Pentonville scrutiny visit 2020
Report for Pentonville Prison
Summary
This report discusses the findings from a scrutiny visit (SV) to HMP Pentonville. The SV methodology develops the ‘short scrutiny visit’ (SSV, see Glossary of terms) approach that HMI Prisons used to provide independent oversight of custodial establishments from April to July 2020. Our previous approach monitored outcomes for prisoners in a small number of key areas at a time when regimes were severely restricted in all prisons. While SVs are still more limited in scope than our full inspections, they increase the intensity of scrutiny. SVs examine the treatment and conditions of prisoners in greater detail and focus in particular on the pace of recovery and proportionality of treatment, while ensuring the safest possible inspection practices. HMP Pentonville is in north London and is one of the country’s oldest and most famous institutions.