Staff shortages affected all aspects of prisoners’ lives

Staff shortages in all areas increased during the year and affected every aspect of prison life at HMP/YOI Isis, says the IMB, in its 2022 annual report.  

• Time out of cell for most prisoners was only two and a half hours a day.
• Fewer than one in five prisoners were able to access purposeful activity.
• Staffing shortages meant that support for prisoners – key work and offender management – was unable to function properly.
• In addition, the high churn of short-sentenced prisoners meant that they were unable to benefit from education, training or pre-release planning.

However, the Board also reported that:

• There was a decrease in levels of violence during the year.
• Self-harm incidents also dropped to an average of 15 a month, compared to 34 a month in 2021.

HMP/YOI Isis IMB Chair, Pauline Fellows said:

“It is critically important to ensure that that all prisoners at HMP/YOI Isis have as much time out of cell as possible, including time in the evening and at weekends. When out of cell they should have access to education, vocational programmes and work and have access to the programmes, staff and agencies that will support their rehabilitation and resettlement,”