Home / Sources / IMB Annual Reports / Altcourse
Source · IMB Annual Report

Altcourse

AI-generated report summary HMP Altcourse remains a generally safe and humane prison, showing a reduction in self-harm and violence, and improved healthcare facilities. However, significant concerns persist regarding the containment of severely mentally unwell prisoners in unsuitable conditions and chronic staffing shortages impacting various services. The Board also highlights issues with the national food budget and a lack of external support following a 'cluster death site' designation.

Year: 2022 Published: 9 Dec 2022 Type: Prison · Cat B local remand Recommendations: 7 Key concerns Positive findings
Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response · 31 Jan 2023 ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody8—
Prisoner assaults261—
Assaults on staff67—
Use of force431695

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The Board finds HMP Altcourse remains a safe prison, with continuing reductions in self-harm and violence, and general fair and humane treatment. Significant improvements include the refurbishment of the healthcare inpatient unit, the introduction of an in-house bakery, and new staff roles like IAG mentors and a wellbeing officer. Staff-prisoner relationships are noted as good, contributing to lower violence and use of force.

Key concerns

7 items
Mental Health Repeated Once again, the Board has highlighted the plight of severely mentally unwell men being contained in totally unsuitable conditions and without access to appropriate treatment for long periods of time before being transferred to appropriate secure units.
Education/Purposeful Activity The lack of offence-related courses for men convicted of sexual offences is delaying their progression and could have a detrimental impact on public safety.
Food/Catering Repeated The national budget allowance for prisoners’ daily food is insufficient, particularly in the context of the current economic climate.
Safety The prison was designated a ‘cluster death site’ in October 2021 but no additional support/training was forthcoming from the centre which would have been helpful in identifying any areas for development.
Staffing Recruitment of staff has to be a priority to minimise the redeployment of staff from designated roles to cover for vacancies elsewhere.
Staffing Repeated Timely recruitment of a complaints clerk and family unit social worker to ensure that the current level of service in those areas is maintained.
Equality/Diversity More focus on diversity in recruitment.

Recommendations

7 items · 3 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

Once again, the Board has highlighted the plight of severely mentally unwell men being contained in totally unsuitable conditions and without access to appropriate treatment for long periods of time before being transferred to appropriate secure units.

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Mental Health

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

The lack of offence-related courses for men convicted of sexual offences is delaying their progression and could have a detrimental impact on public safety.

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Education

Recommendation 3

Addressee: HMPPS

The Board is of the opinion that the national budget allowance for prisoners’ daily food is insufficient, particularly in the context of the current economic climate.

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Food

Recommendation 4

Addressee: HMPPS

The prison was designated a ‘cluster death site’ in October 2021 but no additional support/training was forthcoming from the centre which would have been helpful in identifying any areas for development.

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Safety

Recommendation 5

Addressee: Governor / Director

Recruitment of staff has to be a priority to minimise the redeployment of staff from designated roles to cover for vacancies elsewhere.

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Staffing

Recommendation 6

Addressee: Governor / Director

Timely recruitment of a complaints clerk and family unit social worker to ensure that the current level of service in those areas is maintained.

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Staffing

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Governor / Director

More focus on diversity in recruitment.

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality

Applications to the IMB

CategoryCurrentPrevious
Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions 12 17
Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) 7 16
Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions 10 25
Equality 3 14
Finance, including pay, private monies, spends 10 32
Food and kitchens 13 26
Health, including physical, mental, social care 47 59
Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions 19 31
Property during transfer or in another establishment or location 16 29
Property within this establishment 17 25
Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell 9 16
Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation 12 71

Related inspections & investigations

6 Jul 2026 HMIP · IRP
7 Jul 2025 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 2 · Respect 3 · Activity 1 · Release 3
8 Nov 2021 HMIP · Unannounced
— PPO fatal incident Luke Johnson
— PPO fatal incident Raymond Mcentee
— PPO fatal incident Chi Choi Tang
— PPO fatal incident Paul Smyth · Self-inflicted
— PPO fatal incident Stephen Taylor · Natural causes

Other reports for Altcourse

2025 Published 19 Dec 2025 Population 1,224 · Self-harm 957 · Concerns
2024 Published 26 Nov 2024 Population 1,171 · Self-harm 850 · Concerns
2023 Published 24 Nov 2023 Population 1,164 · Self-harm 762 · Concerns
2021 Published 11 Nov 2021 Population 1,113 · Concerns
2020 Published 12 Nov 2020 Population 1,130 · Concerns