Accommodation and living conditions in prison

Where will I live?

When you arrive at the prison you will be allocated a room, often called a cell. It may be located on a ‘block’ or a ‘wing’ of the prison.

This room may not be where you will live for your entire sentence. You may be moved to another wing or another prison, depending on how long your sentence is.

If you are considered to be especially vulnerable you may be allocated to a ‘vulnerable prisoners unit’, also known as a VPU.

You should inform a member of staff if you have thoughts of harming yourself. You may be allocated to a safer cell or with a listener.

Will I have to share a cell?

You may have to share a cell with someone else. It will usually be with one other person but in some cases you may have to share with more.

If you are a non-smoker you should not be made to share a cell with someone who smokes

If you are on remand Prison rule 7 says that you should not be made to share a cell with a convicted prisoner. You can share with a convicted prisoner if you are willing to and give your consent. There is more about the treatment of unconvicted prisoners in PSO 4600 and in our information sheets for Unconvicted, Unsentenced and Civil Prisoners.

Any prisoner allocated to a shared cell must have a risk assessment. There is more information in PSI 20/2015 Cell Sharing Risk Assessment.

You should not be asked to share a room with more people than the cell certificate specifies as the maximum.

What condition should my living accommodation be in?

All prison accommodation must:

• Be of adequate size for the maximum number of prisoners it will hold.
• Have adequate lighting, heating, ventilation and fittings.
• Have 24-hour access to water and sanitation.
• Allow prisoners to communicate at any time with a prison officer.

The Certified Prisoner Accommodation Policy Framework distinguishes between uncrowded accommodation and crowded accommodation.

• ‘Uncrowded accommodation’ is when occupancy of accommodation matches the figure it is certified for.
• ‘Crowded accommodation’ is when occupancy is required to exceed this.

For example, a cell which has a certification for one person will be uncrowded accommodation when one person is using it, but will be crowded accommodation when it had been adapted for use for two people.

The requirements for crowded accommodation are less than the requirements for uncrowded accommodation – for example, in uncrowded accommodation a person should be able to use the toilet in private with full body screening and ventilation, whereas in crowded accommodation only partial privacy screening is acceptable and separate ventilation is not required

The table below is taken from the Policy Framework:

Cell condition and cleaning

Procedures should be in place to ensure that accommodation is clean and decent when someone leaves and before a new resident moves in

Clean and decent conditions should include:

• Flooring is clean and in reasonable condition
• Fixtures such as toilets, taps and lights are clean and in reasonable working order and, if damaged, reported the same day
• Cell call bells are working and observation panels are clean, intact and, if damaged, reported the same day
• Room toilets and internal windows are part of the deep cleaning schedule

You should have time and access to cleaning materials to keep your room clean.

There should be arrangements in place to support residents who are unable to maintain a clean room (e.g. due to mental health issues or need for social care).

Residents with disabilities have access to appropriate equipment and are supported to keep themselves and their environment clean and decent

There is more information in HMPPS National Standard for the Cleanliness and Physical Decency of Prisons.

Cell furniture and other items

Annex A of the HMPPS National Standard for the Cleanliness and Physical Decency of Prisons lists minimum room furniture and other items that should be provided:

• 1 bed per resident (including ladder where relevant)
• 1 mattress per resident
• 1 pillow per resident
• 1 medication locker per resident (where provided)
• 1 toilet brush/holder
• toilet paper
• privacy curtains
• window curtains (subject to funding allocated)
• 1 noticeboard or designated space per resident
• 1 mirror
• 1 kettle/flask
• 1 TV plus aerial and remote control (subject to Incentives Policy Framework guidelines)
• 1 room telephone (where provided)
• 1 waste bin
• 1 bowl, mug, plate and cutlery set per resident
• 1 set of basic toiletries per resident
• Where cells are “crowded”; numbers of tables/desks, chairs and lockers will be set locally by Governors and Directors. Otherwise one per resident

There should be room for movement and basic living activities such as getting dressed.

Bedding

Prison Rule 27 says you should be provided with ‘a separate bed and with separate bedding adequate for warmth and health’.

You should have adequate access to clean bedding in line with the minimum kit entitlement listed on page 8 of this information sheet.

HMPPS National Standard for the Cleanliness and Physical Decency of Prisons says that ‘Bedding is in reasonable condition (not torn, worn or frayed)’

More information about lighting, heating and ventilation

Lighting

There must be electric lighting which works properly, and there must be natural light. The accommodation standard is met if:

a. The lighting is not damaged in a way that would significantly reduce light.

b. All lighting including the night-light can be switched on and off.

c. There is an external window in the room.

Heating

There must be a working heating system. It should not lead to the overheating of individual cells during warm weather.

The accommodation standard is met if:

a. The heat emitter is clear from obstructions (but note that beds and lockers that have been fitted next to radiator pipes do not count)

And:

b. The heating system operates when required.

