Read the report: HMP Usk and HMP and YOI Prescoed

HMP Usk and HMP and YOI Prescoed, in Monmouthshire in Wales, were found by inspectors to have maintained high standards of treatment and conditions for prisoners.

The two prisons are managed as a single establishment but have distinctly different populations. Usk, a small prison built in a traditional 19th century style, held 220 category C prisoners, almost all of whom were serving sentences for sexual offences. Prescoed is an open prison in a deeply rural setting about three miles away, with a clear focus on the resettlement of the 231 men it held during the inspection in June 2021.

Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said:

“In recent years the Inspectorate has routinely reported very positively on the outcomes experienced by prisoners at the two sites and this remains the case.”

Inspectors judged outcomes in safety and respect to be good (the highest mark) at both Usk and Prescoed and reasonably good or better at both for purposeful activity and rehabilitation and release planning.

Mr Taylor said:

“These are excellent results made more noteworthy in that they were achieved while the prisons were still emerging from the effects of the pandemic. It should be noted that Usk, in particular, had faced very real challenges and risks in responding to COVID-19, with a generally older and more vulnerable population and the tragic loss of two members of staff and a prisoner. The prison had, in our view, shown remarkable resilience in its response.”

Inspectors assessed that the key to the continuing success of the prisons seemed to be the quality of leadership. “There was a genuine sense of community within the prisons with an engaged staff and generally good consultation with those held,” Mr Taylor added.

“It was clear that prisoners felt respected and supported by staff and we observed several examples during our inspection where the well-being of prisoners was at the heart of initiatives and a clear consideration in how the prison was being taken forward.”

Both prisons had moved quickly to open up their regimes and, Mr Taylor said, “it was pleasing to see that release on temporary licence (ROTL) had continued during restrictions for those Prescoed prisoners who were defined as essential workers.” By the time of the inspection, some 60% of Prescoed prisoners were benefiting from various forms of ROTL.

“More needed to be done to ensure work and education became fully operational but we had confidence in the prisons’ plans and their long-established record of delivery.”

Inspectors found a small number of issues that require further attention, including the need for some refurbishment of accommodation at Prescoed and dealing with overcrowding in Usk. Inspectors also noted “the comparatively high number of prisoners who were returned to closed conditions from Prescoed, possibly linked to the application of a so-called ‘zero tolerance’ policy concerning the application of rules at the site.”

Overall, though, Mr Taylor said:

“It was clear to us that the resilience being shown by Usk and Prescoed leaders, staff and prisoners was ensuring that those held continued to experience meaningful and positive outcomes.”

– End –

Notes to editors

1. Read the HMP Usk and HMP and YOI Prescoed report, published on 1 October 2021.
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. Usk opened in 1844 as a house of correction. In 1870, it became the county gaol for Monmouthshire and remained in that role until 1922, when it closed. It reopened in 1939 as a closed borstal and became a detention centre in 1964.  In 1983, it was turned into a youth custody centre, and from 1988 to 1990 a young offender institution. Since May 1990, it has been an adult category C establishment largely holding men convicted of sexual offences. It became a resettlement prison in 2019.
4. Prescoed opened in 1939 as an open borstal. It became a detention centre in 1964, an open youth custody centre in 1983 and an open young offender institution in 1988. Some years later it also started holding category D adult men. Since 2004, it has been exclusively an open prison for adult males, including young adult men aged 18 to 21.
5. In this inspection we identified four examples of notable positive practice.
6. This inspection took place between 14 and 25 June 2021.
7. Please contact John Steele at john.steele@justice.gov.uk or on 07880 787452 if you would like more information.