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
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 11 | 5 |
| ACCT cases opened | 306 | 312 |
| Prisoner assaults | 101 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 43 | — |
| Use of force | 271 | 201 |
| Drug finds | 68 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryThe 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
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.
Spice (a psychoactive substance) use remains prevalent despite the best effort of staff to intercept illicit items.
Drone incursions have notably increased through the reporting period.
Missing property remains an issue when prisoners are transferred to HMP Frankland.
Prisoners are waiting lengthy periods to collect their property after they arrive at reception.
Time out off cell has been reduced due to staffing issues and workshop closures causing restricted regimes.
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.
The shortage of beds in secure inpatient units is an issue for those prisoners needing these facilities.
Missed appointments have been a regular source of applications made to the IMB which may be attributed to staffing.
Reduction in education provision has limited the opportunities for personal development.
Workshop closures attributed to ongoing upgrade works have restricted prisoner opportunities to work and gain transferable skills.
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.
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.
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.
Much of the prison is still not designed for an elderly population and presents challenges for anyone with limited physical mobility.
the issue of availability of illicit drugs remains a concern.
Recommendations
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?
Recommendation 2
What are the long-term plans for supporting prisoners with dementia to enable them to progress for example by completing risk reduction course work.
Recommendation 3
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?
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 3
· Release 3
Brian Heron · Natural causes
Gordon Preece · Natural causes
Sharon Butcher · State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Frankland
· Concerns
Population 840
· Concerns
Population 825
· Concerns
Population 816
· Self-harm 461
· Concerns