Source · IMB Annual Report
Werrington
Year: 2025
Published: 4 Feb 2026
Type: Prison · Cat YOI
Population: 84
Recommendations: 17
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMYOI Werrington saw a decrease in self-harm and ACCT cases, and improvements in conflict resolution and education delivery. However, the Board remains very concerned about the continued high level of violence, a further increase in self-isolation, and the rise in use of force incidents. Time out of room continues to be poor, and illicit drug ingress remains problematic, alongside significant delays in staff vetting.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Self-harm incidents | 56 | 136 |
| ACCT cases opened | 70 | 93 |
| Prisoner assaults | 185 | 154 |
| Assaults on staff | 131 | 150 |
| Use of force | 846 | 768 |
| Drug finds | 26 | 24 |
Positive findings
The Board saw further improvements in conflict resolution and reducing reoffending which has allowed more young people to mix. There was a significant decrease in self-harm and ACCT plans, and management and youth justice workers continued to show care. Healthcare provision was good, with early positive signs in the implementation of the Framework for Integrated Care, and significant improvements in education delivery. Resettlement efforts were impressive, and the Board welcomed regular welfare checks and the reintroduction of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Key concerns
Safety
Repeated
As with last year, the Board remains very concerned about the general level of violence. We are particularly worried about the severity of some incidents, as well as the number of fights and assaults.
Safety
Repeated
We observed a further increase in self-isolation, which remains a concern.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Although there have been improvements, time out of room continued to be poor, especially in the evenings and at weekends.
Safety
The Board is concerned about the increase in the use of force.
Substance Misuse
The ingress of illicit drugs has been problematic this year.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
although we remain concerned about the provision of wing education and support for higher-level learners.
Staffing
delays in the vetting process, which are significantly impacting the timely commencement of staff and IMB members
Healthcare
children with complex needs sent to Werrington when there are no specialist facilities available
Healthcare
it is so time-consuming to get them transferred
Estate/Conditions
inadequate car parking provision
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The Board is, again, very disappointed that young people could not, at the start of the reporting period, access books other than the tattered few on the wings... appointing and retaining library staff remains problematic, so access is often restricted.
Resettlement/Release
It is disappointing that a number of transfers are confirmed very late in the day, which prevents much of this communication taking place as intended and means that some young people are not well-prepared for this next step.
Resettlement/Release
The Board is concerned that only six young people undertook 99 episodes of ROTL (release on temporary licence) in the reporting year, compared with 16 young people completing 80 episodes last year.
Estate/Conditions
The Board is concerned, however, that there is no reception area for visitors to wait.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The lack of easily accessible data remains a source of frustration to the Board
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The process of getting young people to and from classes is risk-based to take account of keep-aparts. Although there have been improvements, it remains very time-consuming and reduces lesson time
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
the provision of wing-based education for separated young people remains inadequate. Whilst the number of separated children at any one time can fluctuate widely, this position is further hampered by the lack of suitable rooms on the wings
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
classes are cancelled because prison or education staff are not available. Cancellations throughout this reporting period have been unacceptable, with 40-80 cancellations each month between March and August 2025.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
whilst many of the young people at Werrington may have been out of mainstream education for some time, there are a number who can achieve at a higher level. We are told that this can now be supported but have yet to see any evidence
Food/Catering
Repeated
the food remained generally good, but the small portions were criticised by many young people.
Segregation
Repeated
when a Board member is not available to observe [R49 review meetings], the paperwork is still not being forwarded to us on a regular basis. This issue has been raised with the Governing Governor and the Deputy Governor on several occasion but remains problematic, despite reminders being issued.
Staffing
Repeated
in general, protracted conversations and warm communication between young people and officers on a day-to-day basis were not often observed by the Board. It continues to be difficult to see how meaningful conversations could be achieved through locked doors. It is also impossible for young people to confide anything confidential, as every word they say would be overheard by their neighbours and staff passing by.
Safety
Repeated
Whilst the Board has been pleased to see a reduction in the number of 18 year olds held at Werrington, this remains a safeguarding concern.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The Board continues to be concerned that opportunities for evening association for all young people are poor, whilst at the weekends time out of room remains especially low. Opportunities for socialising are an important part of rehabilitation.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Given the risk of young people being assaulted by their peers, what measures will the Minister implement to safeguard those convicted of sexual offences, and does this include the provision of dedicated, separate accommodation? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | What assurance can the Minister give the Board that young people serving long sentences will be transferred without delay to the adult estate on turning 18, and what systems are in place to guarantee compliance with this requirement? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | What immediate steps will the Minister take to address the delays in the vetting process, which are significantly impacting the timely commencement of staff and IMB members, and how will the system be reformed to prevent future backlogs? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 4 | What steps are being taken to ensure the continuous delivery of library provision? | Other | |
| 5 | Why are children with complex needs sent to Werrington when there are no specialist facilities available? And why is it so time-consuming to get them transferred? How will this be improved? | HMPPS | |
| 6 | Can the Board be assured that sufficient staffing will be allocated to ensure successful delivery of the Roadmap to Effective Practice? | HMPPS | |
| 7 | What steps will be taken to reduce late evening arrivals? | HMPPS | |
| 8 | How are interventions programmes evaluated and what evidence is there of their success? | HMPPS | |
| 9 | Is there sufficient financial support for families to visit young people when they are located far from home? | HMPPS | |
| 10 | Has consideration been given to the possible benefit of regularly gathering feedback from young people about their YOI experience as they are leaving or transferring to the adult estate? | HMPPS | |
| 11 | Can the Board be assured that budget support for the provision of appropriate visitor reception facilities will be made available in the next reporting year? | HMPPS | |
| 12 | How can self-isolators, who fear mixing, be better supported to access a full regime? | Governor / Director | |
| 13 | What more will be done to incentivise good behaviour and give more association to young people on enhanced status? | Governor / Director | |
| 14 | How will the induction programme be improved to ensure all young people understand how to access basic services within the first 24 hours? | Governor / Director | |
| 15 | What steps will be taken to increase the inadequate car parking provision? | Governor / Director | |
| 16 | Can the Board be assured that all R49 paperwork will be emailed to members for review? | Governor / Director | |
| 17 | What further steps will be taken to prevent illicit items (particularly cannabis) entering the prison and being passed among young people? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 2 | 12 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives schemes, sanctions | 5 | 5 |
| Equality | 0 | 0 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 3 | 0 |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 0 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 1 | 0 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 2 | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | 18 | 13 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 1 | 0 |
| Property within the establishment | 1 | 1 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 11 | 12 |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, recategorisation | 0 | 1 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 6 | 3 |
| Transfers | 1 | 1 |
Other reports for Werrington
Report details
- Establishment
- Werrington
- Type
- Prison · Cat YOI
- Report year
- 2025
- Published
- 4 February 2026
- Responsible body
- Werrington
- Recommendations
- 17
Population
| Population | 84 |
| Operational capacity | 118 |
| CNA (designed for) | 1,181 7% |
| Time out of cell | 3.6h/day |
Service providers
Advocacy
Barnardo’s
Dental health
Time for Teeth
Education and purposeful activity
People Plus
Estate management
Amey
Mental health/substance misuse
Inclusion (Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)
Physical healthcare
Practice Plus Group
Social work services and library provision
Staffordshire County Council