Source · IMB Annual Report

Erlestoke

AI-generated report summary HMP Erlestoke, a Category C training prison, held 467 prisoners with an operational capacity of 468 during the reporting year ending March 2023. The prison experienced a reduction in self-harm incidents to 215 and violent incidents to 102 (65 prisoner-on-prisoner, 37 prisoner-on-staff), with no deaths in custody. Key improvements included enhanced gate security and the introduction of in-cell laptops for prisoners. However, significant challenges persist, notably chronic staff shortages across healthcare, education, and key working, persistent issues with illicit substances, and an inadequate constant watch cell. Delays in essential building works and national issues like parole restrictions for IPP prisoners continue to impede progression and resettlement efforts.

Year: 2023 Published: 16 Aug 2023 Type: Prison · Cat C Population: 467 Recommendations: 17 Key concerns Positive findings

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody0
Self-harm incidents215358
ACCT cases opened128241
Prisoner assaults65
Assaults on staff37
Use of force240330

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The Board observes that prisoners remain relatively safe, with a decrease in both violent incidents and self-harm. Improved security measures, including metal detection arches and x-ray scanning, have been a positive addition. The introduction of in-cell telephones and laptops has significantly enhanced prisoners' lives, aiding communication and access to services. The Employment Hub is well-established, offering practical help and job opportunities to those nearing release. Chaplaincy provides a high standard of faith and pastoral support, easily accessible via laptops. The digital team and various art and music programs provide welcome distraction and skills development, contributing positively to prisoners' wellbeing.

Key concerns

17 items
Resettlement/Release Repeated What solutions can be offered to prisoners who have done everything possible to prove eligibility to move to open prisons but who are now being denied this due to a more restrictive approach to parole?
Resettlement/Release Repeated What hope can be given to IPP prisoners, some 10% of Erlestoke’s population, now that the recommendation by the Justice Committee for resentencing has been rejected?
Mental Health Repeated What long term strategy is in place to address the chronic shortage of suitable mental health provision?
Food/Catering Repeated When will the non-pay budget be increased to allow the local governor to set a sensible and realistic food budget (despite the slight rise in April 2023), given that food prices have risen more than 20% over the past three years?
Estate/Conditions How will the lack of a long-term maintenance plan and GFSL’s performance be addressed?
Estate/Conditions Repeated What reassurance can be given that the revised dates for occupation of the replacement wings will not be delayed yet again, thus impacting the delivery of the PR?
Healthcare Repeated What action is being taken to ensure that additional healthcare facilities and staff will be provided when the prison’s operational capacity increases?
Substance Misuse What additional long term strategies can be put in place to substantially reduce access to illicit substances?
Safety What immediate actions will be taken to address the inadequate and potentially dangerously deficient constant watch cell?
Education/Purposeful Activity Repeated What steps will be taken to increase the number of meaningful job opportunities for prisoners?
Regime/Time Out of Cell What plans are in place to increase time out of cell at weekends?
Estate/Conditions What actions will be taken to improve first night accommodation?
Regime/Time Out of Cell What steps will be taken to make the induction programme more concise?
Equality/Diversity Repeated How will the lack of suitably adapted cells for disabled people be addressed?
Healthcare Repeated Over 40% of first assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) reviews do not have the benefit of healthcare input, which impacts on the safety of prisoners – how will this issue be addressed?
Healthcare Repeated What is the solution to improve the IT infrastructure so medical records can be accessed by healthcare staff across the estate to ensure prisoners are not put at risk?
Mental Health What plans are in place to recruit additional staff to the mental health team?

Recommendations

17 items · 10 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Other — minister

What solutions can be offered to prisoners who have done everything possible to prove eligibility to move to open prisons but who are now being denied this due to a more restrictive approach to parole?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Minister: Additional 660 category D places to be created. 89% of category D moves from Erlestoke.

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Other — minister

What hope can be given to IPP prisoners, some 10% of Erlestoke’s population, now that the recommendation by the Justice Committee for resentencing has been rejected?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Minister: Commitment to IPP Action Plan. Refurbished Kennet wing to offer more places on the Progression Regime.

