Peterborough scrutiny visit 2021
Report for Peterborough Prison
Summary
The prison had retained a reduced library service through a book trolley, and PE instructors provided some circuit training on exercise yards, though neither were provided consistently as the relevant staff were often cross-deployed to other duties. The indoor gym had reopened very recently which had improved opportunities for some prisoners. Rehabilitation and release planning had been a strength at the last visit, and some elements of this work remained in place and had developed further. Partnership working with Nacro had resulted in the purchase of accommodation in the city centre that prioritised prisoners leaving Peterborough. Despite this, a third of prisoners leaving the prison had no settled accommodation to go to. Gaps in public protection work also created some risk, particularly in multidisciplinary work and monitoring the calls of some dangerous prisoners. Inspectors also identified several priorities for improvement, including There were weaknesses in the management of public protection. Monthly interdepartmental risk management meetings had not been held consistently since March 2020 and were often very poorly attended. Prisoner cases were not always discussed in sufficient depth before their release.