Source · IMB Annual Report
Stocken
Year: 2025
Published: 31 Oct 2025
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 1,264
Recommendations: 5
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Stocken, a Category C training prison, maintained a generally safe environment for prisoners and staff during the reporting year, despite an increased population. The Board highlights persistent concerns including delays in mental health transfers, the loss of prisoner property due to inconsistent volumetric controls, and an insufficient number of cells for disabled prisoners. Positive developments include improved ACCT interactions, increased staff diversity, and effective key working, though staffing challenges and drone activity impacting regime remain.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 4 | 3 |
| Self-harm incidents | 718 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 290 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 68 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 71 | — |
| Use of force | 484 | — |
Positive findings
HMP Stocken is generally a safe place for both prisoners and staff, with physical health provision considered as good as that in the community. The quality of interactions between staff and prisoners on ACCTs has improved, and the diligence of staff in identifying illicit drug sources is commended. Processes for self-isolating prisoners have improved, and the ethnic diversity of prison officers continues to increase. The Board acknowledges the invaluable contribution of the chaplaincy team and notes improvements in complaint responses and the introduction of a social prescribing link worker. Adjudications are conducted well, and progress with DIRFs is seen as a strength of the prison. The Minister also praised the leadership's clear vision and efforts to support prisoners nearing release.
Key concerns
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Prisoners’ excess personal property continues to be lost or mislaid due to 'sending prisons' not enforcing volumetric property controls.
Mental Health
Repeated
It takes too long to transfer prisoners with mental health problems to secure mental health facilities, often resulting in prolonged stays in the CSU.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
An increasing number of prisoners held out of area, coupled with the prison's rural location, makes maintaining family ties difficult.
Safety
Repeated
A lack of ‘enhanced’ gate security equipment at HMP Stocken remains a concern, despite being one of the larger public-run prisons.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
There is an insufficient number of cells suitable for prisoners with disability or mobility issues, especially given the ageing prison population, with new wings lacking such provision.
Other
Certain prisoners held in the CSU on suspicion of illicit activities are not sufficiently briefed by the security department about the reasons for their investigation.
Equality/Diversity
Some members of the SMT don’t seem to be fully committed to the aims of the equality and diversity department, particularly in regard to the implications of the wealth of data available on a monthly basis.
Other
Recruiting and maintaining prisoner representatives is difficult due to constant prisoner movements.
Healthcare
The healthcare unit experienced high staff turnover leading to long delays in responding to prisoner applications/complaints.
Healthcare
Issues have been reported with the newly opened pharmacy, particularly concerning reliance on agency staff.
Estate/Conditions
The oldest wings of the prison are showing signs of age, requiring repairs and refurbishment.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Time out of cells in the late afternoon/evening has been restricted due to increased drone activity, impacting the regime.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Given that HMP Stocken is one of the larger public-run prisons in England, when is ‘enhanced’ gate security going to be improved with up-to-date equipment?
Repeated
Response
I have read your report carefully and note your request for an update on Enhanced Gate Security (EGS). EGS is one of the priorities of both the Governor and Prison Group Director with funding and resources being made available earlier this year. However, the quote to complete the work far exceeded the funding agreed. The physical space inside the gate house is simply too small to fit all of the equipment and associated infrastructure. Therefore, either sizeable building works were required, or the installation of a modular unit to accommodate everything required. This scope increased the costs to well above the financial threshold approved. However, an x-ray baggage scanner was provided to the prison in February 2024 to enhance HMP Stocken’s prisoner property searching capabilities. |
Other | In progress |
| 2 |
With the ageing prison population, when are more cells suitable for those with disability or mobility issues going to be made available? Even on the new wing opened last year, there are no ‘disabled’ cells, only two ‘low mobility’ cells, which can’t accommodate a hospital bed.
Repeated
Response
It is recognised that the rise in the number of older prisoners over the past 20 years has caused issues for some prisons, particularly around their often complex health and social care needs. The physical prison estate can present challenges for this cohort, and the new prison places we are building are accessible by design and will significantly increase the number of cells adapted to the needs of those with mobility issues and physical disabilities across the estate. At HMP Stocken there are a number of accessible cells available that are occupied by prisoners on the recommendation of healthcare, based on the level of need. There are also a number of other reasonable adjustments (e.g. fitted hand rails) that have been made to standard cells to support prisoners with varying needs. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 3 |
Until ‘sending prisons’ are required to apply volumetric controls, property in excess of these will continue to be mislaid or lost. When will the Prison Service enforce its own restrictions on transferring prisoners?
Repeated
Response
HMPPS note the Board’s concerns about the handling of prisoners’ property. The findings in the IMB national thematic report on how property loss impacts on prisoners, as well as those received from Independent Prisoner Complaint Investigations following a thematic review of the property complaints they have received in the last five years, are being considered. Since receiving the reports, Governors and other senior leaders have been reminded of the most important property handling points. This includes the need to ensure compliance with volumetric control limits. Consultation is taking place with prisons on further areas raised in the reports. Locally, HMP Stocken has put measures in place to limit the amount of property that prisoners can have in possession, including not accepting perishable items such as consumables. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 4 | The Board is concerned that certain prisoners held in the CSU on suspicion that they are involved in illicit activities within the prison are not sufficiently briefed by the security department about the reasons why they are under investigation. | Governor / Director | |
| 5 |
It takes too long to transfer mentally ill prisoners to secure mental health facilities. This often means that they have to be held in the care and separation unit (CSU) for their own safety for extended periods of time.
Repeated
Response
The Ministry is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to introduce a Mental Health Bill as soon as possible. This will introduce reforms to improve access and support for patients in the criminal justice system, bearing in mind the pressures on such services nationally. NHS England will continue to escalate the demands for places within the prison population. |
Ministry of Justice |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 19 | 12 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 1 | 11 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 20 | 19 |
| Equality | 8 | 5 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | 18 |
| Food and kitchens | 4 | 3 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 62 | 39 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 25 | 23 |
| Miscellaneous | 1 | 5 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 53 | 52 |
| Property within the establishment | 34 | 27 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 20 | 8 |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, recategorisation | 37 | 38 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 19 | 27 |
| Transfers | 18 | 16 |
Related inspections & investigations
16 Jan 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 3
· Activity 2
· Release 3
Other reports for Stocken
Report details
- Establishment
- Stocken
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2025
- Published
- 31 October 2025
- Responsible body
- HMP Stocken
- Recommendations
- 5
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 1,264 |
| Operational capacity | 1,285 |
Service providers
Counselling services
Anita Keene Counselling services
Dental health
Time for Teeth
Education
People Plus
Healthcare, mental health and drug rehabilitation services
Practice Plus Group
Library services
Rutland County Council
Voluntary services
Samaritans