UK: Unannounced short follow-up inspection of HMP Gartree
01 November 2008
Gartree is the largest of only three dedicated prisons for life-sentenced and other indeterminate-sentenced prisoners. Its role is to help these prisoners come to terms with their sentence and begin work to reduce their risks. The last inspection found that the prison was not discharging these functions effectively and had lost its sense of direction. This unannounced short follow-up inspection found some improvements, but also noted new problems: particularly an influx of prisoners sentenced to indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP) who were now competing with ordinary lifers for scarce rehabilitative resources, leaving both populations frustrated.
Inspectors continued to have concerns about safety at Gartree. The reception building remained inadequate, although was soon to be replaced, violence reduction systems were weak, too many prisoners sought refuge in the segregation unit and monitoring of discipline issues was still deficient. However, suicide prevention arrangements were sound, security was now better managed and the use of illicit drugs remained low.
Staff-prisoner relationships were generally satisfactory and personal officer work had improved. The management of race issues was better and a start had been made on rectifying the shortfalls previously identified in the treatment of foreign nationals. Health services had also improved. While the environment was generally clean, older cells remained cramped and unhygienic. There were few opportunities for prisoners to cook or launder for themselves, activities that could help long-term prisoners avoid institutionalisation.
Time out of cell for those in work was reasonable, although inspectors found that Gartree, like many other prisons, was reporting inaccurate and inflated figures. Despite a small expansion, there were still too few work and training opportunities, leaving those without activity locked up for too long. Education had improved and physical education remained satisfactory. The therapeutic community remained a beacon of good practice.
Anne Owers, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons commented:
Since the last inspection, Gartree had made some improvements in aspects of safety and respect. However, there was still too little purposeful activity and backlogs remained in key assessments, reviews and reports, without which indeterminate prisoners cannot progress. Matters had been worsened by the introduction of IPPs who competed with lifers for limited rehabilitative resources. The net result was a log-jam of prisoners not able to move on in their sentence and a palpable increase in anger and frustration. These tensions need to be addressed urgently and the Prison Service needs to support Gartree to improve systems, increase programme provision and ease the transfer of suitable prisoners to more appropriate locations.
“Report on an unannounced short follow-up inspection of HMP Gartree by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, 28 - 30 April 2008, report compiled August 2008, published 30 October 2008”