Mentally unwell prisoners face treatment delays

Prisoners at HMP Downview who need mental health treatment are facing long waits, according to a watchdog

Women who are mentally unwell and are being held at a Surrey prison are facing long delays for treatment, according to a watchdog.

In its annual report, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) of HMP Downview women's prison, which is also a Young Offenders' Institution, said prisoners faced "lengthy delays" in being transferred to psychiatric units.

The report said many of these women had to be held in segregation for their own and others' safety.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said an independent review would aim to reduce the number of women being sent to prison.

The IMB said staff in the segregation unit showed "extraordinary patience, professionalism and compassion", but were "not trained to support such unwell prisoners".

The report, published on Wednesday, said there had been a 90% increase in acutely mentally unwell prisoners facing long delays in being transferred for treatment.

It added that there were also long delays in resolving basic issues, such as providing clean bedding and allocating activities, with frustration sometimes causing challenging behaviour and self-harm among prisoners.

It also highlighted an "alarmingly low" number of prisoners being released on temporary licence to go to work, and a high number of intimate relationships between prisoners being recorded, which the board said could become "flashpoints".

'Many are victims'

An MoJ spokesperson said: "The prison system this government inherited is not working for most women.

"Many are victims and over half are mothers.

"That's why the Lord Chancellor welcomed the Independent Sentencing Review's recommendations and has already established a new Women's Justice Board to reduce the number of women in jail and the number of women's prisons."

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