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Moorland

AI-generated report summary HMP/YOI Moorland’s reporting year saw positive practices in reception, staff training, and some educational programs, alongside effective crisis response despite a fluctuating population and operational challenges. However, significant concerns remain regarding overcrowded cells, rising violence, and staff-related regime limitations leading to extended in-cell time. Persistent issues with healthcare provision and resettlement support for mental health and IPP prisoners also require urgent attention.

Year: 2026 Published: 25 Aug 2026 Type: Prison · Cat C and YOI Population: 1,023 Recommendations: 10 Key concerns Positive findings
Original IMB report page ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody7—
Self-harm incidents477—
ACCT cases opened272—
Prisoner assaults125—
Assaults on staff37—
Use of force392233

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
HMP/YOI Moorland demonstrated professionalism in reception, with new procedures reducing anxiety for arrivals and in-possession medications being promptly secured. The Board was impressed by the prison's handling of deaths in custody and the care extended to those affected. Staff training in control and restraint improved, reaching 94.6%, and the prison actively works to reduce illicit substance use. The healthcare monitoring meeting and mental health services showed noticeable improvements, with a fully staffed mental health team reducing waiting times. Education provision, including the Storybook Dads project and Shannon Trust scheme, was well-regarded, with particular success in the recycling workshop which generated significant savings.

Key concerns

10 items
Overcrowding Repeated The persistent use of previously single cells as doubles, with a shared toilet, has not been reduced and raises concerns about decency and humanity. Source wording under review
Education/Purposeful Activity Reductions in face-to-face teaching hours due to budgetary changes have led to the discontinuation of art classes and a recognised shortage of training opportunities leading to externally recognised qualifications. Source wording under review
Resettlement/Release The critical shortage of planned housing on release prevents continuity of access to mental health support for prisoners, increasing the chance of return to custody.
Other Repeated Property not transferred with the prisoner continues to be a significant source of frustration, leading to numerous applications and administrative issues. Source wording under review
Resettlement/Release Repeated The regime for IPP prisoners who are poorly motivated or unengaged may not be appropriate for their needs, requiring specialised resettlement programmes. Source wording under review
Mental Health Repeated Significant obstacles to the recruitment of Listeners amongst Res 1 prisoners have resulted in a very low number of trained Listeners, potentially impacting peer support for self-harm prevention. Source wording under review
Healthcare Repeated Poor communication, delayed provision of services, increased waiting lists (especially dental), and high DNA rates continue to be significant concerns within the healthcare service, exacerbated by facility disruptions. Source wording under review
Estate/Conditions Persistent problems with bed bugs on some units have resulted in a number of cells being out of order, impacting accommodation quality.
Safety A total of 216 incidents of prisoner violence, including 125 prisoner-on-prisoner and 37 staff assaults, occurred with YOs aged 18-21 involved in over half. Use of Force incidents also continued an upward trend, reaching 392. Source wording under review
Regime/Time Out of Cell Staff availability significantly impacted regime provision, leading to many prisoners spending up to 22 hours in cell daily if they lacked access to education or work, particularly on weekends and training days. Source wording under review

Recommendations

10 items · 5 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Other — minister

Is there any prospect of progress towards using fewer previously occupied single cells as doubles?

Repeated Source text verified

Response
The pressures on prison capacity continue, and one of the consequences remains the use of single cells to accommodate two prisoners. It is acknowledged, however, that the legislation to implement the ISR has yet to take effect.

Recorded status:

Topic: overcrowding

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Other — minister

Will the previous funding levels of prison education and training be restored?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: education

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Other — minister

Will increased efforts be made to tackle the shortage of planned housing provision on release?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: resettlement

Recommendation 4

Addressee: HMPPS

Is there scope within budget planning for an increase in face-to-face teaching provision?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: education

Recommendation 5

Addressee: HMPPS

Can anything be done to reduce further the failures to transfer their property when prisoners move establishments?

Repeated Source text verified

Response
In addition to national measures such as reminding Governors about compliance with volumetric control limits for property being transferred with the prisoner, Moorland works proactively to resolve issues where property has been left behind.

Recorded status:

Topic: other

Recommendation 6

Addressee: HMPPS

Could further specialised resettlement provision be considered for IPP prisoners who are poorly motivated or disengaged?

Repeated Source text verified

Response
The regional IPP Progression Board is overseeing implementation of the IPP Action Plan. In Moorland, there are fewer IPP prisoners than last year. However, there remain some prisoners who are demotivated or disengaged.

Recorded status:

Topic: resettlement

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Governor / Director

While we recognise the efforts already made by wing staff to identify prisoners who are suitable for training as Listeners, we would encourage exploration of other measures, particularly among Res 1 prisoners, where the number of trained Listeners is very low indeed.

Repeated Source text verified

Response
No formal response, but this remains of concern, particularly in relation to Res 1. We understand that the number of Res 1 Listeners is now so low that forthcoming releases may make it impossible to provide this service for Res 1 prisoners unless steps are urgently taken.

Recorded status:

Topic: mental_health

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Governor / Director

We understand that work is afoot to offer prisoners opportunities to gain qualifications in gardening and textiles. When will this be brought to fruition?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: education

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Governor / Director

Could training in basic domestic and life skills be delivered, e.g. via Connect TV?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: education

Recommendation 10

Addressee: Governor / Director

What further steps will be taken to improve the prison’s healthcare service?

Repeated Source text verified

Response
No formal response, but the Governor has kept us informed about his attempts to tackle the perceived shortcomings of the healthcare service.

Recorded status:

Topic: healthcare

Applications to the IMB

CategoryCurrentPrevious
Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions 25 17
Canteen, facility list, catalogues 17 6
Complaints 0 0
Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions 21 13
Equality 15 8
Finance, including pay, private monies, spends 16 7
Food and kitchens 9 12
Health, including physical, mental, social care 73 63
Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions 16 21
Miscellaneous 13 22
Property during transfer or in another facility 31 40
Property within the establishment 44 34
Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell 12 9
Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorisation 37 38
Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying 61 27
Transfers 15 8

Related inspections & investigations

13 Mar 2023 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 3 · Respect 3 · Activity 3 · Release 3
13 Mar 2023 HMIP · Unannounced
— PPO fatal incident Jeffrey Long · Natural causes
— PPO fatal incident Andrew Davies · Natural causes
— PPO fatal incident Richard Littlewood · Other non-natural
— PPO fatal incident Lee Booth
— PPO fatal incident Amjed Ali · Natural causes

Other reports for Moorland

2025 Published 31 Jul 2025 Population 1,021 · Self-harm 600 · Concerns
2024 Published 31 Jul 2024 Population 1,080 · Self-harm 528 · Concerns
2023 Published 11 Aug 2023 Population 1,058 · Self-harm 337 · Concerns
2022 Published 27 Jul 2022 Population 915 · Self-harm 385 · Concerns
2021 Published 12 Aug 2021 Population 955 · Self-harm 373 · Concerns
2020 Published 4 Aug 2020 Population 954 · Self-harm 477 · Concerns