HMP Lewes: Assaults against staff up 15 percent in a year

The annual report by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) on HMP Lewes highlights these concerns, alongside some positive improvements.

The report noted a 15 percent increase in assaults against staff, totalling 79 incidents, 12 of which were classified as serious.

Uses of force against prisoners also rose by 25 percent, resulting in 721 cases.

The report also raised concerns about the high levels of prisoner self-harm, which rose by 5 per cent to 651 cases.

James MacCleary, MP for Lewes, raised issues with the prison in Parliament on June 2, saying: “The situation at Lewes prison is deeply concerning, for both staff and inmates.”

Despite the figures, the report also welcomed an improvement in living conditions and a significant increase in the time prisoners can spend outside their cells for activities.

The entrance to the prison (Image: The Argus) The report also praised the cleanliness of the wings, which have been improved by a refurbishment and redecoration programme carried out by prisoners.

However, the report called for further investment in the prison, given that most of the wings were initially built nearly 200 years ago.

Heating and hot water supply issues have left prisoners and staff in unacceptably hot or cold conditions at times.

The IMB Lewes vice-chair, Nick Fairclough, said: “We welcome the clear evidence that the prison has become a better place compared with this time last year.

“Time out of cell has increased significantly for most prisoners and the physical environment is improving.

“All of this is undoubtedly good for the wellbeing of the prison community and the board notes the general improvement in the atmosphere across the establishment.

Inside the prison (Image: HMP Lewes) “However, the board is still concerned about high levels of violence and rates of prisoner self-harm, though we welcome some recent signs of improvement.”

The report also highlighted the availability of drugs, weapons, and mobile phones within the prison and the lack of CCTV coverage in some areas.

The board welcomed the improvements in resettlement services, education, and healthcare provision but was deeply concerned about the lack of psychiatric care during the summer of 2024.

There was effectively no psychiatrist in the prison during this period, and the board has called for greater mental health service provision in the future.

An outside area at the prison (Image: HM Prisons Inspectorate)

Mr Fairclough added: “Our monitoring suggests that greater mental health service provision and support for prisoners in mental health distress could help bring about further reductions to levels of violence and self-harm.

“In particular, we call for an increase in specialist psychiatry within the prison and for greater provision of secure mental health facilities nationally, reducing the time that prisoners in need of such accommodation might be forced to wait before transfer.”

The report also noted a 16 percent fall in prisoner-on-prisoner violence, with 194 incidents compared with 232 the previous year.

However, the number of complaints made by prisoners increased by around 25  to 1,287.