Budget restrictions impacting prisoners daily at HMP Norwich

In its 2023-24 annual report published today (2 October 2024) the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Norwich highlight the widespread impact that budget restrictions are having on prisoners, raising concerns over cuts to resettlement funding, which is key to helping prisoners reintegrate back into their communities. The Board further notes how the lack of investment into the infrastructure is affecting the daily life of men at Norwich.

The IMB notes that:

• The dilapidated infrastructure continues to deteriorate, with broken equipment and leaking roofs. During the winter months the heating broke on two wings leaving prisoners living in below zero temperatures on some occasions.
• Funding for resettlement passports (which help prisoners access essential services such as housing, employment and healthcare on release) has been withdrawn. This does not support a prisoners’ ability to settle back into their community on release and increases risks of reoffending.
• Wages earned by some prisoners decreased from £16 to £10 per week, regardless of the number of hours worked or the nature of work undertaken.  This affected prisoners’ willingness to work and disproportionately impacted those without outside income.
  
  

However, it is also pleased to report that:

• Under difficult constraints, it is the Board’s opinion the resettlement team has work hard to maximise opportunities for prisoners on release, with a decrease in the number of prisoners released homeless.
• The prison together with Ormiston Families (a charity that supports children’s welfare) arranged specific family days which were well organised and had a positive impact on the men, with positive feedback received.

IMB Norwich Chair, said:

“The Board were pleased to observe the excellent work carried out by the resettlement team to maximise the prisoners’ chances of success after release, however we remain concerned about how this may be undermined by cuts in their funding. Leaking roofs, broken heating systems, and faulty equipment have impacted on the humane and decent treatment of prisoners. We hope to see improvements on the basic infrastructure of the building, and the impact this has on prisoners’ wellbeing during the next reporting year.”