The summary and positive findings below were written from the report by an AI model. The Board's own wording is in the report linked above.
Summary
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)
HMP Stafford, a Category C training prison, generally provides safe and humane treatment, with significant improvements in medicines management. However, the report highlights critical issues, including the long-standing and hazardous state of prison roadways, which poses a serious safety risk. Persistent staff shortages continue to disrupt the regime, leading to lost activities, and a self-inflicted death involving an IPP prisoner raised serious questions. Additionally, concerns were noted regarding security compliance, reduced library services, and service delivery from the new visits management contractor.
Positive findings
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)
HMP Stafford is recognised as a very safe establishment, where prisoners are treated humanely and their health and wellbeing needs are met. Critically, long-standing issues regarding medicines management have finally been addressed. Staff are commended for managing prisoner frustration well during periods of lockdown, preventing disturbances. The establishment is notably clean and tidy, and food receives consistent praise. Positive initiatives like RESTART, supporting 'hard to reach' prisoners, are having a tremendous impact on reintegration, and most prisoners are leaving with accommodation arranged.
Key concerns 7 items
Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.
Key concern 1
Safety · Repeated from a previous year
The critically poor and hazardous state of roadways and walkways within the prison, which has been an unaddressed issue for 18 years and poses a significant risk of serious injury to prisoners and staff.
Key concern 2
Staffing
Ongoing staff shortages, caused by illness, bed watches, emergency hospital visits, and detached duty directives, leading to frequent lost activities, wing closures, and prisoner frustration.
Key concern 3
Safety
There were two significant security concerns during the reporting period
3. the number of gates/doors found unlocked across the prison, due to staff not
checking them properly
4. the percentage of staff wearing body worn cameras
both of which have been/are being addressed.
Key concern 4
Safety
Sadly, in August 2022, the prison experienced its first self-inflicted death for a long time. The prisoner concerned was on an IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) sentence. Therefore, the question must be raised as to whether the Justice Select Committee and subsequent Ministerial response at that time, into the appropriateness of such a sentence, and the impact it can have in removing any form of hope from a prisoner, played a part in his death.
Key concern 5
Education/Purposeful Activity
Library services were reduced due to staffing vacancies and this had a detrimental effect on their ability to offer their normal comprehensive support and extended opening hours to prisoners. The library staff still offered much for the prisoners including inductions, Storybook Dads sessions for prisoners to record stories for their children, and general opening hours for access to books, CDs, and audio books. The library was well supported by the prisoners and attendance was usually high.
Key concern 6
Resettlement/Release
Unfortunately, the same level of service had not been delivered during the first months of the new contract and it was hoped that this was quickly resolved due to the stress it placed on everyone when not working as it should.
Key concern 7
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The main issue that caused (and still causes) the biggest upset is the number of “out of stock” catalogue items, which can add considerably to the ordering process and time for all involved.
Safety statistics
Incidents during the reporting year.
Report details
- Establishment
- Stafford
- Type
- Prison, category C
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 4 October 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Stafford
- MoJ rating (2025/26)
- 3, Good
Related inspections and investigations
HMIP inspection, 19 Nov 2024
Unannounced · Safety 4 · Respect 4 · Activity 3 · Release 3
HMIP inspection, 13 Jan 2020
Unannounced
PPO fatal incident · 2 Oct 2026
PPO fatal incident
PPO fatal incident · Self-inflicted
PPO fatal incident · Natural causes
PPO fatal incident · Self-inflicted
Other reports for Stafford
Published 16 Oct 2026 · Self-harm 135 · Key concerns recorded
Published 16 Oct 2025 · Self-harm 66 · Key concerns recorded
Published 5 Sep 2024 · Population 746 · Self-harm 131 · Key concerns recorded
Published 21 Sep 2022 · Population 741 · Key concerns recorded
Published 21 Sep 2021 · Population 693 · Self-harm 116 · Key concerns recorded
Published 26 Aug 2020 · Population 734 · Self-harm 101 · Key concerns recorded