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States of Jersey Prison Service HMP La Moye Annual Report 2020

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States of Jersey Prison Service HMP La Moye

Annual Report 2020

2018 – 2020

Presented to the States on 26th May 2021 by the Minister for Home Affairs

May 2021  R.93/2021

According to Prison (Jersey) Law 1957, revised in 2018 (23.775),

  1. The Minister shall each year, present to the States a report on the prison for the preceding calendar year.[23]
  2. The report shall contain –
  1. a statement of the accommodation at the prison and the daily average and highest number of prisoners confined therein;
  2. particulars of the work done by prisoners in the prison;
  3. a statement of the punishments inflicted in the prison and of the offences for which they were inflicted.[24]

By exception, this report covers three years; 2018- 2020.

Contents:

  1. Purpose: ........................................................................................................................ 4
  2. Introduction: ................................................................................................................... 4
  3. Overview of work done by prisoners: ............................................................................. 5
  4. Overview of existing accommodation and redevelopment program:............................... 9 Figure 1: Artist's impression of finished unit
  5. Average and highest number of prisoners and country of origin:..................................12 Table 1: Population data (highest and average numbers by year and gender)

Table 2: Population data (country of origin)

  1. Summary of disaplinary charges (punishments) ..........................................................14 Table 3: Charging and awards data
  2. Conclusion17
  3. Thank you from outgoing Acting Governor, Nick Watkins....18
  1. Purpose

The purpose of the States of Jersey Prison Service (SoJPS) is to contribute to the Government's vision for Jersey to be a place to live, work and visit, where people are safe and feel safe, which is free from discrimination and where rights and differences are respected.

This is done by working to rehabilitate Offenders and Reduce Reoffending; helping prisoners to be job ready, community ready and personally ready for reintegration to the community on release, while focusing on the well-being and training of the workforce.

  1. Introduction

This report covers the last three calendar years (2018, 2019 and 2020), providing an overview of the performance of the prison in this time and responding to the aspects outlined in Jersey Prison Law.

This period has seen considerable change with Governor Millar leaving in 2018 handing over to Governor Cameron and latterly led by the long serving Deputy Governor, Nick Watkins, who was temporarily promoted to Governor in 2020 and continued in this position for the remainder of the reporting period.

The prison made some initial progress on recommendations of the September 2017 Inspection by her Majesty's Inspectors of Prisons (HMIP) and some notable improvements have been made, supported by an ongoing and significant investment program in the infrastructure of the prison and plans to continue this into the future.

The prison has seen a significant amount of structural change as part of the Modernising Government agenda within the Department of Justice and Home Affairs, the realigning of resources and efficiency savings through a new Target Operating Model (TOM) implemented in 2020.

Of significance in this report is the covid theme that ran through all aspects of prison life as it responded to the threat of the pandemic, it widely being held that the prison did an excellent job in keeping both staff and prisoners safe and there were no reported cases of covid transmission within the prison.

HMP La Moye continues to be the only prison in Jersey; it is a small but complex prison serving the island's Magistrates and Royal Court, holding male, female, remand and sentenced prisoners of all security categories (and juveniles on a case by case basis) and dealing with repatriation and deportation cases which have become more complicated following the changes through Brexit for EU prisoners. Due to the detection and prosecution of historic sexual offenders in recent years, the prison has seen an increase in average age of population being held in the establishment and associated mobility and health issues, which it has adapted to meet.

In recent years the prison has begun to work increasingly closely with other services and government departments, such as Probation and Health, to develop an Integrated Offender Management (IOM) approach to preparing for release, with a renewed focus on the needs and risks to victims as well as establishing information-sharing protocols to ensure effective public protection arrangements are in place. There is currently no mandatory post release licencing of offenders in Jersey but the prison has been working with Probation, Police and the Courts to establish a legal and operational framework for Post Custodial Supervision'; this work is ongoing.

  1. An overview of work done by prisoners and developments across the reporting period

2018

The focus during 2018 was responding to the recommendations from the HMIP inspection in September 2017, published in early 2018. Much initial progress was made in this area and planning for investment and future development of the site.

