Source · IMB Annual Report

Norwich

Year: 2025 Published: 7 Oct 2025 Type: Prison · Cat B, C, D, local, YOI Population: 773 Recommendations: 20 Key concerns Positive findings

HMP/YOI Norwich continues to face significant challenges with persistent violence, self-harm, and the dilapidated state of its infrastructure, particularly the segregation unit. While staff are commended for their care and some improvements are noted in reception processes and family contact, systemic issues like overcrowding, delays in mental health transfers, and lack of purposeful activity for vulnerable groups undermine progress. The Board raises critical questions about policy, resourcing, and equitable treatment, highlighting a pressing need for a safer and more humane environment.

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year

Indicator	This year	Previous
Deaths in custody	4	5
ACCT cases opened	102	—
Prisoner assaults	256	319
Assaults on staff	134	151

Positive findings

The Board acknowledges staff's commitment to maintaining safety despite challenges, with improvements in reception and induction processes to support vulnerable prisoners. A zero-tolerance policy on violent behaviour and a violence reduction landing have shown a deterrent effect, leading to a decline in assaults. Healthcare provision is generally in line with the community, with mental health services deemed equivalent and the Platinum Suite enhancing wellbeing. Significant progress has been made in maintaining family contact, supported by Ormiston Families, and the category D site successfully secures employment for most eligible prisoners upon release.

Key concerns

67 items

Safety Violence in the prison continues to be a concern for the Board and the presence of alcohol, drugs and other prohibited items creates a potentially dangerous environment for both prisoners and prison staff.

Safety A lack of effective perimeter prison security measures makes this a challenging issue to resolve.

Safety Self-harm continues to be a concern.

Safety Assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) documents (used to support prisoners who are at risk of self-harm and suicide) continue to be of variable quality with observations missing, conversations not meaningful and supervisors’ checks not taking place.

Estate/Conditions From the Board’s observations, dilapidated buildings with leaking roofs, broken heating, faulty lighting, and washing machine failures have continued to undermine the efforts of staff and management to make the prison a place of safety and reform.

Segregation The segregation building is not up to standard. The Board feels that it would be inappropriate to refer to it as a care and separation unit.

Equality/Diversity Some prisoners with mobility issues are housed in inappropriate accommodation, making it difficult for them to access showers and serveries

Other There are several foreign national men detained at HMP/YOI Norwich beyond the expiry of their sentence.

Mental Health Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum condition (autism) referrals were being rejected by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust as the environment was unstable.

Regime/Time Out of Cell Although weekly payments to prisoners for work or education have been increased, the increase was not in line with inflation, resulting in some prisoners having a disproportionately lower income as a result.

Regime/Time Out of Cell The location of the centralised library within category B prison means that prisoners’ attendance at the library is heavily dependent on the availability of officers to accompany them. It is not always possible for prisoners with mobility issues to leave their wings to reach it.

Education/Purposeful Activity Prisoners not proficient in English and maths are prevented from working towards any vocational qualifications.

Resettlement/Release 25% of prisoners released in January 2025 were homeless.

Other Repeated Will the Minister please explain why foreign national men continue to be detained in prison beyond the expiry of their sentence instead of being transferred to an immigration removal centre?

Education/Purposeful Activity Will the Minister please explain why neither offending behaviour programmes nor accredited interventions to allow progression to release from prison are provided within HMP/YOI Norwich?

Safety Will the Minister please explain why assaults on prison officers are not treated as seriously as those on other emergency workers?

Safety Will the Minister explain why serious offences such as possession of a mobile phone, supplying, or intent to supply drugs or alcohol within the prison are not acted upon by the Norfolk Police/CPS?

Estate/Conditions Repeated Will the Prison Service please explain why there will not be a full overhaul of the boilers and heating systems in HMP/YOI Norwich until ongoing projects have been completed?

Segregation Repeated Will the Prison Service explain why there are currently no plans to improve the Segregation Unit?

Safety Will the Prison Service please advise when a complete overhaul of the current perimeter security surveillance equipment will take place?

