Safer Custody Prison

Summary

A request was made for Safer Custody policy documents from late 2022 to early 2023 and data on staff departures citing deaths in custody. The Department of Home Affairs responded that the information is not held, as no specific 'safer custody' policies exist separately from general prison policies and no records are kept regarding the reasons for staff leaving.

Key Facts

• The Prison and Probation Service does not hold specific policy documents titled 'safer custody' because most policies are inherently tailored towards safer custody.
• The authority does not retain records explaining why staff have left the prison service.
• The request covered the period between 1st November 2022 and 1st March 2023 for policies.
• The request covered staff departures since 30th November 2022 citing Deaths in Custody.
• The outcome of the request was 'Information not held'.

Data Disclosed

• 1st November 2022
• 1st March 2023
• 30th November 2022
• 27 August 2024
• 9th September 2024
• 17 September 2024
• 4081986

Original Request

Any Safer Custody documents relating to policies, procedures, practices or guidance that were in place between 1st November 2022 and 1st March 2023. The number of staff that have left the the Prison and Probation Service since 30th November 2022 citing the Deaths in Custody as a contributing factor.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 4081986 9th September 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 27 August 2024, which states:

[1] "Any Safer Custody documents relating to policies, procedures, practices or guidance that were in place between 1st November 2022 and 1st March 2023.

[2] The number of staff that have left the Prison and Probation Service since 30th November 2022 citing the Deaths in Custody as a contributing factor."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

To provide you with advice and assistance in this instance, the prison has provided the following explanation in response to your request for information.

[1] The Prison and Probation Service does not hold any policy documents specific to ‘safer custody’. This is because the majority of the policies within the prison are tailored towards safer custody.

[2] For the purpose of this question, the prison was asked whether they hold any records regarding the reason behind why staff have left the prison between the dates provided.

The prison have confirmed they do not retain records on why staff have left.

Please quote the reference number 4081986 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.