2018 saw the appointment of Mr Cameron as Governor taking over from Governor Millar at the end of his 10 year tenure in charge of the site.

2019

Achieved a total of 155,474 hours of learning or employment programs over the year.

Innovations and improvements:

Prison went smoke free' and was a significant transformation for prisoners with the introduction of nicotine replacement. This was managed well and is now fully embedded.

KPIs reviewed to provide accountability in the 4 key areas, generating a renewed focus on measurable performance outcomes.

·Safety

·Security

·Reducing Reoffending ·Organisation Performance

Review of regime across the prison completed to ensure equal access for male and female prisoners as well as for vulnerable prisoners.

The Gym Team ran two health and well-being days with over 50% of prisoners attending and staff also benefitting.

Post Release Licencing' revisited (first considered in 2003); a multidisciplinary working- group made recommendations to the Minister of Justice and Home Affairs for the commencement of compulsory post custodial supervision for every offender released from prison. This work has yet to be concluded.

A Reducing Reoffending Team was created following the appointment of a new Head of function, focusing on education, workshops, horticulture, well-being and reintegration.

Improvements to residential units; chair lifts installed in confined areas, retrofitting access cells for disabled prisoners, upgrading in-cell furniture on some wings and improving outdoor exercise spaces.

Introduction of "out of hours" Listener telephone helpline within the prison in conjunction with the Samaritans.

Introduction of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVC) for staff working on the Care and Control Unit to improve staff safety.

Consultation and implementation of a new Target Operating Model (TOM) as part of a restructure within Justice and Home Affairs. This was designed to support greater integration of offender management with the Probation Service, prepare for an enhanced rehabilitation unit and achieve SoJPS efficiency savings.

Efficiency review with Ernest and Young (EY), considering 2020/ 2021 savings and contributing to the creation of a JHA Business Support Team/function in early 2020.

Creation of video link facility for Courts and professional appointments, later used extensively in supporting judicial system and family contact with prisoners during the Covid - 19 pandemic.

Enhanced focus on staff training and well-being; establishing advanced Control and Restraint (C&R) levels of training.

Awards and recognition:

The Horticulture Team won 19 1st prizes at the annual Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticulture (RJA&H) Show, and the Vocational Trainer (VT) Team were awarded a City & Guilds Distinction.

SoJPS had three nominations shortlisted for the OneGov awards'; Lucy Blackmore, Andy Buttimer and Darren Blake were all highly commended for their work.

2020

The reporting period saw another significant change in leadership of the prison with the departure of Governor Cameron and temporary promotion of the Deputy Governor, Mr Watkins mid-year.

Covid:

From March of this year, the establishment was focused around reducing the risk of transmission of Covid-19 into the establishment, in which HMP La Moye has been exemplary.

SoJPS observed Government of Jersey guidelines whilst maintaining a two-week lag in releasing restrictions to monitor community reaction; this enabled prisoners to remain Covid free throughout. Through applying a system of split shifts, the prison maintained most aspects of the regime and employment activities for prisoners including vocational training and health and well-being activities for staff and prisoners and the introduction of free virtual visits to support maintenance of family relationships.

Innovations and improvements:

Covid restrictions put in place and a regime and a sustained delivery of 135,939 hours delivered across the year in programs and activities.  

Covid provided  opportunities for  innovation  around  technology  including  an  increase  in application of video conferencing to support the Court system and delivery of outpatient appointments. The prison was well supported by the department's technical department in achieving this.

A prisoner sewing workshop was set up to produce cloth face masks for prisoners, It provided a pack of face masks to each prisoner for daily use as well as supplies which were given to Shelter, Jersey Women's Refuge and Prison Staff families.

