Source · IMB Annual Report
Liverpool
Year: 2025
Published: 11 Jun 2026
Type: Prison · Cat B reception
Recommendations: 10
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Liverpool continued its transition to a Category B reception prison in 2025, facing significant challenges from its 170-year-old infrastructure and high prisoner churn. While some positive developments were noted in reducing self-harm and drug incidents, and healthcare provision saw improvements, concerns persisted regarding the condition of the estate, staffing resilience, and access to education and purposeful activity. The Board raised key concerns about maintenance, drug supply, property transfers, and healthcare capacity, issuing recommendations to the Minister, Prison Service, and Governor.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 4 | — |
Positive findings
The Board noted generally positive working relationships with prisoners and observed positive outcomes in the Care and Separation Unit. Reductions in self-harm, drug finds, and positive mandatory drug tests were observed towards the end of the year. Significant improvements were made in healthcare, including the introduction of a shift coordinator, clinical skills workshop, a triage phone line, and wing workers. The J wing drug-free unit proved effective, and the library expanded activities.
Key concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
HMP Liverpool is 170 years old and increasingly shows signs that the building fabric, even after refurbishment, is not fit for purpose. The cost and time taken to properly rectify the defects will be considerable... leaking roofs, pooling water and defects in kitchen areas. Residential staff face repeated complaints regarding the antiquated heated system, breakdowns in wing laundry facilities, extended periods when wings are without functioning showers and hot water and ineffective CCTV systems.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
The continued supply of drugs in the prison remains a high risk to prisoners and staff.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
issues relating to property complaints arising from prisoner transfers remain excessive. The number of applications received by the Board has increased... HMP Altcourse stands out as the most problematic transfer site, with 17 out of 28 applications.
Healthcare
Repeated
Lack of availability of transport to take prisoners to hospital... Difficulties in escorting prisoners with mobility needs... recurring concern raised by prisoners is difficulty accessing appointments with a doctor or nurse... no provision for issuing replacement stoma bags... Demand for specialist provision continues to exceed capacity, and waiting times for talking therapies can extend to several months.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Attendance at available education classes appears low. Participation in meaningful activity is still an issue, in the Board’s view. The education budget was cut by around 50% during the year, leading to a reduction in provision.
Staffing
Repeated
limited staffing levels offer no resilience, particularly when sickness rates remain well above national guidelines and averages.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What plans are in place to provide sustained capital investment at HMP Liverpool, and how will accountability for responsive repairs be strengthened to ensure that persistent defects are addressed effectively? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | What specific measures is the Minister implementing to ensure they receive adequate support, including mental health services, skills development and progression opportunities, to support successful reintegration into society. Additionally, how is the Minister addressing the delays and barriers that continue to prolong indeterminate sentences? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | How will the Minister assure the Board that the independence of this role will be protected in practice, including against any actual or perceived external influence? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 4 | Why has the IMB been unable, from August 2025, to obtain a response from HMPPS staff responsible for managing this contract and what steps will be taken to ensure clarity on how the service is meant to operate? Given that the Prison Group Director (PGD) identified ‘decency’ as a key priority at a regional IMB meeting, how is this reconciled with the continued failure to meet basic hygiene standards and essential living needs? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 5 | Will the Prison Service undertake to reinforce the role of the IMB and its legitimate access to information relating to individual prisons? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 6 | Will the Prison Service undertake a review of the specific issues relating to property transfers from HMP Altcourse? Given that the current process is paper based and follows the prisoner throughout their time in custody, will the Prison Service considered introducing a modern, centralised digital system for monitoring prisoner property? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 7 | Will the Governor introduce a more robust and accountable monitoring of the rules relating to this building? | Governor / Director | |
| 8 | Will the Governor reinforce the need for special diets to be better managed and monitored? | Governor / Director | |
| 9 | Will the Governor consider ringfencing at least one staff member to this area of service delivery? | Governor / Director | |
| 10 | Could you explain the current challenges in providing these positions and any plans to increase access for all prisoners? Will it ever reach the national standard set in 2018 with current or forecast resources? Repeated | Governor / Director |
Related inspections & investigations
11 Aug 2025
HMIP · Unannounced
16 Dec 2016
PFD
Mark Lilliott · State Custody related deaths; Alcohol, drug and medication related deaths
Other reports for Liverpool
Report details
- Establishment
- Liverpool
- Type
- Prison · Cat B reception
- Report year
- 2025
- Published
- 11 June 2026
- Responsible body
- HMP Liverpool
- Recommendations
- 10
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Operational capacity | 800 |
Service providers
Addiction Reduction Service
Change, Grow, Live (CGL)
Education
Novus
Family support
Partners of Prisoners (POPs)
Healthcare
Spectrum Healthcare
Literacy support
Shannon Trust
Maintenance/CCTV
Amey
Mental Health
Mersey Care