and a stifling bureaucracy that chains governors to their desks and stops them from innovating
Our deeply depressing report published today on Cookham Wood YOI-Behaviour was not being managed, staff demoralised and children held in conditions that amounted to solitary confinement - including two who had been locked away for more than 100 days.
HMIP have invoked an Urgent Notification to
@RobertBuckland
for HMP Chelmsford - prisoners are not being kept safe with very high levels of violence, 8 self inflicted and 4 more non-natural deaths since 2018, and rising self-harm.
Looking forward to attending serious youth violence summit at Number 10. Where I be encouraging better collaboration between services to support children who are at risk of being pulled into crime.
We were delighted to have
@charlie_taylor6
,
@HMIPrisonsnews
, join us at our team gathering yesterday to talk about his work in making reading a priority in prisons and listen to questions from our colleagues.
A huge thank you to Charlie for his time and support.
50% of prisoners struggle with reading, but education providers and prisons are not doing enough. Time in jail is a good opportunity to improve reading - see my blog.
Many congratulations to all the staff at HMP Feltham! Led by the strong governor and her team- we report on a YOI that has transformed since our 2019 inspection. Safer, more respectful with better education and resettlement.
HMP Durham has reduced violence by more than 60% since our 2018 inspection, because of effective leadership and a concerted effort to reduce drug the drug supply into the prison. Much still to do, but heading in the right direction.
HMP Winchester report shows
👉Some of the highest rates of violence in the country
👉Dilapidated cells, broken furniture, graffiti
👉Most prisoners locked in their cells for 22.5 hours a day, very few in work or education. Unable to shower every day.
Many congratulations to governor Paul Newton for the OBE. He transformed
@hmpbirmingham
after catastrophic 2018 inspection with his energy, attention to detail, focus on getting the basics right and investment in staff. Few governors spend as much time out on the wings as Paul.
Urgent Notification issued for HMP Wandsworth
👉7 suicides in the last year
👉drugs rife
👉security not good enough despite last year’s escape
👉most prisoners locked up for 22 hours a day, often with no time outdoors
Yesterday,
@charlie_taylor6
wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice
@AlexChalkChelt
to invoke the Urgent Notification process following our unannounced inspection of HMP Wandsworth between 22nd April and 2nd May 2024.
Lovely and very moving memorial service for David Ramsbotham yesterday with former chief inspectors Anne Owers,
@nicklhardwick2
and Peter Clarke all in attendance.
"Everything that goes on in prison needs to be based on what people are going to do when they come out."
As part of Andrew Malkinson's
#R4Today
guest edit, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor says it is essential prisons become places of training and education.
#R4Today
So sorry to hear this news, Erwin was a remarkable man and a brilliant editor. He was the living embodiment of rehabilitation - he transformed his own life and then went on to touch the lives many others.
We are sad to announce the death of Erwin James, 66, Editor of
@InsideTimeUK
from 2016 to 2023. He is believed to have tripped and fallen into water, hitting his head, on January 19. Our sympathies go to his wife Margaret, sister, and two daughters. He will be much missed.
Congratulations to governor Mark Allen and his team at
@HMPAylesbury
- making very good progress at what has been for many years a troubled jail. Read our independent review of progress here.
Supreme court judgement provides the government with an important opportunity to rethink the way criminal records operate and to allow people who offended as a child to go on to lead successful and productive lives
I have been hugely impressed by the quality, dedication and enthusiasm of
@unlockedgrads
working in some of our most challenging prisons. Really sorry to hear the scheme, in future will not go ahead, at a time when the recruitment of high-quality officers is so important.
A wide range of excellent prisoner led initiatives at HMP Oakwood including carpentry, the market garden and induction for new arrivals. The prisoners I spoke to around the jail were the most positive I have yet come across in a male closed prison despite the ongoing restrictions
We have published a report on a full inspection of HMP Oakwood near Wolverhampton - a safe prison with prisoners given trust and responsibility.
The report is here -
See how the healthy prison scores in its 2018 inspection compare with those in 2021 -
See my latest blog on the effects of the growing prison population
👉More overcrowding
👉Even less time out of cell
👉Fewer opportunities for learning skills required to get work on release
= risk of more crime
On
@TheNewsAgents
yesterday with
@jonsopel
and
@maitlis
talking about HMP Hindley where more than 50% of random drug tests on prisoners were positive. Drugs=Debt=Violence
The challenge is not just reduce supply, but to reduce demand for drugs with meaningful, purposeful activity.
