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

history of persistent infringement of minor rules. Prisoners on H wing told the inspectors
they had been properly treated by staff. One or two prisoners said they were happy to
remain on H wing because of the regular and satisfactory provision of the routines
(HMCIP 1998, paragraphs 3.18-3.24).
K wing
7.16 The report of the full inspection conducted in October 1995 explained that K wing
was primarily an induction unit but also operated a more restricted regime as a ‘half way’
stage between I wing and the regime on other wings (HMCIP 1996, paragraph 6.08).
7.17 According to the report of the October 1997 inspection, K wing held up to 228
prisoners who were new or had undergone a change of circumstances (HMCIP 1998,
paragraphs 3.25-3.37). There was a constantly changing population. Standard regime
applied. Although there was electricity for in-cell television, only the Listeners 1 (who were
on the enhanced level of the incentives and earned privileges scheme) were allowed
televisions. HMCIP found the regime extremely restricted. A small workshop occupied
some prisoners but for most there was a daily period of only two to three hours out of
their cell. Association times were reduced at weekends.
7.18 HMCIP found limited interaction between staff and prisoners, relationships were
formal with little of the usual banter. Rigid reliance was placed on prisoners making
written applications when they wanted anything. Staff were clearly in control and a tightly
ordered environment had been created but at the cost of human relationships. During
association there was little evidence of officers talking to prisoners. They spent most of
their time simply observing and supervising prisoners. There was no functioning
personal officer scheme. Relationships between staff and prisoners needed to be
improved. Introducing an effective personal officer scheme was seen as the next major
step by the Governor and management.
7.19 In November 2001 HMCIP conducted another full inspection. Further concerns
were expressed about K wing, which was said to be “the most volatile wing”:
“We found too many bored and poorly motivated prisoners. Moreover, staff on duty were
reluctant to engage with prisoners, tending to stay at one end of the long landings,
where they would have been unable to identify or intervene in bullying within cells. The
1990 disturbances were still an important part of the prison’s folk memory (and indeed
1 Prisoners trained by the Samaritans to offer confidential peer support.
47