Equality/Diversity What action will the Governor take to ensure that prisoners with disabilities and older prisoners have the same access to jobs, education and gym as the other prisoners?

Equality/Diversity Please may the Governor explain why other groups are not represented at the Diversity and Inclusion Action Team (DIAT) meeting?

Equality/Diversity Would the Governor please explain why statistics for prisoners identifying as having a disability are not analysed within use of force reports?

Safety Repeated The Board still has concerns about ACCT documents. What action will the Governor take to ensure further improvements in the management of the ACCT process and completion of documents by staff?

Equality/Diversity ACCT reviews involving prisoners who do not speak English are difficult. Although a phone translation service, The Big Word, is used, reviews are conducted in busy offices and constantly disturbed. What action will be taken to improve the quality of such reviews?

Regime/Time Out of Cell The Board is concerned about the lack of process reintegrating prisoners who self-isolate back into the normal prison regime. What action will the Governor take to rectify the situation?

Other There are currently no ‘baby bonding’ sessions (aimed at introducing prisoners to newborn babies) for prisoners on the category B site, following the removal of facilities in 2023. When will these important sessions be reinstated?

Regime/Time Out of Cell What action will the Governor take to ensure that all prisoners are offered at least one hour of gym a week? Sessions are regularly cancelled due to shortages of staff.

Healthcare To assist the Board monitor health and wellbeing in the prison, could the Governor please ensure that copies of the following reports are provided: HCRG quality reports and clinical governance reports. Minutes from Norfolk Prison Health and Partnership board meetings. Social care reports. Minutes from medicines management meeting.

Mental Health Repeated Why are prisoners with severe mental health issues or learning difficulties still being held in custody?

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated When will a realistic minimum rate for prisoners’ pay be set under Prison Service Order (PSO) 4460, with corresponding increases made to prison budgets?

Segregation Repeated When will the new policy framework relating to prisoners in segregation be published?

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated Why are there are no adequate local laundry facilities in HMP/YOI Norwich?

Segregation No plans have been presented to improve and expand the segregation unit, particularly given the expansion of HMP/YOI Norwich in 2025/26.

Segregation There is only one operational shower in segregation. If it is contaminated or out of order, prisoners cannot have a shower until repairs are completed.

Mental Health Repeated The Board is concerned that prisoners with mental health issues continue to be held in the segregation unit, as there is no other suitable place of safety should they be violent and disruptive. Prisoners due to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act were also held there for some time because there were delays in them being sectioned.

Segregation Repeated There is little to occupy the segregated prisoners except for limited in-cell education packs, access to a radio, and regular access to the library trolley at mealtimes and distraction packs.

Segregation Some prisoners are deliberately disruptive because they prefer to be segregated rather than be on the main wings. This makes the unit a preferred location rather than a deterrent.

Segregation There are not enough hours under the library contract with Suffolk Libraries to include the segregation unit. It is totally reliant on donations of reading material.

Segregation Prisoners are still complaining that there is a delay in their property moving with them to their new location and that it is frequently lost in transit.

Segregation Phone sets (handset and cable) are available to prisoners when required to make personal and legal calls. Due to the phone connection points being outside of the cells, cables must be connected between the cell door and door frame. As the length of the cable is too short, calls may only be made or taken by the prisoner standing close to the door. This presents issues with confidentiality and problems when documents need to be accessed or notes taken. Cables are frequently damaged when caught between the door and door frame. Because the phone sets only come as a single unit, frequently there is not enough spare cables. This has prevented prisoners from having timely access to their phone calls leading to the potential for an escalation in unreasonable behaviour.

Staffing Despite its relaunch, the key worker process in HMP/YOI Norwich has still not functioned as it should in the Board’s view.

Staffing Prisoners knowing who their personal officer is has dropped significantly to 27% in the most recent questionnaire (48% 2023/24).

Other Only 37% of prisoners who responded to the IMB questionnaire had easy access to Governor’s notices.

