HMP Doncaster

Section 1. Safety
1.6 We observed good interaction between reception staff and prisoners, and in our survey
more prisoners than the comparator said they were treated well in reception. The reception
was busy, with an average of 90 new arrivals a week in the previous six months, and the
facilities were good. Reception 'Buddies' (specially trained prisoners) spoke to all new
arrivals, and ran a well-equipped reception kitchen that could provide hot meals. New
showers had been installed since the last inspection. We saw prisoners receiving telephone
calls in reception and, in our survey, more than the comparator said they were offered a free
call.
1.7 Prisoners still spent too long in reception, where they were held in bare and dirty single
holding cells before they were searched. After the search, they waited for long periods in the
larger holding rooms, which had only benches and no information for prisoners.
1.8 The first night unit had been refurbished and was much improved, but some in-cell toilets
were still stained and the new privacy curtains were too short. First night cells were not
always adequately prepared, and some were inadequately cleaned. (See recommendations
2.8 and 2.11.) Handovers between reception and first night staff were not routine, and not all
new arrivals were interviewed before they were locked in their cell on their first night.
Fewer prisoners than at the last inspection (64% against 75%) said they felt safe on their first
night.
1.9 Induction had improved since the last inspection and was reasonable. It now included a oneto-one
interview by staff with each new arrival. In our survey, more prisoners than the
comparator said they had been on an induction course.
Recommendation
1.10 The reception process should be completed quickly, and holding rooms should
be more welcoming and contain useful information for prisoners.
Bullying and violence reduction
Expected outcomes:
Everyone feels and is safe from bullying and victimisation (which includes verbal and
racial abuse, theft, threats of violence and assault). Prisoners at risk/subject to
victimisation are protected through active and fair systems known to staff, prisoners
and visitors, and which inform all aspects of the regime.
1.11 Many prisoners said that they felt unsafe, and some were too frightened to leave their cells. Although
the analysis of information to identify trends and patterns of violence had improved, the severity and
number of incidents remained very high. Systems to address violence were ineffective, and there was
little support for victims. The investigation of incidents was generally weak and there was an overreliance
on the small safer custody team to deal with all cases.
1.12 In our survey, responses on the vast majority of indicators of safety were more negative than
at the last inspection – 49% said they had been victimised by other prisoners and nearly a
quarter said they currently felt unsafe. We found prisoners on different house blocks who
were too frightened to leave their cells.
1.13 The levels of violence were very high. There had been 365 assaults in the previous six
months (a rate of 36 per 100 prisoners, far higher than we see at similar prisons), which
20 HMP Doncaster