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 Huntercombe, a Category C prison for foreign national men, successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic despite significant regime restrictions, with no deaths in custody and positive commendations for its healthcare team. The Board identified several areas for development, notably the unfairness of telephone charges and lack of in-cell telephony, and the concerning increase in time-served prisoners held under immigration powers. Issues surrounding meaningful vocational training and progression to open conditions for foreign national prisoners were also highlighted as key areas needing attention.
Positive findings
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)
The Board commend the efforts of the SMT, healthcare team and staff at Huntercombe for the consistent and effective management of the pandemic, which enabled the prison to be allowed to drop to Level 3 of the national regime in July. The prison has also made significant progress in addressing previous issues, including securing a resettlement budget, awarding a new kitchen contract, and renewing gym equipment. The number of outstanding OASys assessments was greatly reduced, and the Governor's initiative in rolling out video calls was highly successful, enabling over 4000 calls. The Board is satisfied that the prison is operated safely and reports no serious incidents during the year.
Recommendations 7 items · 1 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.
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
To review the charges for prison telephone calls across the prison estate to reduce the unfair discrepancies that exist, and approve the installation of in-cell telephony in Huntercombe – see paragraphs 5.4.1 and 5.4.2.
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Resettlement
Recommendation (the Board's words)
With Home Office colleagues, to resolve the issue around prisoners held under immigration powers post-sentence – see paragraphs 7.3.2. and 7.3.3.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Education
Recommendation (the Board's words)
To introduce or renew practical and vocational contracts so that meaningful training and work that carries a recognised international qualification can be achieved – see section 7.2.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Resettlement
Recommendation (the Board's words)
To ensure that issuing prisoners with an IS91 notification operates in accordance with the time limits set out in the service level agreement (SLA) with Home Office immigration enforcement (HOIE) – see paragraph 7.3.4.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Resettlement · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board has concerns that the lack of progression to open prison conditions is both discriminatory and unfair – see paragraph 7.3.7.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
To continue the implementation of the incentives and earned privileges framework (IEP) introduced in January 2020 – see paragraph 5.6.1.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
To investigate the possibility of improved technology across the prison to facilitate meetings and monitoring by the IMB in the event of a further lockdown situation.
Key concerns 7 items
Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.
Key concern 1
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The lack of in-cell telephony throughout the prison and the high charges for telephone calls, particularly for overseas calls for foreign national prisoners, is a matter of unfairness for the prisoners.
Key concern 2
Resettlement/Release
The increase in numbers throughout the year of time-served prisoners held under immigration powers (IS91s), due to a lack of suitable accommodation in the community or available spaces within immigration removal centres (IRCs), means men are held under conviction conditions when they should be on remand or released. This is neither fair nor humane and creates tensions within the establishment.
Key concern 3
Education/Purposeful Activity
To introduce or renew practical and vocational contracts so that meaningful training and work that carries a recognised international qualification can be achieved – see section 7.2.
Key concern 4
Resettlement/Release
4 Under the HMPPS - HOIE service level agreement, the target time for IS91 paperwork to be served is 30 days prior to a prisoner’s CRD. However there have been instances in the reporting year when the IS91 notification has been served within one to two days of the CRD which, for many prisoners, can add to their frustration and anxiety.
Key concern 5
Equality/Diversity · Repeated from a previous year
The Board has concerns that the lack of progression to open prison conditions is both discriminatory and unfair – see paragraph 7.3.7.
Key concern 6
Mental Health
The Board commend the staff who successfully maintain the unit in a safe and decent manner for all prisoners held in segregation, but believe that it is never ideal to locate prisoners on ACCTs within the unit, and that for those with serious mental health issues a better solution should be available to them which Huntercombe is unequipped to provide, rather than prolonged periods spent in the isolated environment of the segregation unit.
Key concern 7
Safety
Staff/prisoner/bullying issues were a pattern of concern in complaints and applications, an area the Board was unable to sufficiently investigate due to limited physical contact and Board numbers.
Safety statistics
Incidents during the reporting year.
Report details
- Establishment
- Huntercombe
- Type
- Prison, category C
- Report year
- 2020
- Published
- 6 August 2021
- Responsible body
- Huntercombe
- Recommendations
- 7
- MoJ rating (2025/26)
- 3, Good
Other reports for Huntercombe
Published 22 Jul 2026 · Population 491 · Self-harm 73 · Key concerns recorded
Published 27 Jun 2025 · Population 491 · Self-harm 63 · Key concerns recorded
Published 5 Jul 2024 · Population 470 · Key concerns recorded
Published 20 Jun 2023 · Population 469 · Self-harm 96 · Key concerns recorded
Published 22 Jun 2022 · Population 447 · Self-harm 100 · Key concerns recorded