Equality/Diversity There are continuing inequities regarding access to work opportunities. For example, prisoners with disabilities and older prisoners who don’t have adjustments made for them to be able to work.

Equality/Diversity Statistics are not analysed for those with disabilities. The Board has been informed that this is because there are low numbers of prisoners with disabilities. This does not appear to be the case as illustrated by figures provided earlier in this section.

Equality/Diversity Prisoners with reduced mobility on the wings struggle to get their meals and with other daily activities. There are no lifts on B and C wings and the only lift on A wing remains out of action.

Equality/Diversity The healthcare wing remains without a specially adapted shower for prisoners with disabilities.

Equality/Diversity Dedicated gym sessions are not available for prisoners with disabilities.

Equality/Diversity Foreign national prisoners do not always understand prisoner correspondence, relying on other prisoners to translate for them.

Equality/Diversity The Big Word is used by staff for ACCT reviews, however, it is not generally used for other interactions with prisoners, such as routine conversations, or when the prisoner is interacting with listeners.

Healthcare Patient confidentiality, the removal of prisoner complaints from the prison complaints system and difficulty accessing performance data from the providers HCRG Care Group (HCRG) and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (the trust) have resulted in the Board having limited insight into the standard of care within the prison.

Healthcare The February 2025 clinical governance report states that safety audits for the second year running showed inconsistency in checking, and the absence of some emergency equipment and drugs in the emergency bags particularly in A, B and C wings.

Healthcare In the June 2024, clinical governance report, concerns raised by health care staff regarding access to prisoners at night were noted.

Healthcare There are complaints from prisoners regarding access to appointments with healthcare professionals due to delays, cancellations and the lack of availability of officers to escort prisoners to their appointment within the prison.

Healthcare Prisoners requiring occupational therapy as part of primary care are unable to access it within the prison estate.

Mental Health Self-isolation is having a detrimental effect on the mental health of prisoners.

Mental Health Despite significant prison expansion, anticipated funding for only one more mental health nurse has been agreed. Two other posts have been rejected.

Mental Health In the IMB questionnaire, only 44% of prisoners who responded found it easy to access mental health support.

Healthcare Applications have been received during the year, with prisoners complaining either about the complete lack of access to social care assessments or significant waiting times before these take place.

Regime/Time Out of Cell The category B site gym was closed for several months until April 2025, contravening Prison Rule 29, which states that prisoners over the age of 21 should be given the opportunity to participate in one hour of physical education each week.

Regime/Time Out of Cell Prisoners working in kitchens and the market garden state that they do not get enough time out of cell for domestics (showers, etc). They must shower immediately upon their return to the wings making them late collecting their meals from the servery because there is insufficient time for showers afterward.

Regime/Time Out of Cell 59% of prisoners responding to the IMB questionnaire felt that they got enough time out of their cell for domestic chores and exercise, down from 63% in 2023/24.

Substance Misuse Resumption of drug testing has statistically shown an increase in drug usage and a wider variation of new types of drugs, not all of which can be detected successfully.

Education/Purposeful Activity On the main site there are few opportunities to gain qualifications which would increase employability on release. The warehousing qualification offered in the printshop has been cancelled. There are a number of in-house qualifications, but these are not recognised outside the establishment.

Other Prisoners transferred in from other prisons do not get emergency credit. They are required to be reassessed for literacy and numeracy before being eligible for employment. This can take some time which restricts their ability to work. If they have no other access to funds, they are unable to buy canteen or speak with family using the phone.

Resettlement/Release With prison places at a premium, the ability to transfer out of a local prison for sentenced prisoners is now more difficult. This results in delays in accessing important courses needed for their sentence management plans because there are no courses to assist offenders in their rehabilitation in HMP/YOI Norwich.