"Only focusing on reducing the supply [of drugs] will never solve the problem - you've got to focus on reducing the demand."
@charlie_taylor6
explains the importance of getting prisoners out of their cells into work + education in tackling drugs in jails.
Read our enormously concerning report into HMP Chelmsford where we invoked Urgent Notification- high levels of violence and self-harm, prisoners often unable to get basics ie clean clothes and a disengaged and demoralised staff group.
See my blog on category C prisons - most are currently not close to fulfilling their function of getting prisoners into training, work or education. This means they are not developing the skills they need to lead a crime-free life on release.
Looking forward to appearing in front of
@CommonsJustice
at 2:30 this afternoon talking about the effects of Covid-19 with my fellow Justice Chief Inspectors.
Rainsbrook interim inspection - Children as young as 15 spent their first two weeks locked up for 23.5 hours a day without having any meaningful contact with staff or children.
This good news, bold and timely move by
@sajidjavid
. We can get to a fair position where a criminal record does not stop people from going on to be successful members of society, while making sure that there is suitable public protection.
Congratulations to HMP Bedford - strong leadership has led to a big improvement at this jail that was in a terrible state in 2018. Still a long way to go - but real progress -up a point in each of our scores.
👉Inspectorate of Prisons annual report published today
👉Too many prisoners locked up in overcrowded conditions.
👉Not nearly enough education, training or work meaning they may be more likely to reoffend when they come out.
In October inspectors found that newly admitted children - some as young as 15 were being locked in their bedrooms for 23.5 hours a day for their first 14 days in the Rainsbrook.
Opportunity to join our outstanding team at HMI Prisons. You need to be able to: get into the detail, weigh up evidence and make judgements while working at pace, give honest feedback, write well, travel the country, often working long hours away from home - in a fascinating job
Our report out on Wetherby YOI today - a girl was stripped on two occasions by male officers to prevent her from self-harming - despite this being an entirely predictably pattern of behaviour.
On the
@BBCr4today
debate with
@MishalHusain
discussing the effect of court delays on overcrowding in prisons - unsentenced and remanded prisoners now make up 19% of the prison population- at a 50 year high
@neill_bob
leaves parliament after his outstanding chairmanship of
@CommonsJustice
. You will be very much missed for your wisdom, fairness, rigour, tenacity and good nature by all of us who work in this world.
👉 People who are sent to prison must be taught to read.
👉Being able to read is essential if we want people to make a success of their lives when they are released.
Very pleased that this year’s YOT grant will match last year’s cash allocation -shows commitment of
@DavidGauke
and
@DrPhillipLeeMP
to YJ despite tight MoJ budgets
Report out today on HMP Bedford - "On E wing, the smell of mould in one cell was overpowering, with the walls damp to the touch, while the underground segregation unit was a disgrace. Here, problems with the drainage mean that on very wet days, raw sewage covered the floor"
Congratulations to Nick Leader OBE at
@OfficialBerwyn
, with his remarkable energy he has driven up standards at one of the largest jails in the country. Another governor who spends lots of his time out on the wing listening to prisoners and staff.
Our report on the delays in getting mentally very unwell prisoners to secure hospital - leading to:
👉catastrophic self-harm,
👉assaults on officers and prisoners,
👉long stays in segregation units where their condition deteriorates.
It was a pleasure to inspect Hollesley Bay - prisoners given a real chance to progress - many excellent officers supported by a strong, effective leadership team - held to account by the governor and his deputy.
Earlier this week we published a report on Hollesley Bay, a jail providing prisoners with every opportunity to gain the skills needed to successfully reintegrate into the community.
Read further examples of notable positive practice and the report here:
Excellent work being done in North Yorks. -
@stuartcarlton
. - new approach keeping looked-after children out of crime in North Yorkshire | Society | The Guardian
Urgent Notification for HMP Cookham Wood sent to
@AlexChalkChelt
where 20 of the 77 boys were segregated, some held in conditions of solitary confinement. Scandalous way to treat children.
Delighted to have been asked, in an independent capacity, by Edward Argar to review the use of pain-inducing techniques to contain children in the secure estate.
The third positive inspection report in recent weeks - we describe HMP Doncaster as "a very well led prison" - many congratulations to the director and his staff.
