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Independent Monitoring Boards annual report

Highpoint

Report year 2021 Published 10 Jun 2022 Type Prison, category C Responsible body HMP Highpoint 9 recommendations

Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response, 23 Aug 2022 ↗ imb.org.uk ↗

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 Highpoint is a male Category C training and resettlement prison. The reporting year saw a positive reduction in self-harm and violence, with staff commended for humane Covid management. Key concerns include persistent issues with property transfers, under-resourcing in contracted services like mental health and education, poor maintenance by GFSL, and the ongoing security vulnerability from unrepaired netting.

Positive findings

Summary written by this site (AI-generated)
The Board noted a positive reduction in self-harm, violent incidents, disorder, and ACCT cases. Staff and Governor were commended for humane management of Covid restrictions, maintaining time out of cell, and supporting vulnerable prisoners. The mental health team was praised for high-level care, and the appointment of an advanced nurse practitioner and family worker improved support. Vocational courses, social visits, and a full-time Job Centre Plus worker also enhanced progression routes.

Recommendations

All 9 recommendations

Key concerns

All 8 key concerns

Recommendations 9 items · 3 repeated

Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Other · Repeated from a previous year

Recommendation (the Board's words)
The loss or delay of prisoners’ property in transfer between establishments is still an issue of concern. The Board again asks for an urgent review into the handling of prisoners’ belongings.

Source text verified

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Regime

Recommendation (the Board's words)
In the interests of reducing reoffending and supporting prisoners’ progression, the Board asks for consideration of stable funding strategies for the provision of therapeutic initiatives (e.g. music/drama) across the prison estate.

Source text verified

Recommendation 3

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate · Repeated from a previous year

Recommendation (the Board's words)
The service provided by GFSL is still a major cause for concern. The Board requests an urgent review of the works maintenance contract to ensure it fully meets the ongoing needs of a challenging prison environment.

Source text verified

Recommendation 4

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing

Recommendation (the Board's words)
The effects of under-resourcing in contracted areas is having a significant impact on outcomes for prisoners. The Board wishes to draw attention in particular to recruitment and retention of tutors (People Plus), and mental health providers (Forward Trust) within HMP Highpoint.

Source text verified

Recommendation 5

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Resettlement

Recommendation (the Board's words)
Prisoner progression has been badly affected by Covid restrictions. D category applications, Parole Board hearings, and the availability of offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) are examples of this. The Board asks if some form of ‘catch up’ strategy could be considered for prisons where there is a substantial need.

Source text verified

Recommendation 6

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Safety · Repeated from a previous year

Recommendation (the Board's words)
The netting that blew down in the storm over a year ago at HMP Highpoint, and which has still not been mended or replaced, remains a security and safety issue. This prison is vulnerable to throw-overs, and the increased opportunity for contraband to get into the prison has a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the prisoners.

Source text verified

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Safety

Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board recommends that in the interests of fairness and safety the increased use of body-worn video cameras is strongly encouraged.

Source text verified

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Education

Recommendation (the Board's words)
Whilst the Board is aware of successful and effective regime changes, restricted access to the library is negatively impacting on opportunities for prisoner education and progression. The Board therefore asks for consideration to be given to facilitating increased access to this area.

Source text verified

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Staffing

Recommendation (the Board's words)
It is hoped, with the decrease in Covid restrictions, that the key worker scheme can be reintroduced in support of the prisoners, in the way it was originally conceived.

Source text verified

Key concerns 8 items

Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.

Key concern 1

Other · Repeated from a previous year

The loss or delay of prisoners’ property in transfer between establishments is still an issue of concern. The Board again asks for an urgent review into the handling of prisoners’ belongings.

Key concern 2

Regime/Time Out of Cell

In the interests of reducing reoffending and supporting prisoners’ progression, the Board asks for consideration of stable funding strategies for the provision of therapeutic initiatives (e.g. music/drama) across the prison estate.

Key concern 3

Estate/Conditions · Repeated from a previous year

The service provided by GFSL is still a major cause for concern. The Board requests an urgent review of the works maintenance contract to ensure it fully meets the ongoing needs of a challenging prison environment.

Key concern 4

Staffing

The effects of under-resourcing in contracted areas is having a significant impact on outcomes for prisoners. The Board wishes to draw attention in particular to recruitment and retention of tutors (People Plus), and mental health providers (Forward Trust) within HMP Highpoint.

Key concern 5

Resettlement/Release

Prisoner progression has been badly affected by Covid restrictions. D category applications, Parole Board hearings, and the availability of offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) are examples of this. The Board asks if some form of ‘catch up’ strategy could be considered for prisons where there is a substantial need.

Key concern 6

Safety · Repeated from a previous year

The netting that blew down in the storm over a year ago at HMP Highpoint, and which has still not been mended or replaced, remains a security and safety issue. This prison is vulnerable to throw-overs, and the increased opportunity for contraband to get into the prison has a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the prisoners.

Key concern 7

Education/Purposeful Activity

restricted access to the library is negatively impacting on opportunities for prisoner education and progression. The Board therefore asks for consideration to be given to facilitating increased access to this area.

Key concern 8

Staffing

It is hoped, with the decrease in Covid restrictions, that the key worker scheme can be reintroduced in support of the prisoners, in the way it was originally conceived.

Safety statistics

Incidents during the reporting year.

IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody01
Self-harm incidents357499
ACCT cases opened323379
Prisoner assaults108not recorded
Assaults on staff95not recorded
Use of force345371

Population

Operational capacity1,310

Applications to the IMB

CategoryCurrentPrevious
Accommodation (including transfers) 45 38
Discipline/Adjudication 19 32
Drugs & Alcohol 2 0
Food 1 1
Healthcare 18 10
Offending Behaviour Programme 4 5
Other 14 10
Property 34 56
Regime 17 21

Report details

Establishment
Highpoint
Type
Prison, category C
Report year
2021
Published
10 June 2022
Responsible body
HMP Highpoint
Recommendations
9
MoJ rating (2025/26)
3, Good

Service providers

ServiceProvider
Drug rehabilitationPhoenix Futures
Employment supportJob Centre Plus
Escort contractorSerco
Family servicesOrmiston Trust
HealthcarePractice Plus Group Health and Rehabilitation Services Ltd
IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies)Forward Trust
Information, advice and guidanceForward Trust
Learning and skills, education and trainingPeople Plus
MaintenanceGov Facility Services Limited (GFSL)
Resettlement housingSt Mungo’s
Resettlement servicesShaw Trust

Related inspections and investigations

HMIP inspection, 29 Jun 2026

Unannounced

HMIP inspection, 16 Oct 2023

Unannounced · Safety 3 · Respect 4 · Activity 1 · Release 2

HMIP inspection, 12 Aug 2019

Unannounced

Levi Cronin

Prevention of future deaths report · 6 Oct 2017 · State Custody related deaths

Other reports for Highpoint

2025

Published 16 Jul 2026 · Population 1,300 · Self-harm 419 · Key concerns recorded

2024

Published 21 May 2025 · Population 1,300 · Self-harm 449 · Key concerns recorded

2023

Published 5 Jul 2024 · Population 1,300 · Self-harm 585 · Key concerns recorded

2022

Published 9 Jun 2023 · Self-harm 322 · Key concerns recorded

2020

Published 25 Jun 2021 · Population 1,048 · Self-harm 499 · Key concerns recorded