July 8, 2019 5.17 pm This story is over 55 months old

Lincoln Prison falling apart as staff do ‘top job’

What life is really like behind bars

Lincoln Prison is falling apart but the officers are doing a top job, according to a new report.

Despite a ‘through the gate’ policy from Shelter which aims to help prisoners on their release, three in ten inmates leave HMP Lincoln as homeless.

Another worrying statistic that has emerged is a 49% rise to 620 incidents of self-harm compared to 417 in 2017.

Yet the Independent Monitoring Board said that HMP Lincoln treats its prisoners fairly and with respect in its annual report published on Monday, July 8.

The board also highlighted issues with lack of access for disabled patients and the deterioration of the building as a whole.

The report also raises concerns for another year about a ceiling which has been earmarked as in need of repair since 2015.

The IMB report said: “As in the previous year, we are concerned about the extremely tardy manner in which the numerous repair and maintenance jobs across the establishment are dealt with.

“Whilst acknowledging that the building structure does not lend itself to easy access for prisoners who have mobility difficulties or are wheelchair bound, the three lifts that would assist movement are often out of use.”

HMP Lincoln was mainly built in Victorian times with four large residential wings and holds young and adult male prisoners.

The report concluded by praising the work of the prison staff. “Although we have identified a number of concerns above, we would like to make it clear that we do so against the background of an establishment which, on the whole, we observe to be well managed to good effect.

“Notwithstanding the areas we have put forward as needing further attention, we observe the activities of the Governor and his team as showing an effective grip in the important areas of prison life.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Since the introduction of a rapiscanner, drug use at HMP Lincoln has significantly declined but we will remain vigilant to continue to stop drugs causing disruption in the prison.

“Contractors have been working hard to repair issues with the lifts, piping and heating.”