Independent Monitoring Boards annual report

Manchester

Report year 2026 Published 23 Jul 2026 Type Prison, category LTHSE, Category A Remand, Category B Population 600 Responsible body HMP Manchester 16 recommendations

Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response, 15 Sep 2026 ↗ imb.org.uk ↗

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 Manchester, a high-security facility, faces critical challenges including pervasive illicit item conveyance, high levels of violence, and extensive dilapidation of the prison estate. Severe staff shortages (operating at 60% capacity) frequently curtail the regime, leading to many prisoners spending up to 23 hours a day in their cells and limited access to education and purposeful activity. The Board expresses significant concerns regarding the urgent need for infrastructure investment, improved staff recruitment and retention, and a more predictable regime to enhance safety and rehabilitation opportunities for prisoners.

Positive findings

Summary written by this site (AI-generated)

The Board acknowledges the positive response to the introduction of body-worn protective equipment for staff in segregation. Enhanced prisoners contribute positively to induction support, and safety intervention meetings are thorough. The segregation unit is well-managed and commendably clean internally. Relationships between experienced staff and prisoners are generally good, with key working having improved engagement. The Board also welcomes the reopening of the staff canteen, good delivery of Halal food, and a highly regarded chaplaincy service. Healthcare provides a range of clinics, and a dedicated social care wing (H1) offers an accessible environment with enthusiastic staff. Positive initiatives include the re-introduction of a chess tournament, a new prison-wide reading strategy, and a new 'skills academy' for transferable educational achievements. The library is well-stocked and supported by volunteers, and the 'Crofters' restaurant has reopened. Offender management staff are friendly and approachable, and the visitors' centre, operated by POPS, creates a welcoming atmosphere with excellent interpersonal skills.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Recommendation 2Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Recommendation 3Addressed to Ministry of Justice

All 16 recommendations

Key concerns

Key concern 1Safety
Key concern 2Safety
Key concern 3Safety

All 18 key concerns

Recommendations 16 items

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.

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Safety

Recommendation (the Board's words)

Will the Minister outline the further steps he intends to take to address the concerns of prisoners and staff in relation to the conveyance of illicit items into HMP Manchester?

Source text verified

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Safety

Recommendation

Will the Minister consider designating HMP Manchester as ‘critical national infrastructure’ in order to address the threat of drones dropping drugs and weapons into high security prisons?

Wording differs from source

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Mental Health

Recommendation (the Board's words)

Will the Minister outline how he intends to address the problem of expedient transfers of mentally unwell prisoners to appropriate accommodation within the NHS secure forensic estate?

Source text verified

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Estate

Recommendation

How is the Minister planning to address the long-term underinvestment in prison infrastructure, particularly regarding heating, hot water, access to drinking water and showers, and boost investment in maintaining the estate?

Wording differs from source

Recommendation 5

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate

Recommendation

Will HMPPS set out the steps that it intends to take in relation to the ongoing challenges associated with maintenance backlogs at HMP Manchester?

Wording differs from source

Recommendation 6

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate

Recommendation (the Board's words)

At a time of capacity shortages across the prison estate, when will HMPPS deal with the boarded off G wing, in the top jail? Why did it take so long to get an alternative supplier to fix the window frames when the first provider went bankrupt?

Source text verified

Recommendation 7

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate

Recommendation (the Board's words)

What lessons have been learnt in terms of tendering for substantial remedial work around a site which has many structural challenges?

Source text verified

Recommendation 8

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing

Recommendation (the Board's words)

Will HMPPS set out the additional measures that it intends to take to ensure the appropriate training and ongoing education and support of staff in order to retain staff?

Source text verified

Recommendation 9

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Safety

Recommendation

What further steps will HMPPS take to tackle the conveyance of communication devices into HMP Manchester?

Wording differs from source

Recommendation 10

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing

Recommendation (the Board's words)

How does HMPPS plan to improve the recruitment and retention of staff? For much of the reporting period HMP Manchester has operated at around 60% capacity of the staff they should employ in order to operate the prison safely and humanely. The prison currently recruits staff from overseas or benefits from the external support of staff from other establishments. This provides no long-term sustainability given manpower shortages due to illness and other absences. How does HMPPS intend to address this?

Source text verified

Recommendation 11

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Regime

Recommendation (the Board's words)

Will the Governor outline the steps that he intends to take to establish a more predictable regime that is able to offer opportunities to engage prisoners in meaningful activities?

Source text verified

Recommendation 12

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Estate

Recommendation (the Board's words)

Will the Governor outline his plans to tackle the continued presence of rubbish, particularly in the external areas of E wing, but elsewhere, including the external areas surrounding residential units and the healthcare centre?

Source text verified

Recommendation 13

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Estate

Recommendation

What steps will be taken to make sure that a cleaning culture is embedded in the prison, addressing the apathy among many staff regarding cleanliness?

Wording differs from source

Recommendation 14

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Staffing

Recommendation (the Board's words)

Given staff shortages, will the Governor give special attention to the staff retention policy operating in the prison?

Source text verified

Recommendation 15

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Education

Recommendation

Does the Governor have any scope to improve the offering of skills-based education for men, particularly those nearing release, following changes that led to the closure of skills-based work such as the bakery?

Wording differs from source

Recommendation 16

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Safety

Recommendation (the Board's words)

The Board has noted a slight reduction in violence and self-harm, as evidenced in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. What are the Governor’s plans to maintain this trajectory?

