Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

Manchester prison now
23.4 In evidence to the inquiry, the present governing Governor, Mr Richard Vince,
described the policies and procedures at Manchester in a number of areas of prison life
and the structures in place to put the policies into practice, to monitor compliance and to
train and support staff. This included evidence of the establishment’s progress in
implementing recommendations made from time to time by the Prisons and Probation
Ombudsman and HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP).
The Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) Scheme
23.5 Reference has been made in Chapter 7 above to the practice of prison staff
denying prisoners association for minor infringements. HMCIP had called it “an arbitrary
system with no right of appeal.” Authority for officers to order loss of association was
withdrawn in a memorandum dated 1 October 1999 which drew wing managers’
attention to the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) system, through which
unacceptable behaviour should be addressed (see above, paragraphs 7.11 and 7.12).
23.6 The IEP Scheme governs the extent of privileges (including association periods)
that prisoners are permitted over and above the minimum required by the statutory
Prison Rules. The Prison Service says that due process and fairness are built into the
IEP system in a number of ways. The national policy document on IEP is PSO 4000. It
states that decisions about the appropriate privilege level for each prisoner must be
open, fair and consistent. The procedures and the findings must be recorded and involve
at least two members of staff. Views must be sought from across the establishment,
including education and workshop staff, reports from any relevant treatment programmes
and personal officers. The decision must be endorsed by a manager at no less than
Senior Officer grade. The Prison Service comments that these measures mean that it
would be very difficult for a member of staff to use the IEP scheme as a way to intimidate
or bully prisoners.
23.7 Manchester’s local IEP policy follows the national requirements. A prisoner’s
incentive level is determined by a review board comprising a minimum of a Principal
Officer, Senior Officer, and Personal/Group Officer. Comments from other key workers
may be taken by telephone or e-mail if they are unable to attend. All comments should
be noted by the board in writing. Prisoners are to be invited to attend and should be able
to make oral or written representations.
168