Ventilation

The accommodation must be adequately ventilated and must not be certified if inadequate ventilation is likely to put health at risk (i.e. the risk of transmission of airborne disease). If there is mould growth and dampness on walls and other surfaces the prison should get advice from Prison Maintenance Group.

The accommodation standard is met if:

a. For accommodation with openable windows: the windows open and close.

b. For accommodation with fixed window ventilators: the perforated grilles operate correctly between open and closed positions.

c. For accommodation with a separate ventilator through the wall: the perforated grille is clear and, where fitted with an integral fan, the fan operates.

d. For accommodation with mechanical extract ventilation: the extract system is operating (this can be checked by holding a sheet of A4 paper close to the grille – it should remain stuck to the grille by the suction of the extract).

If your accommodation does not meet the above standards you can raise this by speaking to staff or making a complaint.

Access to sanitation

‘Prisoners must have 24 hour a day access to sanitation and, where in-cell sanitation is provided, be able to use it with at least some privacy from other prisoners.

Where there is no integral sanitation in the cell or room, there must be a process in place to allow the prisoner to access communal facilities 24 hours a day.

As a minimum you should be able to use the toilet ‘with some privacy’ from others. This means body screening from main points of the cells such as the table and the beds.

In uncrowded conditions you may also expect full screening such as a cubicle and separate ventilation for the toilet.

Access to washing facilities and toiletries

There is not much detail in prison rules about access to washing facilities, though Prison Rule 28 says that you should have access to a bath or shower at least weekly.

Governors can decide what access to washing facilities is reasonable but should consider your circumstances, including whether you are doing energetic and dirty work and any health, religious or other needs you might have.

Communal showers and washing areas should be kept in a clean and decent condition, which includes:

• Shower floors, cubicle areas and other communal washing/toilet areas should be cleaned as frequently as required and at least daily
• All areas should be checked daily and any faults or mould reported promptly
• Communal washing and toilet areas should be part of the deep cleaning schedule
• There should be a receptacle for any discarded clothes
• Sufficient sanitary bins should be provided for women’s prisons
• Privacy screening to allow residents to wash/shower with some privacy should be available and maintained
• Slip mats should be available

There is more information in HMPPS National Standard for the Cleanliness and Physical Decency of Prisons.

Prison Rule 28 and PSI 75/2011 say that you should have access to toiletries necessary for health and cleanliness. The number or type of toiletries are not specified but it says that they should be ‘replaced as necessary’

Cell call system

Each cell must have a working cell call system or other effective way of communication with staff.

PSI 10/2011 Residential services states that ‘staff should acknowledge all requests for assistance by having personal contact with the person’. It also states that ‘appropriate action must be taken in response to abuse of the call system’.

Other services in your cell

Other services which may be found in some cells, such as in-cell power, TV or radio aerial outlets, showers, and in-cell fire detection, do not form part of the cell certification process.

General wing conditions

Living accommodation and communal areas should be clean and maintained. This is included in PSI 75/2011 and PSI 06/2015 Policy, Organisation And Summary Arrangements For The Management Of Health And Safety

There is more information in HMPPS National Standard for the Cleanliness and Physical Decency of Prisons, including;

• Floors and all surfaces including stairwells should be clean
• Flooring should be in reasonable condition and fixtures such as lights are in working order
• Furniture should be appropriate and maintained
• There should be glass in all internal windows and damage should be reported the same day
• All areas should be clear of unnecessary items and debris
• Rubbish should be in bins, cleared as often as necessary and at least daily.
• Cleaning schedules should be in place; cleaning parties trained and well supervised; and cleaners are unlocked for sufficient time to do their jobs
• Association equipment should be clean and in a reasonable state of repair
• Where dining in association is available, food must be cleared from tables and dining areas immediately after the dining period
• Appliances in resident food preparation areas (where present) should be in working condition and kept clean
• Food should be stored in a suitable environment
• Pest issues should be monitored and addressed

Prison kit

You should be given a full prison kit on reception into the prison.

Annex A of the HMPPS National Standard for the Cleanliness and Physical Decency of Prisons lists minimum kit entitlement:

Minimum Kit Entitlement (Male Estate)

• 8 pairs boxers
• 8 pairs socks
• 3 joggers
• 3 sweat tops
• 4 T shirts
• 1 shoes
• 2 sheets
• 2 blankets (or quilt)
• 2 pillow cases
• 2 towels

 Minimum Kit Entitlement (Women’s Estate)

• 8 pairs of pants
• 8 pairs of socks
• 2 bra
• 2 maternity bras (where relevant)
• 3 tracksuit bottoms
• 3 sweat tops
• 4 t shirts
• 1 shoes (female appropriate)
• 1 first night bag
• 2 sheets
• 2 blankets (or quilt)
• 2 pillow cases
• 2 towels
• Appropriate Sanitary Products (which can be accessed without the need to ask staff for them)

A full kit exchange takes place weekly or replaced immediately if soiled or damaged.

Arrangements should be in place for laundering kit at least weekly

The prison should have a system in place for recycling and ordering kit in a timely fashion