Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Cardiff
Complaint category:
Adjudication & IEP
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that the adjudicating governor did not know what Tarrant Representation was when he requested it at the hearing. Prisoner also complained that the adjudication paperwork lacked detail. IPCI found that the record of hearing did not show whether the prisoner had been allowed legal representation or not.
Recommendations/outcome:
The adjudication findings were quashed and the stoppage of earnings were returned to the prisoner.
Partially Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Humber
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that items of clothing went missing when he transferred from HMP Humber. During the investigation it was apparent that he did not transfer with all of his property. The items he complained were missing were subsequently located. Our investigation confirmed they were sent to his new establishment and were on his stored property.
Recommendations/outcome:
We made no recommendation as the items were identified sent on and placed in his stored property. We feel this complaint could have been resolved without referral to IPCI.
Partially Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Pentonville
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that a parcel sent in to HMP Pentonville, containing amongst other things 2 tracksuits, had been lost. Pentonville had offered £70 compensation for the missing tracksuits. The IPCI investigation concluded that a number of tracksuits were listed on the complainants updated property card following transfer, but that Pentonville had not properly audited the contents of the parcel they received.
Recommendations/outcome:
We made no recommendation for compensation as the missing items appeared on his updated property card, but we were critical of record keeping at Pentonville.
Partially upheld complaint against the Director of HMP Ashfield
Complaint category:
Administration
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that a member of staff at Ashfield had agreed to amend his negative case note entry on NOMIS but had not done so. We found that this was case, but that a further NOMIS entry had been made by another officer which clarified the situation that led to the negative entry.
Recommendations/outcome:
We partially upheld this complaint as the action promised was not taken.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Portland
Complaint category:
Visits, calls & letters
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner, who shared a three-man cell, complained that staff were leaving their personal Email-A-Prisoner email printouts in the cell, where they could be read by their cellmates. These emails also included personal details of the sender. After IPCI’s involvement, it was established that the prison had changed its practices and emails were now delivered in sealed envelopes with the prisoner’s name on.
Recommendations/outcome:
The prison changed their procedures appropriately and no formal recommendations were required.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Berwyn
Complaint category:
Administration
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that he had ordered a book from the prison library but had not received it. The investigation found that the book had been delivered to the wing but not given to the prisoner by wing staff.
Recommendations/outcome:
Berwyn confirmed to IPCI that the book had been returned to the library but would be available to the prisoner when he next attended. We also found that there was a delay in responding to the initial complaint which Berwyn apologised for. We consider that this complaint should have been resolved locally without the need for an investigation by IPCI.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP The Mount
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that his property went missing after he moved cells. The IPCI investigation established that no Cell Clearance Certificate was completed, contrary to mandatory national HMPPS policy requirements.
Recommendations/outcome:
The prison to conduct an audit of his current property, and HMP The Mount compensate the prisoner £1231 for his missing property.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Styal
Complaint category:
Staff behaviour
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about a use of force incident which she believed was unnecessary and disproportionate, and that after which she did not receive timely access to medical treatment. She also complained about the prisons investigation into this matter and not being provided with relevant paperwork relating to the incident.
Whilst the IPCI investigation did not find evidence to support her claims about an inappropriate use of force or lack of access to medical care. We did find gaps in the paperwork which omitted to detail why pain inducing techniques were used and we found that the prisoner had not been provided with the paperwork requested.
Recommendations/outcome:
We highlighted the shortcomings of the investigation to the prison including delays in providing the BWVC footage and other evidence to us, failure to reference pain inducement in the UoF paperwork, and failure to respond to requests for evidence from prisoners representatives.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Send
Complaint category:
Staff behaviour
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that she had not been able to see her father before he passed away. The prison acknowledged during the complaint investigation that there had been communication issues which meant the prisoner’s request for ROTL was not processed in a timely manner.
Recommendations/outcome:
No formal recommendations required as the prison had already introduced new processes and apologised to the prisoner.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Lindholme
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
August
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about the amount of compensation offered for property lost when staff in HMP Lindholme cleared his cell.
Recommendations/outcome:
Following the IPCI investigation, we asked the prison to pay the prisoner £847 compensation for the lost property. We asked the Governor to remind staff of the guidance in national policy when answering complaints and dealing with complaints about lost or damaged property, and to conduct cell clearances in line with the national policy using the approved cell clearance certificate (F2056J). Finally, we asked that staff be remind staff to respond to request for information from IPCI.
