Upheld complaint against the Governor of Gartree
Complaint category:
Adjudication & IEP
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about a finding of guilt following a positive result during a routine mandatory drug test (MDT). We found that staff had not followed the correct procedures when conducting the MDT and there were irregularities in the chain of custody. This rendered the finding of guilt unsafe.
Recommendations/outcome:
We asked that the adjudication be quashed.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Lincoln
Complaint category:
Work, pay & money
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained he had ordered and paid for canteen but did not receive it because he was transferred out of the prison.
Recommendations/outcome:
We found that there was a delay in processing the refund for the canteen, but it had been subsequently received by the prisoner, so no further recommendations were needed. We hold the view that this complaint should have been resolved by the prison without reference to IPCI.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Lincoln
Complaint category:
Adjudication & IEP
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about four adjudication charges which were heard together. When he appealed one of these charges, one was quashed on the basis that the damage caused was in the context of an act of self-harm and he should not be punished for that. We found that a similar approach should have been taken in the appeal as the damage was again caused in the same act of self-harm.
Recommendations/outcome:
We asked that the adjudication be quashed.
Upheld complaint against the Governor at HMP Wymott
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that his property went missing when he was transferred from HMP Wymott to HMP Haverigg. The prisoner’s property had not been checked before leaving the establishment.
Recommendations/outcome:
The Investigator proposed a mediated settlement which was rejected by the prison so we made a formal recommendation that the prisoner receive an apology, compensation and new copies of the education certificates which had gone missing. We hold the view that this complaint should have been resolved by the prison without reference to IPCI.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Berwyn and HMP Risley
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that some bags of property had been lost following his transfer from HMP Berwyn to HMP Risley. The IPCI investigation found that both prisons had failed to maintain accurate records: Berwyn did not retain evidence of the courier, and Risley did not update the prisoner property cards when he was transferred there.
Recommendations/outcome:
We asked that the prisoner be compensated for his missing property. This was split between HMP Berwyn and HMP Risley. We hold the view that this complaint should have been resolved by the prison without reference to IPCI.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Highpoint
Complaint category:
Staff behaviour
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that despite being on an open Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) report, he had been left with medication in his possession which resulted in his hospitalisation and it had happened a second time once discharged from hospital.
Recommendations/outcome:
The prison agreed to speak to the staff concerned to ensure they are aware of the need to ensure prisoners at risk are not left with medication in their possession.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Stocken
Complaint category:
Staff behaviour
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about the behaviour of an officer in HMP Stocken. The IPCI investigation found the prisons investigation into the complaint was incomplete and inadequate. Further to this our requests for access to audio footage of the incident were frustrated.
Recommendations/outcome:
IPCI partially upheld this complaint due to the prisons failure to provide IPCI with evidence to assess the incident.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Birmingham
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
May
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that some of their property had been lost by HMP Birmingham on transfer. The IPCI investigation established although a PER had been completed, it had no detail of any bags transferred or the seal numbers, therefore it was impossible to establish what had been transferred or what had been lost.
Recommendations/outcome:
We recommended that the prisoner receive compensation based on what he reasonably had in possession prior to the transfer and which was not subsequently listed as arriving at the new establishment.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP North Sea Camp
Complaint category:
Categorisation, progression & release preparation
Month investigation completed:
May
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about the delays to the completion of his application for ROTL. The investigation established that the community offender manager had not completed the required contribution within the four-week window, and this was because the case had been reallocated and overlooked.
Recommendations/outcome:
The relevant community manager accepted responsibility for staff failings, and to address the issue with the relevant member of staff. During the course of the investigation a successful ROTL application was completed.
Partially Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Whatton
Complaint category:
Administration
Month investigation completed:
May
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about a delay to a response relating to published servery times. Our investigation established that during the period of his complaint the complaints clerk had left the service which had resulted in some disruptions to complaint handling.
Recommendations/outcome:
We are satisfied that following changes to staffing, there are now robust complaints handling processes in place.
