Source · IMB Annual Report
Coldingley
Year: 2023
Published: 5 Oct 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 500
Recommendations: 16
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Coldingley, a Category C training prison, maintains a relatively open regime and positive staff-prisoner relationships, contributing to low self-harm levels. However, the Board notes a concerning rise in violence, use of force, and illicit substances, often linked to population pressures and insufficient new arrival checks. Significant challenges remain, including dilapidated older wings lacking in-cell sanitation, a struggling kitchen, and persistent issues with lost property and perceived disproportionality in treatment for some ethnic minority groups.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 1 | 0 |
| Self-harm incidents | 60 | 100 |
| ACCT cases opened | 145 | 120 |
| Use of force | 180 | 114 |
Positive findings
The Board continues to observe a strong community ethos and positive staff-prisoner relationships, contributing to low self-harm levels. Healthcare services remained largely stable despite new contracts, and mental health waiting times saw reductions due to additional therapy groups and clinics. The regime offers good time out of cell compared to similar prisons. Initiatives such as the local Support Plan procedure and Restorative Justice work by Belong have been positive. Staff in the CSU are commended for their care, and efforts to reduce segregation durations have been successful. The re-boot of key work and the active Prisoner Council are also positive developments.
Key concerns
Safety
Coldingley usually has low levels of self-harm and use of force, however, there has been an increase in violence and a significantly upward trend in use of force incidents in the past year.
Safety
Repeated
There has been a concerning number of debt and gang related incidents particularly on the main induction (A) wing, often because population pressures have led to less checking on potentially dangerous connections of new arrivals.
Safety
Repeated
There is little co-ordinated and effective CCTV around the site.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
There has been a huge increase in the volume of ‘hooch’ found.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The much-needed refurbishment of the original old residential units is underway, but some of the existing call-bell sanitation facilities will remain in use for years and where appalling and inhumane conditions have recently been witnessed.
Food/Catering
This year the Board heard considerably more on issues around food, diet and the functioning of the kitchen than in previous reporting years.
Safety
The lack of a dedicated vulnerable prisoner area and only very limited enhanced safety facilities have meant the small separation unit (CSU) is increasingly used as a place of shelter for vulnerable prisoners, those on open assessment, care in custody and teamwork documents (ACCTs) or others with mental health needs.
Mental Health
Demand for mental health services is high and increasing with more resources required.
Substance Misuse
The Substance Misuse Services are well regarded but the Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) wing no longer operates in the way it was intended with overcrowded conditions and much evidence of substance misuse.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
There has been no increase in the number of prisoners engaging in education or the main workshops over the year, despite the overall population increase.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Many of the high proportion of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences have been impacted by Parole Board changes and regrettably the number of prisoners still serving an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence has risen for the third year in a row.
Resettlement/Release
Family contact has suffered as the local, largely manual system of visits booking and notification has not functioned well.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Property lost during transfer between prisons continues to be widespread, complaints are increasing year on year at a cost to the Prison Service in terms of both staff resources and financial compensation.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Muslim prisoners continue to be over-represented in use of force incidents in Coldingley.
Equality/Diversity
Certain preferred residential areas and jobs in Coldingley are predominantly and very noticeably allocated to white prisoners. Prisoners from ethnic minorities are well-aware of this.
Staffing
The numbers of key work sessions recorded have greatly increased in the past year, but the lack of quality checking of reports, feedback and the patchy service given to new arrivals mean that the system still has a long way to go.
Resettlement/Release
Since the start of 2023 there has been a near doubling of prisoners without sentence plans – it now amounts to around 10% of all Coldingley prisoners. How is this sudden deterioration to be addressed?
Complaints/Property
Complaints from prisoners provide a vital insight into aspects of prison life which are not working well. There is evidence that there are has been a deterioration in quality of response to complaints, with many prisoners stating 'there is no point'.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Does the minister consider it fair and humane that any men should be living in unhygienic conditions and with no in-cell sanitation while they wait for the refurbishment to be completed?
Repeated
Response
Awareness of the start of the wider Main refurbishment programme to be completed by November 2026; this includes in-cell sanitation. |
Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | Prison estate population pressure means more than just over-crowding. It affects prisoner personal safety and welfare. Can a new policy be drafted urgently to guide prisons on how to deal with the deepening accommodation crisis? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 |
The number and situation of those given IPP sentences has only grown worse at Coldingley. What plans does the minister have to reconsider the Government’s response to the Justice Select Committee’s recommendation to establish a process to review how such prisoners could be re-sentenced?
Repeated
Response
Reporting that Justice Select Committee enquiry into the IPP sentence had been published and that the evidence and recommendations would be reviewed and publicised. |
Ministry of Justice | |
| 4 |
The refurbishment of the old wings won’t be complete until late 2026, at the earliest. Their exceptionally low ceilings mean no CCTV cameras survive very long. Without effective CCTV this will continue to be an unsafe environment for prisoners and staff alike. What can the Prison Service do as a matter of urgency to help the Governor address this dangerous situation?