Unable to bring in external parties to deliver health and  well-being days due to Covid restrictions, the gym and healthcare teams co-delivered partnership campaigns and aligned with OneGov' supported theme days for awareness raising

Development of community upcycling projects, including of the Haute Vallee School library bus

A number of improvements in health were achieved; increasing links in community Mental Health and Addictions Teams, appointing a Substance Misuse Therapist collaboratively with the Prison Health Care team, and with the Jersey Drug and Alcohol Service, with a clear referral and support provision in place for prisoners. Improvements were made in producing and meeting the standards of a new policy on infection Control and Prevention

Working with Probation colleagues provided a refocus on Integrated Offender Management, which will underpin ongoing reintegration planning work.

Both of the former trainee Psychologists achieved chartered status, giving SoJPS excellent provision and being able to support forensic psychology work across the Criminal Justice system and JPACS, during the court post release phases, and for the management of high risk offenders which is vital to JMAPPA and will be part of risk management during the post custodial licence phase of a sentence.

The reporting period has seen significant development and investment in the infrastructure of the prison including the build of a new visitor centre, staff facility, and associated work and training spaces as part of the longer program of modernisation.

Awards and recognition:

The prison won 22 prizes at the RJA&H virtual' show, setting five new records

During Prisons Week' in October our Chaplains led prisoners' week and had daily slots on BBC Radio.

  1. Overview of existing accommodation at the prison and planned program ofredevelopment

Existing accommodation

Prisoners at HMP La Moye are accommodated in  four main wings (H wing, Women; J wing, Vulnerable prisoners; K wing, general population and L wing, Enhanced prisoners) as well as a separate segregation unit (CCU), which is opened as required.

All cells have in-cell sanitation, showers, and access to a kettle, and most cells have telephones and access to information technology (plans are in place for the few remaining cells to have this infrastructure upgrade imminently).

A stair lift was installed in all populated wings in 2020 to improve disabled access to all landings. H Wing: Women

Operational capacity for 35 prisoners including an eight bed self-care unit created in 2020 (temporary rerolled as contingency covid isolation unit), four segregation cells, one safer cell.

J Wing: Vulnerable prisoner unit

Operational capacity for 62 prisoners (in 21 double and 20 single cells) and includes two safer cells'.

The unit is part way through a cell fabric upgrade project (replacing and fitting new cell furniture) but has been delayed due to covid affecting access to off island trades.

K Wing: General population

Operational capacity for 58 prisoners (in 12 double and 34 single cells), includes two safer cells and an accessible cell for physically disabled prisoners.

L Wing: Enhanced regime unit (adult males)

Operational capacity for 87 prisoners and includes three safer cells and two accessible cells for physically disabled prisoners.

All prisoner's on L-wing are on an Enhanced regime' due to their positive conduct in custody Planned program of redevelopment

The Prison has a long-term development plan which includes the demolition of a number of original buildings which have been vacated due to concerns that they are no longer fit for purpose or safe and which date back to the early 1970s. An updated business plan was submitted in 2019, forming part of the Government's existing modernisation plan and includes the provision of facilities to support an improved focus on Reducing Reoffending. The review achieved a saving of £17m on the original proposals and an aspiration to complete within 5-7 years (rather than the previously projected 11-14 years). The total planned investment for the remaining project is £14.176m; timescales and sequencing of this will be adjusted in response to capital availability including proceeds of crime funding, the proposed remaining phases of the plan are as follows:

Phase 6 (New Gate Lodge) – £8.3m investment in SoJPS in 2019. Commenced enabling works in Jan 2020. Main contract Commenced 29.06.20. Estimated completion Q2/3 2022.

Phase 6B (Demo A, B & C Wings) - £1.8m investment in 2020/21. Project tendered. Target commencement beginning of May 2021

Phase 7 (Multi-Purpose Building). Business case submitted. Estimated cost £18.7m. £2.26m allocated in 2023 Government Plan. Balance will need to be re-bid in 2024 Government Plan.

Phase 8 (Outworkers Unit) - £2.4 in 2020 – 2023 Government Plan (£666k allocated in 2021, £1.609m in 2022 and 133K in 2023). Commencement dependent on completion of Phase 6;

creation of a low security pre-release unit, vocational training workshops and education facility will assist in maintaining flexibility.

