Source · IMB Annual Report

Cardiff IMB

AI-generated report summary Overall, HMP Cardiff has seen positive developments in safety, with significant reductions in self-harm and use of force incidents, and successful digital platform implementation. However, the prison continues to grapple with severe staffing shortages, particularly in healthcare, and the physical estate remains in poor condition, affecting prisoners with mobility issues and access to basic amenities. Concerns persist regarding delays in mental health transfers, lack of secure medication storage, and the underperformance of the key worker scheme.

Year: 2025 Published: 30 Jan 2026 Type: Prison · Cat B Recommendations: 10 Key concerns Positive findings

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody2
Self-harm incidents295595
ACCT cases opened649629
Prisoner assaults214283
Use of force641852

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The Board welcomes the significant 50% reduction in self-harm incidents (to 295) and the 25% decrease in use of force incidents (to 641), along with a 23% reduction in violence. They commend the progress in cell refurbishment, including the introduction of a 'reduced mobility cell'. The successful implementation of the Launchpad digital platform and high prisoner satisfaction are noted. Positive developments in healthcare include the completion of the Health and Social Care Needs Analysis and new pragmatic GP arrangements for medication reviews. The decision to retain the 'Here 2 Help' peer programme, strong performance in learning and skills, and the opening of a wellbeing centre are also highlighted.

Key concerns

12 items
Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated The Board reiterates its concern, expressed last year, about out-of-area prisoners arriving at HMP Cardiff late, which delays the reception process. Source wording under review
Estate/Conditions Repeated The Board reiterates the concerns from previous reports about the prison's conditions, including the lack of out-of-cell space for eating; ongoing problems with heating and hot water; and inadequate accessibility for prisoners with mobility problems. Source wording under review
Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated The Board reiterates that the prison needs to prioritise the key worker scheme. Source wording under review
Staffing Staffing has continued to be a major problem, especially the lack of availability of nurses. Source wording under review
Staffing Background vetting of staff was still a problem in relation to recruitment and induction of staff. Source wording under review
Healthcare Un pryder penodol i'r Bwrdd oedd nad oedd staff nyrsio yn cael eu proffilio i fynd i'r dderbynfa tan y prynhawn, a oedd yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar garcharorion sy'n dod i mewn ac aelodau eraill o staff.
Mental Health Fodd bynnag, rydym yn poeni am y rhestrau aros i garcharorion gael gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl ac, yn benodol, y gostyngiad o saith i chwe sesiwn seiciatrig yr wythnos tuag at ddiwedd y cyfnod adrodd.
Mental Health Mae'r Bwrdd hefyd yn dal i boeni am yr amser mae'n ei gymryd i rai carcharorion gael eu trosglwyddo i leoliad iechyd meddwl addas.
Mental Health Mae'r Bwrdd yn dymuno tynnu sylw at ganfyddiadau'r Asesiad o Anghenion Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, a nododd fod lefelau staffio iechyd meddwl yn isel o'u cymharu â charchardai tebyg eraill.
Estate/Conditions Mae'r Bwrdd yn ymwybodol o gyflwr gwael yr ystâd mewn rhai ardaloedd a'r gwaith parhaus o gau adeiladau sydd wedi'u marcio ar gyfer eu dymchwel, sydd wedi effeithio ar ddarparu dysgu a sgiliau.
Equality/Diversity Repeated Unwaith eto, mae'r Bwrdd yn mynegi ei bryder bod CEF Caerdydd yn anaddas ar y cyfan i garcharorion ag anabledd a/neu broblemau symudedd.
Complaints/Property Complaints about lost prisoner property and the way prisoner property is dealt with have increased slightly, compared to the previous reporting period. Source wording under review

Recommendations

10 items · 4 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

Pa gamau fydd y Gweinidog yn eu cymryd ar unwaith i fynd i'r afael â'r oedi yn y broses archwilio, sy'n rhwystr sylweddol wrth recriwtio staff carchardai ac aelodau'r Bwrdd Monitro Annibynnol?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Staffing

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

Pryd fydd y Gweinidog yn codi gyda'r Swyddfa Gartref yr angen i ddatrys statws hawl i weithio staff carchardai, fel y gallant barhau i gael eu cyflogi gan y Gwasanaeth Carchardai?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Staffing

Recommendation 3

Addressee: HMPPS

Beth yw'r amserlen ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â chyflwr gwael rhannau o ystâd y carchar, cau parhaus yr adeiladau sydd wedi'u marcio ar gyfer eu dymchwel, a phroblemau parhaus gyda seilwaith sylfaenol fel gwresogi, dŵr poeth a ffonau?

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 4

Addressee: NHS / Healthcare Provider

Sut gall Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro weithio gyda Charchar Caerdydd a'r adran gofal iechyd i liniaru'r effaith y mae anfon carcharorion allan i'r ysbyty yn ei chael ar staffio’r carchar a'r drefn, o ystyried yr angen cynyddol am hebryngwyr?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 5

Addressee: NHS / Healthcare Provider

Sut bydd y Bwrdd Iechyd yn sicrhau bod archwiliadau presgripsiynu yng Ngharchar Caerdydd yn cael eu datrys yn gyflym, o ystyried bod trefniant rhannu swydd y fferyllwyr yn atal archwiliadau yn y carchar?

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 6

Addressee: NHS / Healthcare Provider

Pa gamau fydd y Bwrdd Iechyd yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r oedi cyn i garcharorion gael gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, gan gynnwys sesiynau seiciatrig, sy'n is o'u cymharu â chyfleusterau eraill, fel y nodwyd yn yr Asesiad o Anghenion Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol?

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Mental_Health

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Governor / Director

Sut bydd y carchar yn sicrhau bod lle storio y gellir ei gloi yn cael ei ddarparu i garcharorion sydd â meddyginiaeth ‘yn eu meddiant’ i helpu i leihau’r risg y bydd carcharorion eraill yn cael gafael ar feddyginiaeth heb ei bresgripsiynu?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Safety

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Governor / Director

Sut bydd y carchar yn gweithio gyda chyngor Caerdydd i sefydlu proses gofal cymdeithasol ffurfiol a chadarn, o ystyried nad oes un yn bodoli, fel yr amlygwyd yn yr Asesiad o Anghenion Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Governor / Director

Sut bydd y trafodaethau hyn yn cael eu datrys ddechrau 2026 i gefnogi system gweithwyr allweddol gwell yng Ngharchar Caerdydd.

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 10

Addressee: Governor / Director

Sut mae'r carchar yn bwriadu gwneud ymweliadau'n fwy cynhwysol i garcharorion ac ymwelwyr niwrowahanol?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality