Source · IMB Annual Report
Risley
Year: 2025
Published: 24 Apr 2026
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 1,042
Recommendations: 2
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Risley is one of the largest category C training and resettlement prisons in the UK. The prison continues to be a hub for foreign national prisoners. There was a change in population during the year which resulted in an increase in the number of prisoners arriving compared to the previous period.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 4 | 6 |
| Self-harm incidents | 852 | 1,068 |
| Prisoner assaults | 273 | 337 |
| Assaults on staff | 82 | 93 |
Positive findings
The IMB concludes that overall, the transition was managed well and that the change will ease some of the difficulties experienced in the past, e.g. the necessity to run two parallel regimes to protect the safety of PCoSOs whilst moving around the prison. The prison had good systems in place for dealing with those with protected characteristics. The chaplaincy team was well regarded by prisoners.
Key concerns
Estate/Conditions
The IMB continues to be very concerned about the service provided by the maintenance contractors (AMEY) at HMP Risley.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The IMB shares the concern of prison management about the shortfall in activity places for the men.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
The IMB is concerned that property remains an issue.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Although this has not yet required a performance improvement plan, we ask whether the Minister plans to introduce more robust methods of monitoring the quality of service and ensuring its cost effectiveness? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | What work is planned to to ensure that all activity spaces are used to the maximum effect and men are adequately prepared for release? | HMPPS |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 12 | 6 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 10 | 3 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 10 | 17 |
| Equality | 3 | 4 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 10 | 15 |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 2 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 25 | 32 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 41 | 15 |
| Miscellaneous | 25 | 15 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 17 | 28 |
| Property within the establishment | 29 | 33 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 7 | 12 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 12 | 15 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 21 | 20 |
| Transfers | 6 | 4 |
Related inspections & investigations
12 Apr 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 3
· Respect 2
· Activity 1
· Release 2
Other reports for Risley
Report details
- Establishment
- Risley
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2025
- Published
- 24 April 2026
- Responsible body
- HMP Risley
- Recommendations
- 2
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Population | 1,042 |
| Operational capacity | 1,042 |
Service providers
Education services
Novus
Estate maintenance
Amey
Mental healthcare
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Primary healthcare
Practice Plus Group (PPG)
Psychosocial services
Practice Plus Group (PPG)
Resettlement accommodation services
Seetec and Ingeus