Report finds 'evidence of progress' at prison

There is "encouraging evidence of progress" at a prison despite a 27% increase in the recorded rate of self-harm among inmates, a report said.

HMP Five Wells opened in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in 2022 and is run by security firm G4S.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) found staff "had gained confidence" and more prisoners were "engaged in purposeful activity", but also noted "not enough was being done to address violence or bullying" at the category C jail.

G4S said it was "pleased" that HMIP had recognised "the progress we've made, particularly in relation to purposeful activity and staff-prisoner relationships".

It said: "We are continuing to make improvements in key areas, including reducing self-harm incidents by bolstering support through the introduction of a peer mentor scheme, and a new induction process which sees fellow prisoners help new arrivals to settle in."

The firm also said it had revised its analysis of incidents of self-harm to better inform its safety strategy at the prison, which houses about 1,700 male inmates.

The prison's last inspection in January said illegal drugs were widely available and inmates were not being suitably supported by staff.

However, its latest inspection, which took place between 4 and 6 November, found the appointment of a new prison director was "providing clear direction".

It found "good progress" in health, wellbeing and social care and staff-prisoner relationships. The report also found "reasonable progress" in encouraging positive behaviour and the prison's leadership.

However, suicide and self-harm prevention, and fair treatment and inclusion, were rated as having made "insufficient progress".

HMIP found the recorded rate of self-harm was up 27% since its last inspection and remained the highest among similar prisons.

There have been no self-inflicted deaths since the prison opened, but in the last six months there were 26 serious self-harm incidents, of which only 14 had been investigated.

Part of the report focusing on education, skills and work, which was written by Ofsted inspectors, found "reasonable progress" across four areas.

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