Regimes and conditions for prisoners at HMP Dartmoor are being compromised by staff shortages and a lack of investment, following the decision to close the 300-year-old prison within two years, says the prison’s independent monitoring board (IMB).

The IMB found that the prison is generally safe and staff work hard to support prisoners. The annual report notes that during the height of the Covid -19 pandemic staff worked hard to keep the keep the prison running. However, the impact of the proposed closure is now adversely affecting prisoners’ welfare and conditions:

Prisoners are sometimes locked in their cells for 23 hours a day, particularly at weekend, due to staff shortages and officers being diverted to other duties

Lack of investment in infrastructure means that there are insufficient work and training opportunities, and recurrent problems with phones and boilers.

IMB Chair, Colin Stares, said: ‘Our report highlights that although staff work hard towards keeping prisoners safe, the closure notice is having a negative impact on those who live and work in HMP Dartmoor. It is not acceptable that men are kept locked in their cells for 23 hours a day, only being allowed out to quickly shower and collect food.

‘Other areas of the prison are impacted by a lack of capital investment which is having an impact on prisoners’ physical and mental health and places great pressures on staff. The IMB are calling on the Prisons Minister to ensure that in the two years left until the prison is due to close, HMP Dartmoor receives the resources necessary to ensure that the prison is a safe and humane place.’

The IMB said that throughout the reporting year, HMP Dartmoor had been under central Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Gold Command, with measures to assist in managing the estate through the pandemic.

These measures, coupled with the commitment and hard work of management and officers, had been successful for Dartmoor in limiting Covid-19 infections. Apart from one limited outbreak over Christmas 2020, which was soon contained, there had been no significant outbreaks in the prison,’ it said. There was one death in the prison within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test during the reporting year.

‘We commend management and staff for the support offered to prisoners during the pandemic. This is particularly notable in an environment where there has been a change of Governor following retirement, and a striking lack of continuity in the senior management team and wing management following retirement, other absences and a number of acting-up positions. There have been, for example, three deputy governors, three heads of residence and safety, and several officers acting up to senior officer/custody manager/governor grade in the year.

‘However, the Covid-19 measures have come at a price for prisoners and staff alike and the year has been atypical. For prisoners, there have been extensive lock-up times, no face-to-face visits for much of the year and restrictions on activities, which have had their own, largely detrimental, impact on prisoners and their well-being. For staff, there have been the stresses and difficulties with coping with the prison environment during the pandemic, alongside concerns about the safety of their families, and all in the context of needing to cope with the uncertainties about closure and a frequently changing management team.’

HMP Dartmoor is a category C training prison for up to 640 adult male prisoners. The prison comprises six residential wings (known in HMP Dartmoor as tors), a care and separation unit (CSU), a healthcare suite, a chapel, and education facilities and workshops. In addition, there is a large gym, a well-equipped kitchen and other facilities to support the life of the prison.

The buildings are leased from the Duchy of Cornwall, and the Prison Service is responsible for their upkeep. Notice of termination of the lease has been given and the prison will close in 2023 unless the lease is renewed.