Figure 1:

Artist impression of the new gate and pre –release unit

  1. Average and highest number of prisoners held at the facility andoverviewofcountry of origin

The population in the prison has remained broadly the same across the reporting period with a high of 154 in 2018, 148 in 2019 and 155 in 2020. The split between male and female prisoners has also been fairly consistent with an average of 6 - 10 women across the three years; the highest was 14 women during 2020.

Of the prisoners held at La Moye, the largest cohort continues to come from Jersey itself, and in all three years the next highest country of origin was the UK followed by Portugal. In 2018 47% of prisoners came from Jersey, reducing to 36% in 2019 and 51% in 2020. The total number of prisoners coming to La Moye in this three year period has gone down from 243 in 2018 to 208 in 2019 and 174 in 2020. The data for 2020 should be considered cautiously due to

  1. the impact of the pandemic
  2. the significant reduction in movement of people coming on and off the island and
  3. activity within the island as well as the impact that this had on the ability to transfer foreign nationals off the island to complete their sentences.

Table 1:

Average and highest population data (male and female) for reporting period:

 

 

2018

2019

2020

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

Average

124

9

133

127

6

133

136

10

146*

Highest

145

11

154

142

10

148

143

14

155*

*this slight increase in 2020 may reflect delays in being able to deport/ repatriate prisoners to other jurisdictions due to covid restrictions

Table 2:

New reception by Country of Origin (and gender) for reporting period:

 

 

2018

2019

2020

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

Jersey

110

4

114

67

8

75

78

11

89

United Kingdom

55

6

61

61

3

64

36

7

43

Portugal

26

7

33

27

6

33

15

2

17

Poland

8

2

10

13

1

14

3

0

3

Bangladesh

3

0

3

0

0

0

2

0

2

Romania

8

0

8

4

0

4

6

0

6

Guernsey

0

2

2

0

0

0

1

0

1

Ireland

5

0

5

8

0

8

4

1

5

Syria

1

0

1

2

0

2

0

0

0

Spain

0

0

0

2

0

2

0

0

0

Canada

0

0

0

2

0

2

0

0

0

Other*

4

2

6

4

0

4

5

3

8

Total

220

23

243

190

18

208

150

24

174

  1. A summary of disciplinary charges laid against prisoners (adjudications) and awards received

The number of prisoners charged with breaking prison rules over the last three years has varied significantly. This disciplinary process was used on 134 occasions in 2018 and more than doubled in 2019 where it was used a total of 399 times, and a slight drop to 354 in 2020. This data should be considered cautiously and does not necessarily reflect a change in prisoner behaviour but could include a number of variables such as a change in threshold and the way it was deployed. The data does not provide a rate (averaged over total population within year) or number of prisoners involved; (it can be that a small number of prisoners account for a disproportionate number of breaches of prison rule). A similar pattern is detected when looking at the number of charges that were serious enough to be referred to the police; in 2018 there are no records of this threshold being met or process being considered. In 2019 and 2020 such a referral did occur five times. The security department reports an excellent response by the police in all of these cases in gathering evidence and ensuring where this misconduct in prison met a criminal threshold. It was dealt with using the full force of the criminal justice system.

An exploration into the spike in charges of Health and safety', Possession of an unauthorised article or substance', Destroys or damages any part of the prison' and Inhales any substance' is anecdotally explained by the smoking ban which made tobacco and smoking paraphernalia less available and prisoners caused damage and created new health and safety risks in trying to replicate the paraphernalia and experiment in smoking other more available items. This is considered to have settled down as the ban has become the norm and is anticipated to be much flatter in 2021. The number of times that prisoners were awarded Cellular confinement (CC) in a year were low, averaging between once or twice a month in each year.