Source text verified

Key concerns 18 items

Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.

Key concern 1

Safety

The presence of drones, and other methods of conveyance of illicit items, is fundamentally undermining the safety of the prison.

Key concern 2

Safety

The availability of electronic communication devices in HMP Manchester is concerning, when one considers the high-security function aspects of the prison.

Key concern 3

Safety

Violence in the prison, in all forms, is unacceptably high and requires immediate remedy.

Key concern 4

Safety

Staff remain vulnerable in other areas of the prison due to a lack of body-worn protective equipment (beyond the segregation unit and close supervision centre).

Source wording under review

Key concern 5

Safety

The proximity of recent residential developments, including a high-rise affording expansive views into the secure perimeter, is a concern.

Key concern 6

Estate/Conditions

Local planning procedures in relation to aspects of the prison’s listed building status may be inhibiting attempts to complete remedial work in a timely fashion.

Key concern 7

Estate/Conditions

The physical condition of the prison is very poor, with omnipresent decay and dilapidation throughout the prison, particularly in the residential wings.

Key concern 8

Estate/Conditions

Observed issues include the presence of vermin, rubbish, damaged cell fabric requiring extended repair times, disruption to the main hot water and heating system, and loss of water supply to the ‘top jail’.

Key concern 9

Regime/Time Out of Cell

Staff shortages and high sickness levels frequently curtail the regime, with some people spending up to 23 hours a day in their cells and reduced access to education, work, gym, and outdoor exercise (including long-term closure of the football field).

Key concern 10

Regime/Time Out of Cell

The progression of prisoners, whether to category C or D conditions, or on release to the community, is significantly impaired by the availability of an appropriate regime.

Key concern 11

Education/Purposeful Activity

Changes in education provision and significant staff reductions have led to a narrower, classroom-based offer, with the loss of vocational courses.

Key concern 12

Mental Health

The problem of expedient transfers of mentally unwell prisoners to appropriate accommodation within the NHS secure forensic estate.

Key concern 13

Estate/Conditions

Long-term underinvestment in prison infrastructure, with multiple issues regarding heating, hot water, access to drinking water and showers.

Key concern 14

Estate/Conditions

Ongoing challenges associated with maintenance backlogs at HMP Manchester.

Key concern 15

Estate/Conditions

The boarded off G wing in the top jail, and the delay in securing an alternative supplier to fix window frames.

Key concern 16

Staffing

HMP Manchester has operated at around 60% capacity of the staff they should employ, with current recruitment methods providing no long-term sustainability.

Key concern 17

Estate/Conditions

Key concern 18

Education/Purposeful Activity

Changes to education programmes have led to the closure of skills-based work such as the bakery, limiting opportunities for men particularly those nearing release.

Safety statistics

Incidents during the reporting year.

Indicator	This year	Previous
Deaths in custody	6	not recorded
Self-harm incidents	760	1,016
Prisoner assaults	172	not recorded
Assaults on staff	107	not recorded

Population

600

Applications to the IMB

Category	Current	Previous
Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions	10	not recorded
Canteen, facility list, catalogues	4	not recorded
Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions	5	not recorded
Equality	2	not recorded
Finance, including pay, private monies, spends	7	not recorded
Food and kitchens	3	not recorded
Health, including physical, mental, social care	10	not recorded
Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions	5	not recorded
Miscellaneous	10	not recorded
Property during transfer or in another facility	9	not recorded
Property within the establishment	15	not recorded
Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell	4	not recorded
Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation	10	not recorded
Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying	10	not recorded
Transfers	0	not recorded

Report details

Establishment: Manchester
Type: Prison, category LTHSE, Category A Remand, Category B
Report year: 2026
Published: 23 July 2026
Responsible body: HMP Manchester
Recommendations: 16
MoJ rating (2025/26): 2, Concern

Service providers

Service	Provider
Dental care	The Vallance Dental Centre
Escort contractor (Category A prisoners)	HMPPS
Escort contractor (Category B prisoners)	GeoAmey
GP provider	Caredox Limited
Library service	Manchester City Council
Mental health	Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Physical health	Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Prison education (from Oct 2025)	Novus LTE
Prison education (to Oct 2025)	Milton Keynes College
Substance misuse treatment	Delphi Medical
Visitors Centre	Partners of Prisoners (POPS)

Related inspections and investigations

HMIP inspection, 12 Jan 2026

Unannounced

HMIP inspection, 9 Oct 2024

Urgent Notification

HMIP inspection, 17 Sep 2024

Unannounced · Safety 1 · Respect 1 · Activity 1 · Release 3

HMIP inspection, 13 Sep 2021

Unannounced

Manchester

Summary

Positive findings

Recommendations

Key concerns

Recommendations 16 items

Key concerns 18 items

Key concern 1

Key concern 2

Key concern 3

Key concern 4

Key concern 5

Key concern 6

Key concern 7

Key concern 8

Key concern 9

Key concern 10

Key concern 11

Key concern 12

Key concern 13

Key concern 14

Key concern 15

Key concern 16

Key concern 17

Key concern 18

Safety statistics

Population

Applications to the IMB

Report details

Service providers

Related inspections and investigations

HMIP inspection, 12 Jan 2026

HMIP inspection, 9 Oct 2024

HMIP inspection, 17 Sep 2024

HMIP inspection, 13 Sep 2021

Other reports for Manchester