Uncertainty over the future of HMP Hindley, which was earmarked for closure but then kept open, had undermined efforts to improve treatment and conditions for prisoners, according to a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said the period from March to July 2017 – when Hindley’s closure was announced, and then rescinded – had left the jail “in limbo” and caused significant disruption. The management did not know whether the investment needed to improve the prison, including strengthening security against drugs being thrown over the perimeter, would be forthcoming.

Despite this uncertainty, though, Mr Clarke commended the governor and his team for working to “find solutions themselves”, without outside help, to some of the jail’s problems. They had, in particular, improved safety, which had been assessed as poor, the lowest assessment, in an inspection in 2016. When inspectors returned unannounced in December 2017, the assessment had gone up to “not sufficiently good”, and there were signs of potential further improvement.

Hindley, near Wigan, held 525 prisoners – adults sentenced to up to four years and young males aged 18 to 21 serving sentences of over 12 months and up to four years. More than 40% of prisoners had been at Hindley for less than three months, meaning there was a constantly changing population. Mr Clarke said that since the postponement of the closure there had been a clear focus on improving safety at Hindley. Although levels of violence remained too high, there was a promising violence reduction strategy that was beginning to show some early results. However, Mr Clarke added, dealing with the root cause of the violence – drugs – “required an injection of capital funding and better staffing. Drug misuse remained a serious problem, and yet weaknesses in physical security had not been addressed, leaving the prison vulnerable to throw-overs.”

Set against the improvements in safety, the area of “purposeful activity” for prisoners once again attracted an assessment of poor. The overall effectiveness of learning and skills had deteriorated and was judged to be inadequate by Ofsted inspectors. Again, Mr Clarke said, the notice of closure had diverted the prison’s focus on improving or maintaining the effectiveness of critical aspects of learning and skills. Inspectors found that the lack of capital investment in the prison was still evident throughout the residential accommodation. “Some cells were too cramped, ventilation was poor, and in some areas there was a constant battle with vermin” – mice. The kitchen had been in place for 57 years. However, inspectors were also struck by “a marked change in the overall culture”. Despite the uncertainty about Hindley’s future, staff were positive and enthusiastic, displaying commitment to the governor and the prison. Work on rehabilitation and release planning had improved.

Overall, Mr Clarke said:

“It was clear that uncertainty about the future of the prison had undermined efforts to improve outcomes at the jail. That said, they had made some significant strides forward. The governor was heavily invested in the prison and had taken a pragmatic stance, working on the premise that he would not be able to rely on significant external support and the leadership and staff at Hindley would have to find solutions themselves. While this was laudable, there was clearly a limit to what they could achieve on their own. The prison had been left in a state of limbo and it was unclear whether any of the investment necessary to make the prison sufficiently safe, decent and purposeful would be forthcoming. We would strongly urge that investment is made or that the prison’s future is clarified.”

Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service, said:

“We postponed the closure of HMP Hindley last year in response to an unanticipated rise in the prison population, because we will always provide enough places to hold those sent to prison by the courts. I’m pleased that the Chief Inspector has recognised the tremendous efforts made by the Governor and his staff in response to the decision and have acknowledged the real progress made to improve conditions and outcomes for prisoners of Hindley. There is more to do, but the Governor has robust plans in place to further improve performance. The long-term future of the prison and potential for capital investment will be determined in due course as part of our wider Estate Modernisation Strategy.”

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Notes to editors

1. A copy of the full report, published on 1 May 2018, 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. Originally opened in 1961 as a borstal, Hindley became a youth custody centre in 1983. In April 2015, it re-roled as a young offender and adult male category C establishment. At the time of the inspection it was a Category C prison holding adult males sentenced up to four years and young males, aged 18-21, serving sentenced of over 12 months and up to four years
4. This unannounced inspection took place between 4 – 14 December 2017.
5. Please contact John Steele at HM Inspectorate of Prisons on 020 3334 0357 or 07880 787452, or at john.steele@justice.gov.uk, if you would like more information.