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Other — minister

What long term strategy is in place to address the chronic shortage of suitable mental health provision?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Minister: NHS England working to 28-day timeline for transfers.

Recorded status:

Topic: Mental Health

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Other — minister

When will the non-pay budget be increased to allow the local governor to set a sensible and realistic food budget (despite the slight rise in April 2023), given that food prices have risen more than 20% over the past three years?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Minister: Budget delegated to Governors; sufficient to meet prison rules.

Recorded status:

Topic: Food

Recommendation 5

Addressee: HMPPS

How will the lack of a long-term maintenance plan and GFSL’s performance be addressed?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 6

Addressee: HMPPS

What reassurance can be given that the revised dates for occupation of the replacement wings will not be delayed yet again, thus impacting the delivery of the PR?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
HMPPS: Completion of Kennet by 31 December 2022; no mention of date for Avebury Unit.

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 7

Addressee: HMPPS

What action is being taken to ensure that additional healthcare facilities and staff will be provided when the prison’s operational capacity increases?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
HMPPS: Population only increasing by 10 so infrastructure can cope.

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Governor / Director

What additional long term strategies can be put in place to substantially reduce access to illicit substances?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Substance Misuse

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Governor / Director

What immediate actions will be taken to address the inadequate and potentially dangerously deficient constant watch cell?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Safety

Recommendation 10

Addressee: Governor / Director

What steps will be taken to increase the number of meaningful job opportunities for prisoners?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Governor: Action noted

Recorded status:

Topic: Purposeful Activity

Recommendation 11

Addressee: Governor / Director

What plans are in place to increase time out of cell at weekends?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 12

Addressee: Governor / Director

What actions will be taken to improve first night accommodation?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 13

Addressee: Governor / Director

What steps will be taken to make the induction programme more concise?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 14

Addressee: Governor / Director

How will the lack of suitably adapted cells for disabled people be addressed?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
Governor: Action noted

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality

Recommendation 15

Addressee: Governor / Director

Over 40% of first assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) reviews do not have the benefit of healthcare input, which impacts on the safety of prisoners – how will this issue be addressed?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
HMPPS: Healthcare attends if not out of hours; SMT to monitor at performance meetings.

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 16

Addressee: Governor / Director

What is the solution to improve the IT infrastructure so medical records can be accessed by healthcare staff across the estate to ensure prisoners are not put at risk?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
HMPPS: Fibre optic connection in May 2022; IT connections in Reception from October 2022

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 17

Addressee: Governor / Director

What plans are in place to recruit additional staff to the mental health team?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Mental Health

Applications to the IMB

CategoryCurrentPrevious
Accommodation (including transfers) 45 38
Adjudications 1 1
Discrimination 2 2
Food 2 4
Healthcare (including dental) 10 12
Other 35 31
Property 13 14
Total 111 107
Work/Activities/Education 3 5

Related inspections & investigations

22 Apr 2025 HMIP · IRP
10 Jun 2024 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 2 · Respect 2 · Activity 1 · Release 3
24 May 2022 HMIP · IRP
16 Aug 2021 HMIP · Unannounced
18 Aug 2020 HMIP · Inspection
21 Jul 2023 PPO fatal incident Liam Darby · Other non-natural
5 Aug 2019 PPO fatal incident Davide Parra · Self-inflicted
PPO fatal incident David Kettle
PPO fatal incident Max McTaggart
PPO fatal incident Davidson Charles

Other reports for Erlestoke

2026 Published 21 Aug 2026 · Self-harm 275 · Concerns
2025 Published 14 Aug 2025 Population 515 · Self-harm 318 · Concerns
2024 Published 6 Aug 2024 · Self-harm 468 · Concerns
2022 Published 8 Aug 2022 Population 443 · Self-harm 358 · Concerns
2021 Published 15 Oct 2021 Population 428 · Self-harm 392 · Concerns
2020 Published 4 Aug 2020 Population 484 · Self-harm 211 · Concerns