Déjà vu for Northern Irish Prisons

Two reports published together by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland [1, 2], at the start of October 2013, became the latest in a long line of reports highly critical of prisons and the prison system in Northern Ireland. The reports concluded that performance at the two prisons at Hydebank Wood in Belfast were not good enough, and combined, the reports made over 150 recommendations for improvement [3]. Located at Hydebank Wood is a women’s prison. Also situated there is a Young Offenders Centre [4].

The damning reports emphasised a series of problems at Hydebank Wood. These included [5]:

• A failure to learn from deaths in custody at both prisons on the Hydebank Wood site.
• The approach to tackling drugs and substance misuse was inadequate.
• Concerns over safety, with many inmates feeling victimised by fellow prisoners and staff.
• In the Young Offenders Centre, inmates spent too much time locked in their cells.
• Activities were frequently cancelled at short notice, often due to lock-downs.
• Work and education was only being accessed by a small number of prisoners and little was done to meet the needs of inmates with low levels of literacy and numeracy.
• Access to services and facilities was limited for female prisoners.
• The regime was overly restrictive towards the women inmates because the site had to be share with young male offenders.
• There was a lack of respect for prisoners.
• The use of strip search searching at the women’s prison was excessive.

These significant concerns are nothing new, however. There have been a number of reports in recent years that have been heavily critical of the prison system and Hydebank Wood in particular. This the fourth time that Hydebank Wood has been inspected by Criminal Justice Inspection and similar issues were raised since the first of these reports in 2005 [3].

An illustration of recurring problems within prisons is the strip searching of females, which has been controversial since it was introduced in Northern Irish prisons in 1982. Strip searching of females has been described as cruel, inhuman, distressing, traumatic, degrading, humiliating and as amounting to a form of sexual assault [6]. Nevertheless, women in Hydebank Wood were still being subjected to excessive strip searching. All women were strip searched on arrival and randomly after visits, which was deemed unnecessary and disproportionate [7]. The Prison Service argue that strip searching is necessary to maintain the safety of inmates and staff [8]. Female prisoners were also disadvantaged because they were being held in a predominately male prison. This affected the ability to deliver positive outcomes to women prisoners [7].

The reports also stated that there was a failure to learn from previous deaths in custody. This is despite many previous reports being produced which were critical of procedures and circumstances surrounding deaths in custody. A shocking example of failures in the system was evident when it was found that some prison officers were lying in bed watching television while a known self-harmer committed suicide after repeated attempts [9]. Deaths in custody culminated in two suicides at Hydebank Wood on the same night in May 2011. One death occurred in the Young Offenders Centre and the other later in the women’s prison. Both inmates were known to have suicidal thoughts. Reports into the deaths found many problems such as failure to address mental health issues and failing to investigate bullying and threats [10, 11].

It was previously acknowledged that, unlike the Police Service of Northern Ireland, there had not been a thorough review of how the prison system should operate in the post-Troubles era. Therefore, many problems in governance, accountability and culture were carried through from the years of the Troubles. In order to address this the Prison Review Team conducted a fundamental review of the prison system in Northern Ireland. Highly critical reports by the Prison Review Team were published in 2011 [12, 13]. These reported that the prison system was a source of embarrassment, as it was ineffective and demoralised with significant and long-lasting problems. In 2011, the Prison Service was described as unfit for purpose and beyond crisis-point [14]. However, Justice Minister, David Ford, described the reports as a watershed for the Prison Service and would be a catalyst for prison reform [15].

It was thought that the Prison Service had begun to turn the corner in 2011 but the evidence from these latest reports offer little support to the notion that there have been fundamental changes in the prison system during the last two years. Recurring issues, which have been previously highlighted are reported again. This evidence is similar to other reports that little has changed, to such an extent, that there is a case of déjà vu around the prison system and that it has even regressed since 2011 [16].

After numerous critical reports which repeatedly highlighted major problems with the prison system, the recent reports raised concerns about performance in relation to four internationally recognised ‘healthy prison’ tests i.e safety, respect, purposeful activity and resettlement [5]. After the publication of the full Prison Review Team report in 2011, it was commented that in the eight months since the interim report had been released, the team had developed a growing fear that again a report would be published, but with no fundamental improvements resulting [13]. Time and time again reports have been published criticising the Prison Service, which then promised to improve. Again, the Prison Service has failed to deliver on their promises. Professor Phil Scraton and Dr Linda Moore, who have authored previous prison reports, have labelled the latest findings as scandalous and have emphasised the need for actions, not words [17]. However, words have already been forthcoming. The Director General of the Prison Service, Sue McAllister, has said there had been major changes since the inspection, especially that a new management team had been put in place. This she maintains will help deliver sustainable change and lead to more positive outcomes for prisoners [3, 18]. However there seems to be little proof that Sue McAllister is convincing observers that this is a new dawn for the prison system in Northern Ireland. The new management team would need to deliver substantial improvements if the forboding sense of déjà vu is not to return again.

Sources:

1. Ash House, Hydebank Wood Women’s Prison Report http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmipris/other-jurisdiction-inspections/northern-ireland/ash-house-report-2013.pdf
2. Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre Report     http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmipris/other-jurisdiction-inspections/northern-ireland/hydebank-report-2013.pdf
3. Belfast’s Hydebank Wood prisons ‘not good enough’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24339241
4. Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and Prison http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/ni-prison-service/prison-estate/hydebank-wood-young-offenders-centre-and-prison.htm
5. Fundamental improvement in outcomes for prisoners required at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders’ Centre and Ash House women’s http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/press-releases/hmi-prisons/fundamental-improvement-in-outcomes-for-prisoners-required-at-hydebank-wood-young-offenders-centre-and-ash-house-womens
6. Forced strip search of Pomeroy woman a ‘brutal sex assault’ http://ulsterherald.com/2013/09/04/forced-strip-search-of-pomeroy-woman-a-brutal-sex-assault
7. Women strip-searched too often in Northern Ireland’s prison system http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1001/477478-northern-ireland-prisons/
8. Strip searches ‘necessary to maintain safety in prison’ http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/strip-searches-necessary-to-maintain-safety-in-prison-1-5547733
9. Report critical of prison staff http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7819286.stm
10. Prisoner Ombudsman: Shortfalls in Frances McKeown’s care http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20517008
11. Report into Samuel Carson death criticises NI prison service http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20401076
12. Review of the Northern Ireland Prison Service Conditions, management and oversight of all prisons – Interim Report http://www.prisonreviewni.gov.uk/review_of_the_northern_ireland_prison_service-interim_report_february_2011.pdf
13. Review of the Northern Ireland Prison Service Conditions, management and oversight of all prisons http://www.prisonreviewni.gov.uk/final-prison-review-oct11.pdf
14. Action Prison says NI jails ‘beyond point of crisis’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13594711
15. Justice Minister calls Prison Service report a ‘watershed’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15428323
16. Belfast’s Hydebank Wood prisons ‘not good enough’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24357166
17. IRiSS’s Dr Linda Moore on Recent CJINI Report into Prison in NI http://irissuublog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/irisss-dr-linda-moore-on-recent-cjini.html
18. Prison Service responds to Hydebank Wood Inspection Report Findings http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/debateni/press-feed/prison-service-responds-to-hydebank-wood-inspection-report-findings-29621799.html