Table 3:

A summary of disciplinary charges laid against prisoners (adjudications) and awards received

 

Charging outcome

Punishments awarded

Charge laid

Dismissed/  not  proceeded with/ caution

Referred to the police

Loss  of  privileges  (can  be more than 1 per charge)

Cellular Confinement

2018

2019

2020

2018

2019

2020

2018

2019

2020

2018

2019

2020

2018

2019

2020

Assault

9

16

20

2

0

3

0

1

1

5

8

8

2

5

8

Fighting

4

9

11

0

2

2

0

0

1

4

5

9

0

2

0

Endangers the health or safety

10

27*

12

4

8

4

0

1

0

6

16

7

0

2

1

Obstructs an officer

1

2

6

1

0

2

0

0

0

0

2

4

0

0

0

Fails  to  return  to  prison  after  being temporarily released.

0

1

3

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

2

4

0

0

In  position  of  unauthorised  article  or substance

9

100*

92*

3

40

22

0

0

0

2

53

68

0

1

0

sells or delivers unauthorised article

1

2

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

Sells or delivers article for the prisoner's own use

1

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

takes  improperly  article  belonging  to another

2

2

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

1

0

0

0

0

intentionally or recklessly sets fire to any part of the prison

1

3

0

1

0

4

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

1

0

Has in possession article not authorized to have

1

15

8

1

8

8

0

0

0

0

7

4

0

1

0

destroys  or  damages  any  part  of  the prison

21

49*

37

6

10

2

0

2

0

2

31

27

0

1

0

absents himself or herself from any place where the prisoner is required to be

3

4

3

3

4

2

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

is disrespectful to any officer

0

5

3

0

2

5

0

0

0

0

3

1

0

0

0

uses  threatening,  abusive  or  insulting words or behaviour

32

44

60

9

12

16

0

0

0

17

27

55

5

3

0

intentionally fails to work properly

10

31

17

9

25

8

0

0

0

1

6

0

0

0

0

disobeys any lawful order

16

15

32

4

3

11

0

0

0

11

10

23

1

2

3

fails to comply with any rule or direction applying to a prisoner

12

33

42

2

13

0

0

0

0

8

18

29

0

0

0

Receives  article  on  a  visit  without  the consent of an officer

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Take any substance which is a prohibited

0

3

2

0

1

13

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

inhales any substance which is prohibited

0

28*

3

0

11

0

0

0

1

0

16

20

0

1

3

commits any indecent or obscene act

0

6

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

1

0

Fails to open mouth for the purpose of enabling a visual examination

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

attempts to commit breaches

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

Racially agrevated

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

Takes improperly

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

Total

134

399

354

46

26

57

0

5

5

61

213

260

12

21

18

  1. Conclusion:

Despite a lot of changes in leadership over this reporting year, HMP La Moye continues to be a well run prison with good relationships and decent treatment of prisoners by staff. The ongoing investment in the site is beginning to realise some tangible benefits for the well-being of prisoners and staff. It will continue to support better outcomes for prisoners as the infrastructure increasingly meets the needs of the population and purpose of the prison.

The changes in leadership have had a destabilising effect on staff and affected staff morale and this has been compounded by covid restrictions over the last year. These, although well managed by the prison, have affected the ability to progress in a number of areas, significantly affecting staff training and development, especially where services are reliant on off island providers visiting the site.

The progress against objectives from the 2017 HMIP inspection although making good head way initially, has been thwarted by all of the reasons given above. A significant refocus is required in this direction, especially ensuring the ability to evidence measurable resettlement outcomes for prisoners. In addition, a refocus is required in the availably of qualifications and addressing the concerns raised around differential between what is offered to male and female offenders and the temporary pop-up' nature of the segregation unit. In the latter part of this reporting period, significant improvement has been achieved in working more closely between prison and probation and this is a good position to build on in the future.

  1. Thank you from outgoing Acting Governor, NickWatkins

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of the SoJPS Staff for their dedication, professionalism and sheer drive to do what is best for those people that we are charged with looking after by the Courts. Indeed, the Island of Jersey and Government of Jersey are truly blessed to have such a committed group of Staff delivering outstanding work in the pursuit of giving prisoners the best opportunity for reintegrating back into our community. I am immensely proud of you all and all that you have achieved, individually and collectively. We have made a difference for our Island and will make an even greater contribution to reducing reoffending and improving safety during 2021.  

Nick Watkins| Acting Governor and Head of SoJ Prison Service