Source · IMB Annual Report

Frankland

AI-generated report summary HMP Frankland continues to be a high-security prison for Category A adult men, operating near its capacity of 846. The Board finds it a safe prison with lower violence rates compared to similar establishments, but highlights concerns around gang affiliation, persistent drug use, and drone incursions. Key challenges include staffing shortages impacting regime and healthcare, reduced education provision due to contract changes, and infrastructure issues for an aging and disabled population.

Year: 2025 Published: 18 Aug 2026 Type: Prison · Cat Category A Population: 813 Recommendations: 3 Key concerns Positive findings

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody115
ACCT cases opened306312
Prisoner assaults101
Assaults on staff43
Use of force271201
Drug finds68

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The Board views HMP Frankland as a safe prison, reporting fewer incidents of violence compared to other LTHSE prisons. Positive developments include refurbishment works reducing water ingress, and staff and prisoners are commended for maintaining high food standards and successful religious festival celebrations. MPU staff effectively progress complex cases, and staff-prisoner relationships are generally positive. The Board welcomes the focus on mobility and social care for the aging population and notes new investment in prison industries.

Key concerns

16 items
Safety Gang affiliation in HMP Frankland has the potential for harm to staff and prisoners and there is a continuous risk analysis of how best to locate these prisoners to reduce the potential impact for disorder.
Substance Misuse Spice (a psychoactive substance) use remains prevalent despite the best effort of staff to intercept illicit items.
Safety Drone incursions have notably increased through the reporting period.
Other Missing property remains an issue when prisoners are transferred to HMP Frankland.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Prisoners are waiting lengthy periods to collect their property after they arrive at reception.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Time out off cell has been reduced due to staffing issues and workshop closures causing restricted regimes.
Resettlement/Release Prisoners securing accumulated visits closer to home has remained a challenge due to limited space at the receiving prison which has been attributed to the wider prison estate operating close to capacity.
Mental Health The shortage of beds in secure inpatient units is an issue for those prisoners needing these facilities.
Healthcare Missed appointments have been a regular source of applications made to the IMB which may be attributed to staffing.
Education/Purposeful Activity Reduction in education provision has limited the opportunities for personal development.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Workshop closures attributed to ongoing upgrade works have restricted prisoner opportunities to work and gain transferable skills.
Education/Purposeful Activity The change in contract from Prison Education Framework to Prison Education Services has led to reductions in education provision. The new contract has reduced the budget available for the establishment to spend on education provision when compared to the budget provided by the previous contractual arrangements. The changes have directly led to a loss of educational staff, reduced educational opportunities for prisoners, a less effective curriculum and a reduction in outreach provision for those who are unable to access the education department.
Estate/Conditions Car parking is increasingly difficult at the prison due to the numbers of staff and contractors at the site. The Board is aware prisoners complain that their relatives can’t get parked. The Board also notes the constant security issues raised by the parking of unregistered cars on site.
Healthcare The toilet in the healthcare centre waiting area is not fit for the disabled; measures to use wing facilities are in place, this situation is not satisfactory.
Estate/Conditions Much of the prison is still not designed for an elderly population and presents challenges for anyone with limited physical mobility.
Substance Misuse Repeated the issue of availability of illicit drugs remains a concern.

Recommendations

3 items · 1 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

The change in contract from Prison Education Framework to Prison Education Services has led to reductions in education provision. The new contract has reduced the budget available for the establishment to spend on education provision when compared to the budget provided by the previous contractual arrangements. The changes have directly led to a loss of educational staff, reduced educational opportunities for prisoners, a less effective curriculum and a reduction in outreach provision for those who are unable to access the education department. What are your plans to redress the impact of this policy change which directly affects prisoners' progression, personal development and/or mental health?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Education

Recommendation 2

Addressee: HMPPS

What are the long-term plans for supporting prisoners with dementia to enable them to progress for example by completing risk reduction course work.

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Governor / Director

Car parking is increasingly difficult at the prison due to the numbers of staff and contractors at the site. The Board is aware prisoners complain that their relatives can’t get parked. The Board also notes the constant security issues raised by the parking of unregistered cars on site. Can anything be done to alleviate the situation?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Applications to the IMB

CategoryCurrentPrevious
Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions 9 3
Canteen, facility list, catalogues 5 1
Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions 16 11
Equality 4 1
Finance, including pay, private monies, spends 16 4
Food and kitchens 10 8
Health, including physical, mental, social care 44 24
Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions 36 20
Miscellaneous 52 41
Property during transfer or in another facility 32 6
Property within the establishment 14 13
Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell 13 8
Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation 16 11
Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying 19 27
Transfers 4 21

Related inspections & investigations

4 Mar 2024 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 3 · Respect 3 · Activity 3 · Release 3
13 Jan 2020 HMIP · Unannounced
PPO fatal incident Brian Heron · Natural causes
PPO fatal incident Alan Baker
PPO fatal incident Tony Phillips
PPO fatal incident Gordon Preece · Natural causes
PPO fatal incident Steven Martin
31 Mar 2015 PFD Sharon Butcher · State Custody related deaths

Other reports for Frankland

2024 Published 27 May 2025 · Concerns
2023 Published 9 Oct 2024 Population 840 · Concerns
2022 Published 26 May 2023 Population 825 · Concerns
2021 Published 25 Mar 2022 Population 816 · Self-harm 461 · Concerns