National Preventive Mechanism Seventh Annual Report 2015–16 Reports from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) over the year documented a serious decline in safety and purposeful activity outcomes. HMI Prisons published 75 inspection reports, which included a report on the prison and police custody facilities in the Cayman Islands. Thematic reports were published on the changing patterns of substance misuse in adult prisons and on the early implementation of the new system for behaviour management and restraint of children in custody.44 The first system-wide inspection of the Close Supervision Centres (a form of administrative segregation or ‘deep custody’) was conducted. HMI Prisons agreed a new set of Expectations (inspection standards) for its joint inspections of police custody with HMIC. In January 2016, the then Chief Inspector of Prisons raised concerns about the process by which spending controls were being applied to the Inspectorate’s work and the consequence these had for its independence.45 In February 2016, Nick Hardwick’s term in office as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons ended and a new Chief Inspector, Peter Clarke, was appointed for a term of three years.46 The Independent Monitoring Boards have been subject to two reviews of their role and governance in the last two years. This year, a full review of governance was conducted with the aim of reorganising the IMBs’ management structure to make it more akin to a Non-Departmental Government Body. In January 2016, the IMBs published a new National Monitoring Framework, to set standards for monitoring activities within Boards and increase compliance with OPCAT, the Mandela Rules and the Bangkok Rules. This Framework will ensure greater consistency of monitoring and more incisiveness in reporting on the fair and humane treatment of detainees. Further guidance has been issued to align Monitoring Boards’ annual reports with this framework, focusing on three questions: are prisoners treated fairly; are prisoners treated humanely; are prisoners prepared well for their release. The IMBs continue to liaise with HMI Prisons and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman under their joint protocol on reprisals. A number of investigations have taken place during the year, with IMBs providing evidence on cases reported under the protocol. This year the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) conducted a restructure and a review of governance, intended to improve sharing of good practice and joint learning in the future. It has continued to support Police and Crime Commissioners and Independent Custody Visitors (ICV), and worked on communications internally and externally, including building a social media presence, and organising a National Conference attended by hundreds of volunteers. It also started collating national data on the number of visits, key themes and issues raised by custody visitors in order to inform national projects and stakeholders. Custody visitors undertook over 9,400 custody visits across England and Wales in 2015–16, interviewing over 30,000 detainees and monitoring whether their rights and entitlements were granted, their health and wellbeing was safeguarded and the conditions and facilities of detention were adequate. 44. https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/changing-patterns-of-substance-misuse-in-adult-prisonsand-service-responses/ [accessed 01/11/16] and https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/ behaviour-management-and-restraint-of-children-in-custody/ [accessed 01/11/16]. 45. http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/Justice/Letter%20dated%201%20Dec%20Nick%20 Hardwick%20to%20Richard%20Heaton.pdf [accessed 01/11/16]. 46. Justice Committee (November 2015) Appointment of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and HM Chief Inspector of Probation, available at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmjust/624/62402.htm [accessed 01/11/16]. 30