National Preventive Mechanism Eighth Annual Report 2016–17 As in previous years, there was a significant decline in outcomes for men in prison in England and Wales. In almost three‑quarters of its reports on men’s prisons, HMI Prisons was critical of the response of establishments to some factors contributing to self-harm. Significantly more prisoners reported to HMI Prisons that they felt unsafe during the year, with many prisoners observed to be self-segregating to avoid violence. The use of force by staff was high in many prisons and there were concerns about gaps in the governance of its use. Prison conditions in England and Wales were poor, with many prisoners being kept in dirty and overcrowded facilities. The amount of time that prisoners remained in cells was considered to be unacceptable by HMI Prisons. Staff shortages contributed to the poor outcomes in prisons throughout the year and were chronic in some establishments. As in previous years, the use of NPS was noted to be widespread.8 Outcomes in women’s prisons inspected in England during the year were generally better than in the men’s estate, but women in prison continued to present complex needs, reporting increased vulnerability and mental health problems. The number of women reporting that they had ever felt unsafe in prisons inspected during the year rose to 52% from 39% in the previous year. HMI Prisons noted that all women’s prisons inspected during the year took the issues of women who had experienced domestic abuse, trafficking and/or who had worked in the sex industry seriously, but more needed to be done to provide them with sufficient support.9 Across Scotland, levels of violence in prisons have remained relatively stable in recent years, but concerns remain about the impact of the increased use of NPS. The provision of health care in prisons continues to be the issue which prisoners most frequently raise as a concern with Independent Prison Monitors. The number of older prisoners continues to rise, with the increase in length of sentences imposed by the courts and the prosecution of more cases of ‘historic’ crimes contributing to this rise. In preparation for the implementation of the Scottish Government’s strategy for women in custody, which will develop more community-based custodial provision, over 100 women were transferred from HMPYOI Cornton Vale to HMPYOI Polmont. This allowed for the partial closure of some accommodation blocks at Cornton Vale and an overall improvement in the conditions for women in custody. In Northern Ireland, a review of progress at Maghaberry Prison, which houses adult men, highlighted continuing concerns. These included failures to monitor the prison’s own death in custody action plan (put in place to implement recommendations from the Northern Ireland Prisoner Ombudsman in relation to supporting prisoners vulnerable to suicide or self-harm) and the lack of an overall strategy to respond to safety concerns and vulnerable prisoners. The prison continued to face issues with drug abuse.10 A joint inspection of Hydebank HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2017, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales Annual Report 2016–17, https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/07/HMIP-AR_2016-17_ CONTENT_11-07-17-WEB.pdf [accessed 22/08/17]. 9. Ibid. 10. Criminal Justice Inspectorate Northern Ireland, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, Education Training Inspectorate, Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, 2016, Report on an announced visit to Maghaberry Prison, 5–7 September 2016 to review progress against the nine inspection recommendations made in 2015, http://www.cjini.org/getattachment/1d77c1e68311-413e-ad9d-b9f9aa384506/picture.aspx [accessed 09/10/2017]. 8. 14