Repeated
Response
No improvements in the CCTV situation despite senior management team (SMT) concern. Temporary Governor has made a bid for significant new funding. |
HMPPS | |
| 5 |
Group arrivals of prisoners are happening without the necessary checks for connections. This has become noticeably worse over the past year. What can be done to improve the quality of pre-transfer checking being undertaken and ensure all prisoners are housed safely and kept apart from known connections?
Repeated
Response
Creating a Security in Prisons Investment Programme, an expanded Serious & Organised Crime unit, creating a crime in prisons taskforce, body scanners, biometric screening. |
HMPPS | |
| 6 | Incentivised Substance Free Living is a safe and humane way in which to treat those with substance and related issues. Coldingley’s ISFL wing has become overcrowded with a complex mix of prisoners. It is rife with illicit substances. With the associated debts and bullying, it no longer functions as a specialist place for recovery. What can be done to restore it to its original purpose? | HMPPS | |
| 7 | The CSU is dilapidated and small with a high proportion of its residents during the past year being vulnerable and on open ACCT documents. What can be done to provide alternative accommodation for those whose need is primarily a place of shelter from threat and assault or a place for close medical oversight? | HMPPS | |
| 8 |
Property lost during transfer between prisons continues to be widespread, complaints are increasing year on year at a cost to the Prison Service in terms of both staff resources and financial compensation. Losing one's personal belongings has a detrimental effect on prisoners and is not fair. Last year’s Policy Framework has not solved the problem. What does the Prison Service plan to do about it now?
Repeated
Response
Policy framework aimed to provide consistency and fairness between sites and enhance prisoner outcomes. Digital transformation was a longer-term project. |
HMPPS | |
| 9 | In order to keep prisoners safe and the wings more orderly, what plans does the Governor have to deal with the alarmingly high increase in the use and manufacture of illegally brewed alcohol and psychoactive substances? Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 10 | In view of the high levels of contraband and potential effects to both safety and good order in the establishment, what plans does the Governor have to change the levels of staffing and random cell searches that take place in Coldingley? | Governor / Director | |
| 11 | Changes which affect prisoners have not always been well communicated within Coldingley. This creates an atmosphere of confusion and at times hostility. What can the Governor do to improve the methods of communication to ensure all prisoners understand the changes and why they are considered necessary? | Governor / Director | |
| 12 |
Muslim prisoners continue to be over-represented in use of force incidents in Coldingley. What does the Governor plan to do to further investigate why this issue has been so persistent?
Repeated
Response
Use of force governance is continually being reviewed and Governor reviews all incidents. |
Governor / Director | |
| 13 | Certain preferred residential areas and jobs in Coldingley are predominantly and very noticeably allocated to white prisoners. Prisoners from ethnic minorities are well-aware of this. What does the Governor plan to do to address this and ensure that every prisoner is treated equally and fairly? | Governor / Director | |
| 14 | Key work is central to offender management in custody (OMiC) and the relationship between key worker, offender manager and prisoner is crucial to OMiC’s success. The numbers of key work sessions recorded have greatly increased in the past year, but the lack of quality checking of reports, feedback and the patchy service given to new arrivals mean that the system still has a long way to go. What does the Governor plan to do to improve this? | Governor / Director | |
| 15 | Since the start of 2023 there has been a near doubling of prisoners without sentence plans – it now amounts to around 10% of all Coldingley prisoners. How is this sudden deterioration to be addressed? | Governor / Director | |
| 16 | Complaints from prisoners provide a vital insight into aspects of prison life which are not working well. There is evidence that there are has been a deterioration in quality of response to complaints, with many prisoners stating 'there is no point'. What plans does the Governor have to improve the system and restore trust in the prisoners that they will be listened to when something has gone wrong? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Canteen/Money/Wages | 5 | 2 |
| Discipline/Adjudications/Segregation | 12 | 17 |
| Discrimination/Equality | 1 | 0 |
| Education/Work/Learning | 2 | 2 |
| Food | 8 | 3 |
| Health / Dental | 20 | 5 |
| Legal/Confidential Access | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 1 |
| Property | 24 | 25 |
| Regime | 5 | 5 |
| Security/Risk Assessment/Public Protection | 2 | 0 |
| Staff conduct/Attitude | 3 | 3 |
| Visits | 0 | 1 |
| Welfare/Social Care | 4 | 3 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Coldingley
Report details
- Establishment
- Coldingley
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 5 October 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Coldingley
- Recommendations
- 16
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Population | 500 |
| CNA (designed for) | 513 97% |
| Time out of cell | 8.0h/day |
Service providers
Education
Novus
Healthcare
Central & North West London NHS Trust (CNWL)
IMB Secretariat
Independent Monitoring Boards Secretariat (HMPPS)
Kitchen & Catering
Aramark
Maintenance & Infrastructure
Global Facilities & Services Ltd (GFSL)
Substance Misuse Service
Forward Trust
Transport & Escorting
Serco