Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Wymott and the Governor of HMP Lindholme
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that some of their property had been lost by HMP Lindholme after they transferred to HMP Wymott. During IPCI’s investigation it was confirmed that some of the prisoner’s property had been sent to storage at Branston, and that seven months after the initial complaint HMP Wymott had subsequently sent for the stored property.
We upheld this complaint because we did not think the prison had adopted the “problem solving approach” required by national policy.
Recommendations/outcome:
The prisoner has been reunited with the missing property. 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 Stoke Heath
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained that a large amount of property went missing when he moved wings at Stoke Heath. Whilst the prison didn’t accept they had done anything wrong, they had already offered £100 compensation. The prisoner claimed the missing property was valued at much more.
Recommendations/outcome:
We partially upheld this compliant because we found that it likely that Stoke Heath was responsible for some property going missing, but we were unable to fully determine what was missing as the prisoner had not provided accurate information in his complaint forms.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Garth
Complaint category:
Accommodation, food, education & other facilities
Month investigation completed:
June
Year investigation completed:
2024
The prisoner complained about the lack of ventilation at Garth, he said that this had been an ongoing problem at the prison for three years.
Recommendations/outcome:
The IPCI investigation found that there was an issue with the ventilation, which had been raised with maintenance teams a number of times. Whilst there was not a date for completion of ongoing repairs and we considered it would not be reasonable for us to set an arbitrary date.
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.