Delighted to launch
@Ofstednews
and
@HMIPrisonsnews
joint report into the teaching of reading in prisons. A call to action to
@MoJGovUK
and
@hmpps
- The least support is going to those prisoners who need it the most.
This practice had been going on for seven months since the beginning of the lockdown and only stopped when it was pointed out by inspectors. It is extremely concerning that this was allowed to happen by Rainsbrook and the Youth Custody Service (YCS).
When prison staff do their job well, it can transform the culture of the most difficult prisons, and the futures of those within them.
In this week's
#podcast
, we hear from
@charlie_taylor6
and
@MarcConway80
on violence, corruption and culture.
🎧
Great Day yesterday in East Riding of Yorkshire, the first YOT to get top score from HMIP - their secret: total commitment to supporting children in trouble across county from: elected members, magistrates, police, DCS Kevin Hall,
Many congratulations to staff and leaders at Parc YOI - education open for almost the entire pandemic. At other YOI children were lucky if they got 6 hours unlocked, boys at Parc were out of their cells for at least 12 hours a day. 4s across the board.
Thanks to YOT leaders, DCS and representatives from across the secure estate for really helpful meeting on Constructive Resettlement. We owe it to victims to make sure that when children leave custody, they do not get pulled back into crime, but rather go on to thrive.
In North Yorkshire today many thanks to
@stuartcarlton
and his team for demonstrating how successful integration of YOT with children’s services provides joined up support to children and families.
Today I issued an Urgent Notification to
@AlexChalkChelt
re HMP Bedford. The third repeat UN in the last 12 months - Exeter 2018 and 2022
Bristol 2019 and 2023 and Bedford 2018 and 2023 all for very risky, small, Victorian reception prisons.
Our very concerning report into Werrington YOI today - higher levels of violence than any prison in the country, with boys locked in their rooms for long periods of time without access to decent education
HMYOI Werrington – children feeling unsafe in a violent environment.
Read our inspection report -
And our media release -
And see the healthy prison scores –
Scrutiny visit report on Feltham A today - good progress has been made since the UN in 2019, relationships between staff and boys have improved, the challenge will be to maintain this as the population of the YOI grows.
I was deeply concerned about the conditions in which some prisoners were being held at Eastwood Park. In one house block acutely mentally ill women, who should have been in hospital, were being kept in appalling conditions.
HMP/YOI Eastwood Park - women in crisis held in appalling conditions.
Read our inspection report -
And our media release -
And see the healthy prison scores -
Urgent Notification sent to
@AlexChalkChelt
Re HMP Woodhill
👉Highest level of serious assaults on prison officers in the country
👉Highest levels of self-harm in the country
👉Chronic staffing shortages
Many thanks to
@HMPBristol
for allowing me to spend an informal day at the prison yesterday. Great to hear about the progress they have made from prisoners, officers, Governor James Lucas and his leadership team.
Great visit to the North East this week - really good to hear about collaborative work between YOT and other LA services such a social care - really good progress is being made.
This week our chair
@charlie_taylor6
attended a meeting with the Joint Regional Heads of Service. This brought together Heads of Service across Yorkshire, Humberside, Cumbria and the North East.
This report shows how continuing court delays mean prisoners are spending long periods of time on remand. Now Covid restrictions are lifted, prisons need to get prisoners out of their cells and back into work/education/training.
See my blog on open prisons in lockdown- where the loss of ROTL means many prisoners have not had the preparation for release that they needed to help them to resettle and get work.
"It is easy to assume that the excitement of release will override any anxiety about leaving custody, but prisoners have told me how nervous they are."
In his latest blog, our Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor discusses open prisons.
Ofsted in conjunction with HM Inspectorate of Prisons and CQC have issued an Urgent Notification to the Secretary of State for Justice in relation to Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre.
This thread from school behaviour expert
@tombennett71
applies equally to prisons. Clear rules, fairly applied by well-trained staff, backed by predictable sanctions, and incentives for those who do the right thing are the basis for creating good relationships in the best jails.
‘Relationships’ are often cited as fundamental to behaviour management. But rarely do we see a clear explanation of what this simple term means. Which leads to multiple car-crash theories about how to achieve them in schools. Ambiguous terms lead to chaotic outcomes.
We are recruiting an inspector on secondment with operational leadership experience - A great opportunity to join the fantastic, dedicated team at HMI Prisons.