Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Five Wells
Complaint category:
Staff behaviour
Month investigation completed:
January
Year investigation completed:
2025
A prisoner complained that they had been assaulted because of staff not properly managing the risk presented by another prisoner. The IPCI investigation established that risk had not been managed adequately and the original complaint response from the prison had wrongly assigned blame for assault to information disclosed by the complainant.
Recommendations/outcome:
We upheld the complaint as we determined that staff should reasonably have known the risk presented by the prisoner who committed the assault. The prison provided comments from the Head of Safety demonstrating they had put in pace actions to prevent a recurrence.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Garth
Complaint category:
Adjudication & IEP
Month investigation completed:
January
Year investigation completed:
2025
A prisoner complained that he had been prevented from purchasing vapes because of an Adjudication punishment. During the IPCI investigation we were informed that this matter had been subsequently discussed at an adjudication standardisation meeting. This resulted in a change to practice to allow the purchase of the vapes.
Recommendations/outcome:
We partially upheld this complaint in recognition that the prison had gone on to change their practice to allow the purchase of vapes.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Garth
Complaint category:
Categorisation, progression & release preparation
Month investigation completed:
January
Year investigation completed:
2025
A prisoner complained about the decision not to downgrade him at the last categorisation review. The IPCI investigation established that the prisoner had not been given sufficient explanation of the reasoning behind the decision. We were also concerned about the significance ascribed to a single Intelligence Report (IR).
Recommendations/outcome:
We upheld the complaint. During the investigation a further review was completed and the complainant recategorised downward.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Woodhill
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
January
Year investigation completed:
2025
A prisoner complained that Reception had not issued him with a razor. The prison confirmed it had not. We upheld the complaint and asked the Governor to check that the prisoner had now been issued with a razor.
Recommendations/outcome:
The prisoner was issued with a razor. We feel this complaint could have been resolved without referral to IPCI.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Swaleside
Complaint category:
Administration
Month investigation completed:
January
Year investigation completed:
2025
A prisoner complained that despite appealing his E-List status decision, he had not received a response. The IPCI investigation found that there were some procedural failures relating to the sending and returning of Annex C appeal forms at the prison. These were highlighted to the Governor, so that the process could be improved for the future.
Recommendations/outcome:
No formal recommendations were made as a subsequent complaint had been upheld. Reviews were carried out within the correct timescales, action was taken to reissue the appeal form, and the prisoner has since been removed from the E-list.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Stocken
Complaint category:
Administration
Month investigation completed:
December
Year investigation completed:
2024
A prisoner complained about the responses received to a complaint about the behaviour of wing staff at HMP Stocken. Our investigation found that staff did not fully address the issues complained about in their complaint responses.
Recommendations/outcome:
IPCI recommended that HMP Stocken remind staff of the need to reply to complaint and appeal forms in line with national policy. We feel this complaint could have been resolved without referral to IPCI.
Upheld complaint against the Director of HMP Peterborough
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
December
Year investigation completed:
2024
A prisoner complained that HMP Peterborough had lost some of his property after he transferred to another establishment following a court appearance. Despite numerous requests Peterborough for specific information, we received no responses to our enquiries, so the complaint was upheld on the basis of the information available to us.
Recommendations/outcome:
IPCI recommended that HMP Peterborough reminded staff of their obligation to provide IPCI with information, put in place a process to ensure IPCI requests are actioned and to offer the prisoner £200 for the loss of his property.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Littlehey
Complaint category:
Categorisation, progression & release preparation
Month investigation completed:
December
Year investigation completed:
2024
A prisoner complained that his recategorisation review had not taken place as scheduled at HMP Littlehey, and that staff were not following section 8.17 of the Security Categorisation Policy Framework.
Recommendations/outcome:
Following the IPCI investigation we partially upheld this complaint because we found the prisoner’s review had been overlooked and the prison had yet to complete this at the time of his complaint. We did not find evidence that 8.17 of the policy framework had not been followed. We did not make recommendations as the prison acknowledged their mistake and apologised to the prisoner. The review was subsequently completed.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Ranby
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
December
Year investigation completed:
2024
A prisoner complained that he was not allowed to receive books at HMP Ranby unless they had come from an approved supplier. He said that this was not in accordance with the Incentives Policy Framework.
Recommendations/outcome:
We recommended that the prison complied with the Incentives Policy Framework and allowed books to be sent in directly by friends and family as well as approved suppliers. HMP Ranby has now amended their local policy. We feel this complaint could have been resolved without referral to IPCI.
Upheld complaint against the Director of HMP Oakwood
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
December
Year investigation completed:
2024
A prisoner complained that certificates he had obtained while at HMP Oakwood had not been issued to him. He was then transferred to multiple different establishments where the certificates did not follow him. After IPCI’s involvement, it was ascertained that certificates were never sent to the prisoner’s new establishment and Oakwood could not account for the whereabouts of the originals. However, they still had access to copies of the certificates.
Recommendations/outcome:
The prisoner was provided with copies of all certificates. We feel this complaint could have been resolved without referral to IPCI.
