Substantial numbers of alleged or convicted sex offenders have been put in a violent prison to “stabilise” it without adequate programmes to reduce the risks they pose, according to a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Publishing a report on an announced inspection in July 2017 of HMP & YOI Doncaster, Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said one issue overshadowed many of the other challenges facing the jail, “and it has come about as a result of a change in the profile of the population at the prison.

“Over the course of the previous year, the number of men on remand for, or convicted of, sex offences had trebled, and many of them were longer-term, high-risk offenders. I was told that this was a deliberate policy in order to help to stabilise the prison in light of the serious problems with violence that had been identified at the last inspection (in October 2015).”

However, Mr Clarke said, “support, offender management and programmes intended to reduce the risk both in custody and on release presented by this population were not present. In effect, this large cohort of men was being denied the opportunity to make progress.

“While it is perhaps understandable that, as a matter of policy, it might be decided that a prison should have a particular population profile, this should not be done in such a way that offender management of those prisoners is neglected.”

A major recommendation of the Doncaster report is that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) “should support and resource the prison in developing a comprehensive strategy which clearly identifies how men convicted of a sexual offence will be offender managed; how their risk of harm will be reduced; how they will progress through their sentence; and how the public will be protected during custody and on release.”

HMP & YOI Doncaster is a category B local and resettlement prison near to the centre of Doncaster, and is operated by Serco. At the time of the inspection the prison held just over 1,100 adult and young adult males. The 2017 inspection found significant progress on 2015 in some areas, leading Mr Clarke to commend the leadership and staff for hard work and some “impressive results.” Positive results included:

• A major concern of the 2015 inspection was that some staff struggled to maintain control on the jail’s residential units. In 2017, inspectors found a more stable prison overall.
• Living conditions had improved substantially. Outside and communal areas were generally clean and most cells were in a decent condition. Many prisoners took pride in their cells.
• Nearly 90% of prisoners got clean sheets every week and, “unusually, prisoners were issued with a tea towel – a simple innovation which contributed to overall decency.”

However, inspectors also found:

• Too many prisoners felt unsafe and although levels of violence had reduced significantly, they were still too high.
• Only 3% of referrals of incidents in the jail in 2017 to the local police had resulted in a criminal charge. This undermined the prison’s attempts to tackle antisocial behaviour “as prisoners knew that violent behaviour might well have no significant consequences for them.”
• There were a large number of prisoners who were assessed as being at risk of suicide and self-harm.

Peter Clarke said:

“A great deal has been achieved at Doncaster, and the challenge for the leadership of the prison now is to ensure that those achievements do not prove to be either fragile or transitory. The improvements need to be consolidated and built upon.”

– ENDS –

Notes to editors:

1. A copy of the full report, published on 12 October 2017, can be found here.
2. 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.
3. HMP & YOI Doncaster is a category B local and resettlement prison situated near to the centre of Doncaster, and is operated by Serco. At the time of the inspection the prison held just over 1,100 adult and young adult males.
4. This announced inspection took place between 10-21 July 2017.
5. Please contact John Steele at HM Inspectorate of Prisons press office on 020 3681 2775 or at john.steele@justice.gsi.gov.uk if you would like more information.