Recommendation 1
What will the prison do to improve the problems with the operation of the prisoner application system to ensure they are all responded to and within an acceptable time frame?
Source · IMB Annual Report
Foston Hall
AI-generated report summary HMP/YOI Foston Hall is a women’s prison and young offender institution. Its capacity is 3241. The Board has noted a rise in self-harm incidents, violence, and use of force.
Year: 2025
Published: 16 Apr 2026
Type: Prison · Cat YOI
Recommendations: 13
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 1 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 2,014 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 279 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 1,022 | — |
| Use of force | 808 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe Board has seen a renewed focus on improving the experience and safety of newly arrived prisoners. Additional staffing in the first night centre by early days in custody (EDiC) managers appears to have led to improved information sharing about the profile and history of new prisoners. The IMB has regularly observed food being prepared in the kitchens and noted that it looked appetising, was well presented and tasted good when sampled. The Board commends Foston Hall for the professionalism, patience and compassion with which prisoners are treated in the CSU.
Key concerns
The continuing rise in prisoners who are on short-fixed term recalls, and subject to short sentences has a significant limiting impact on rehabilitation and resettlement.
It is still the case that prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs are frequently received, or remain too long, at HMP Foston Hall, rather than being accommodated and cared for in hospital or in the community in line with the ambitions of the female offender strategy.
There is still no evidence that the decision to identify pregnancy as a specific mitigating factor in sentencing decisions has had any impact on the number of pregnant prisoners passing through Foston Hall, including prisoners on short-term recall.
There are increasing problems with the quality and decency of accommodation, including the longstanding inadequacy of the CSU and D wing and the ongoing health and safety and decency issues on F wing caused by water damage from leaking showers.
There continues to be a lack of adequate mental health provision for prisoners experiencing less severe but still impactful conditions, including anxiety and depression.
There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
How will the prison ensure that prisoners are not delayed in accessing their property promptly?
Recommendation 3
What steps will be put in place to ensure that every wing has an adequate supply of forms - for example, general application and complaints forms - available to prisoners?
Recommendation 4
What will be done to improve the poor levels of key work taking place across the prison?
Recommendation 5
There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level. What will be done to ensure that all prisoners feel that the incentives policy has meaning for them?
Recommendation 6
What will be put in place to reverse the rise in incidents of self-harm?
Recommendation 7
What will the prison do to reduce the rise in the number of prisoner-on-prisoner violent incidents?
Government response
HMPPS recognises the ongoing link between short-term custody, drug misuse, debt and bullying and the harm caused by the illicit economy in prison. This issue continues to be addressed through a combined security and recovery-focused approach. Operational activity focuses on restricting the supply of drugs through physical security measures and intelligence-led activity, alongside reducing demand through rehabilitative interventions and support for recovery from substance misuse. Naloxone has been rolled out across the estate to reduce the risk of fatal overdose. At HMP/YOI Foston Hall, the independent substance free living unit remains at 40 beds, supported by local policy changes allowing motivated women to move directly from the first night centre. Recovery interventions are being adapted for short sentences, including shorter course lengths, increased mutual aid and weekly 12-step meetings, with SMART recovery delivery due to resume. Work to address debt also continues through use of the Debt Framework for Governors and other operational resources designed to support frontline staff and build prisoner resilience.
Recommendation 8
How will the prison address the rise in use of force incidents?
Recommendation 9
Self-harm incidents have risen despite a multidisciplinary approach. What more can be done to support prisoners who harm themselves?
Recommendation 10
Violence has increased. What planned actions does Foston Hall have to reverse this trend?
Government response
HMPPS recognises the ongoing link between short-term custody, drug misuse, debt and bullying and the harm caused by the illicit economy in prison. This issue continues to be addressed through a combined security and recovery-focused approach. Operational activity focuses on restricting the supply of drugs through physical security measures and intelligence-led activity, alongside reducing demand through rehabilitative interventions and support for recovery from substance misuse. Naloxone has been rolled out across the estate to reduce the risk of fatal overdose. At HMP/YOI Foston Hall, the independent substance free living unit remains at 40 beds, supported by local policy changes allowing motivated women to move directly from the first night centre. Recovery interventions are being adapted for short sentences, including shorter course lengths, increased mutual aid and weekly 12-step meetings, with SMART recovery delivery due to resume. Work to address debt also continues through use of the Debt Framework for Governors and other operational resources designed to support frontline staff and build prisoner resilience.
Recommendation 11
Prisoners continue to queue outside the medication dispensing hatch, whatever the weather, with no shelter. When will shelter be provided for them?
Recommendation 12
When will the healthcare services team be provided with adequate accommodation?
Recommendation 13
When will the Access Service [a multidisciplinary team supporting prisoners with highly complex needs and behaviours] be staffed and operational?
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Foston Hall
Population 292
· Self-harm 1,423
· Concerns
Population 284
· Concerns
Population 231
· Concerns
Population 264
· Concerns
Population 245
· Concerns