Recommendations 19 items · 2 repeated
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.
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Safety · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board continues to be concerned that new prisons are being opened knowing that it will take two or three years for them to stabilise, with significant implications for the safety and humane treatment of prisoners during that period. This concern is further exacerbated when prisons are built in remote locations, where recruitment and retention challenges can be particularly acute. At what point will this be recognised as unacceptable, and what steps are being taken to ensure that more effective arrangements are put in place before new prisons open?
Government response (as published)
The Prisons Minister stated: 'Our experience from other prison openings is that it can take up to four years to meet its full potential, but during this period they should maintain stability and be making incremental improvements.' The Minister also acknowledged the compressed mobilisation but cited unprecedented demand for prison places. The Minister stated that the issue of vetting is being addressed.
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Staffing
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board is concerned about delays in the vetting process, which are affecting the recruitment of IMB members, as well as staffing across all organisations working at HMP Millsike. What action is being taken to address these delays, and by when does the Minister expect vetting times to return to a level that no longer hinders recruitment and the effective operation of the prison?
Government response (as published)
The Prisons Minister stated: 'I can assure the IMB that the issue of vetting is being addressed.'
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Despite the fact that design faults had been highlighted following the builds at HMP Fosse Way and HMP Five Wells, no changes were made to the design at HMP Millsike. Whilst the Board was informed that a ‘lessons learnt’ exercise was taking place in 2025 (and provided some limited input), no details have been received of the outcome Have any changes been made, or are any changes planned, to the design of future prison builds, including the next new prison being built by the Prison Service?
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Safety
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Given the fact that it was clear to the Board very early on that the mobilisation team had not completed all the work required before the prison was opened, why wasn’t the opening postponed? Whilst the Board was aware of the capacity problems in the prison estate at that time, opening the prison at that time resulted in prisoners being treated inhumanely, in our view.
Government response (as published)
Lord Timpson stated: 'I fully acknowledge that the mobilisation for HMP Millsike was compressed... However, the MoJ was facing unprecedented demand for prison places... There was a significant risk that postponing the opening could have worsened the overcrowding crisis.'
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board is concerned about the impact of the continued use of improvement notices. In the Board's view, senior leaders and managers are focusing on meeting action plan requirements rather than embedding stable day-to-day operations, which is contributing to a number of the issues raised in this report. How will the Prison Service ensure that improvement requirements support, rather than hinder, the long-term stability and development of new prisons?
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing
Recommendation (the Board's words)
How will the Prison Service ensure that HMP Millsike has sufficient time to recruit, retain and train staff, and establish effective resettlement services, before increasing capacity further, particularly given the implications for the Mitie Care & Custody contract?
Government response (as published)
Lord Timpson stated: 'Mitie has committed to ensuring that the current regime can be maintained as the prison continues to populate and that further regime enhancements will be implemented only once sufficient staff are in place.'
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Safety
Recommendation (the Board's words)
How is the Prison Service working with Mitie Care & Custody to balance commercial considerations with the safe ramp-up of the prison, and to ensure that prisoners are treated humanely throughout this process?
Government response (as published)
Lord Timpson stated: 'HMPPS will continue to work closely with Mitie to ensure that the ramp-up of the prison is managed safely and humanely.'
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board remains concerned about delays in the vetting process, which appear to be affecting both the recruitment of IMB members and staffing across organisations working at HMP Millsike. Could you the Prison Service provide an update on whether any steps are being taken to improve the situation, particularly given the Ministry of Justice’s contractual six-week timeframe for the vetting of Millsike staff?
Government response (as published)
Lord Timpson stated: 'HMPPS remains committed to reducing the current delays in vetting and returning to the contractual six-week timeframe.'
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Mental Health
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board is concerned that the service level agreement between the Samaritans and HMPPS for the delivery of Listener training does not include private prisons. This has resulted in a significant delay in the deployment of Listeners at HMP Millsike, which the Board finds unacceptable. Why are private prisons excluded from these arrangements, and what action will be taken to ensure timely access to Listener training in future?
Government response (as published)
Lord Timpson stated: 'I am pleased to inform you that HMPPS and Samaritans have agreed on a way forward to ensure that private prisons are included in the Listener scheme.'
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Safety
Recommendation (the Board's words)
When planning new prisons, how is consideration being given to the implementation of the Crime in Prison Referral Agreement, given concerns that the current process may present particular challenges for private prisons?
Government response (as published)
Lord Timpson acknowledged concerns regarding the CiPRA for private prisons and stated HMPPS is working with providers.
Addressee: Other, other · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board considers that the mobilisation process was inadequate in several key areas, contributing to confusion and operational problems. In our view, weaknesses in mobilisation were a significant factor in many of the issues experienced at HMP Millsike. Has Mitie Care & Custody reviewed the successes and failures of the mobilisation process, and what changes have been made as a result?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Provision of equipment and supplies was, and still is, disorganised, on the Board’s view. What is the Director planning to do to ensure that orders and supplies are sent to the required departments with no delay?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Safety
Recommendation (the Board's words)
What action is being taken to resolve the issue with privacy keys on the wings and to ensure that all prisoners are issued with a key without further delay?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Mental Health
Recommendation (the Board's words)
When will Listeners be trained and deployed at the prison?
Government response (as published)
Lord Timpson stated: 'Listener training is scheduled to commence at HMP Millsike shortly, with the first cohort expected to be fully deployed by June 2026.'
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
What is planned to improve the processes required as part of the Incentives Policy Framework?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Complaints
Recommendation (the Board's words)
How will the Director ensure that the recent improvements in complaint handling and response times are sustained?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Complaints
Recommendation (the Board's words)
When will the backlog of property and residential complaints be cleared, and how will progress be sustained until then?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Resettlement
Recommendation (the Board's words)
As staffing levels improve, what steps will be taken to ensure that resettlement is given the priority expected of a resettlement prison?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
When will a full-time IMB clerk be put in place to carry out all aspects of the role set out in the MoU between HMPPS and the IMB, including raising staff awareness of the Board and its work?