Source · IMB Annual Report
Wormwood Scrubs
Year: 2021
Published: 14 Dec 2021
Type: Prison · Cat B local
Population: 1,080
Recommendations: 7
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Wormwood Scrubs faced a challenging year dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, leading to widespread 23-hour confinement and significant impacts on prisoners' well-being and regime. While safety initiatives saw a reduction in violence and use of force, and the prison successfully managed Covid-19 outbreaks, persistent concerns remain regarding staffing shortages, the breakdown of the key worker scheme, and the efficacy of the complaints system. Healthcare, particularly mental health provision, suffered significantly, with increased referrals and a lack of psychology services, while basic needs like food quality and accommodation standards also continued to be problematic.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 2 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 282 | 379 |
| ACCT cases opened | 608 | 663 |
| Prisoner assaults | 152 | 254 |
| Assaults on staff | 106 | 198 |
| Use of force | 651 | 854 |
Positive findings
The introduction of safety initiatives has brought positive results, with an overall reduction in recorded violence and use of force. The prison benefited from charity-led safety interventions and successfully managed Covid-19 with a robust testing and vaccination plan, leading to no positive tests from February 2021. Infrastructure improvements, including refurbishment of key areas, continued. In-cell telephones and WayOut TV were well-received. A new equalities officer has provided impetus for various activities, and the chaplaincy continued to offer excellent daily support. Gate security also saw significant improvements.
Key concerns
Safety
Repeated
Funding cuts jeopardising safety progress, particularly for interventions previously shown to be effective.
Safety
Repeated
Inconsistent and inadequate use of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs) by staff, hindering evidence collection and deterrence.
Complaints/Property
The efficacy and responsiveness of the internal complaints system remain poor, with significant delays and inadequate responses.
Safety
Repeated
Initial admission processes require urgent reform, a long-standing issue highlighted by a death in custody shortly after arrival.
Estate/Conditions
Persistent poor condition of many prison facilities and ongoing overcrowding, with 118 prisoners sharing cells designed for one.
Food/Catering
Chronic issues with the quality, quantity, and nutritional value of food, compounded by broken kitchen equipment and difficulties in providing specialist diets.
Staffing
The breakdown of the key worker scheme due to pandemic staffing pressures, impacting continuous support for prisoners.
Mental Health
A significant gap in psychology services and a long waiting list for therapeutic interventions following key staff departures.
Substance Misuse
The continued suspension of mandatory drug testing, diverting resources from addressing substance misuse.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The detrimental impact of prolonged confinement on young prisoners, who face limited activity, social contact, and poor conditions.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
In our last report we urged the continuing funding of projects which have contributed to making the prison safer. What we have seen is the opposite – a reduction in funding – and we ask that the minister urgently reconsider budget cuts which will only put in peril any progress made.
Repeated
Response
Following a pause in the development of the new Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework due to Covid-19, HMPPS has circulated the draft framework with internal and external stakeholders, including the IMB Secretariat and the IMB representatives previously consulted. Further operational engagement was necessary following that consultation together with a consideration of the large number of comments received. The framework is now expected to be published early in 2022. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 1 | When will the final (as opposed to draft) policy framework on prisoners’ property, promised in February 2021 for ‘wider circulation shortly’ in the HMPPS response to our last report, be published? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 1 | Can the Governor ensure that investigations will be undertaken to consider and monitor the disproportionate incidents in some months of use of force against black prisoners? Following such investigations can any necessary training be provided for prison officers? | Governor / Director | |
| 2 |
We again urge the minister to make it mandatory for officers to wear and use their BWVC when they are in situations where they may have to use force against prisoners. Can the minister also tell the Board what has happened to the review of PSI 04/2017, promised in the last response by the minister to the Board in February 2021?
Repeated
Response
Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) provide transportation for prisoners and their property. The vehicle fleet is designed to carry the number of custodies it is intended for, together with their property in line with the volumetric limit which is governed by PSI 12/2011. In addition to this, the escort contractor will take a reasonable volume of legal documentation. As mentioned earlier this year, the new vehicle fleet has increased capacity to facilitate an additional half bag of property for consumables to the limit of 7.5kg. There are arrangements in place to routinely send a prisoner’s excess property on to them if they transfer to another prison. The new policy framework aims to ensure staff and prisoners are clear on the arrangements in place and provides stronger guidance to ensure volumetric control limits are respected so that prisoners do not build up excessive amounts of property. Locally, there was one regrettable example of apparent lost property as a result of a breakdown in communications. Procedures for processing requests for the allocation of property have since been reviewed and updated to provide assurances to prevent any repeat incident(s). |
Ministry of Justice | Implemented |
| 2 | In the absence of this, can there be a directive to all prisons that they should, in so far as they are able, ensure that a prisoner’s property follows him when he is transferred to another prison? | HMPPS | |
| 2 | Given that there is acknowledgement within the prison that the food, its production and nutritional value and its quantity are an issue, can the Governor consider with some urgency how this can be remedied? If there is to be consultation, the Board suggests that this should be done speedily. | Governor / Director | |
| 3 | When a prisoner refuses to attend a hospital appointment, can the reason for that refusal be noted on the relevant documentation? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Adjudications | 12 | 21 |
| Behaviour/Privileges | 21 | 22 |
| Bullying/Victimisation | 1 | 2 |
| Chaplaincy | 0 | 0 |
| Discrimination (Race/Religion/Other) | 0 | 1 |
| Drugs | 1 | 3 |
| Education/Work/Programmes | 7 | 13 |
| Family/Personal | 28 | 35 |
| Food | 19 | 19 |
| Healthcare (clinical) | 31 | 45 |
| Hygiene/Safety | 8 | 15 |
| Legal | 15 | 23 |
| Other | 21 | 21 |
| Property | 38 | 66 |
| Staff conduct | 26 | 41 |
| Visits | 17 | 27 |
| Welfare | 23 | 36 |
Related inspections & investigations
16 Mar 2026
HMIP · IRP
9 Jun 2025
HMIP · Unannounced
7 Jun 2021
HMIP · Unannounced
16 Sep 2019
HMIP · Announced
21 Oct 2019
PFD
Harold Uzomechina · Alcohol, drug and medication related deaths; State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Wormwood Scrubs
Report details
- Establishment
- Wormwood Scrubs
- Type
- Prison · Cat B local
- Report year
- 2021
- Published
- 14 December 2021
- Responsible body
- HMP Wormwood Scrubs
- Recommendations
- 7
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 1 — Serious concern
Population
| Population | 1,080 |
| Operational capacity | 1,273 |
| Time out of cell | 1.0h/day |
Service providers
Community rehabilitation company
London CRC (MTC Novo)
Education and training
Novus
Healthcare
Practice Plus Health Group Health and Rehabilitation Services Limited
Mental health
Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust
Substance misuse psychosocial support
Forward Trust