Recommendations

20 items · 8 repeated

#	Recommendation	Addressee	Status
1	Will the Minister please explain why foreign national men continue to be detained in prison beyond the expiry of their sentence instead of being transferred to an immigration removal centre? Repeated Response I have read your report with care and recognise your concerns about the timely transfer of foreign national men to Immigration Removal Centres (IRC). We work closely with the Home Office to ensure that a foreign national offender’s removal by deportation coincides, as far as possible, with their release from prison on completion of sentence. For reasons of security and control, where a foreign national offender (FNO) is assessed as not being suitable for transfer to the more open regime of an IRC, they will remain in prison accommodation on completion of their sentence, until such time as they can be removed or released on bail. When an individual is deemed unsuitable for a transfer to an IRC, their cases continue to be regularly reviewed, noting that changes in circumstances can impact this decision and individuals may, on re-assessment, then be considered suitable and accepted for transfer into an IRC.	Ministry of Justice	Noted
2	Will the Minister please explain why neither offending behaviour programmes nor accredited interventions to allow progression to release from prison are provided within HMP/YOI Norwich? Response In response to your question regarding offending behaviour programmes, this provision is reviewed on an annual basis and seeks to adjust delivery to meet the identified needs of the population. Investment decisions are based on a site having sufficient demand to warrant investment of a delivery team. Nationally, delivery of accredited programmes for people convicted of sexual offences has expanded, increasing places available for any prisoners at HMPYOI Norwich to be transferred to, when identified. HMPPS are currently implementing a new accredited programme (Building Choices) across existing delivery sites which will provide greater flexibility to meet demand. Future investment decisions will be kept under review, with the opportunity remaining open to implement ‘Building Choices’ at HMP Norwich if there is sufficient demand across the population.	Ministry of Justice	In progress
3	Will the Minister please explain why assaults on prison officers are not treated as seriously as those on other emergency workers? Response All assaults on prison officers are unacceptable and steps have been taken to improve justice outcomes for these brave staff. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 doubled the maximum penalty for assaulting emergency workers, including prison officers, to two years, sending a clear signal that assaults on our emergency workers will not be tolerated. While charging decisions rest with the CPS, recent changes mean that for offences referred after 1 May 2025, a broader range of charges will be considered, including Actual Body Harm (ABH) and Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).	Ministry of Justice	Implemented
4	Will the Minister explain why serious offences such as possession of a mobile phone, supplying, or intent to supply drugs or alcohol within the prison are not acted upon by the Norfolk Police/CPS? Response Justice outcomes for offences like drug supply or mobile phone possession depend on meeting evidential and public interest thresholds. Alcohol possession is managed internally. Efforts are underway to strengthen evidence gathering and referral consistency to support more effective police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) action. Locally, I am aware that a weekly meeting with the local constabulary takes place to ensure all parties are following the ‘Crime in Prison Referral Agreement’ which is available to view on the GOV.UK website.	Ministry of Justice	In progress
5	Will the Prison Service please explain why there will not be a full overhaul of the boilers and heating systems in HMP/YOI Norwich until ongoing projects have been completed? Repeated Response The need for improvements to the heating systems are recognised and will be considered as and when funding becomes available. A bid to replace the OMU boiler has been received and is in the early stages of development. Extra portable radiators are available to deploy when required.	HMPPS	In progress
6	Will the Prison Service explain why there are currently no plans to improve the Segregation Unit? Repeated Response There are currently no plans in place to improve the segregation unit at HMP Norwich	HMPPS	Rejected
7	Will the Prison Service please advise when a complete overhaul of the current perimeter security surveillance equipment will take place? Response Surveys are taking place locally to inform a bid for a CCTV project to upgrade and link to the control room, which will be considered for funding in future years. A project is also currently in the early stages of design and development to replace security lighting. Subject to the outcome of surveys, it is anticipated that this lighting project will be completed within the current financial year.	HMPPS	In progress
8	What action will the Governor take to ensure that prisoners with disabilities and older prisoners have the same access to jobs, education and gym as the other prisoners?	Governor / Director
9	The Board observes that only prisoner representatives from the black, Asian and minority ethnic group attend the diversity and inclusion action team (DIAT) meeting. In February 2025, 13% of the population identified as black, Asian and minority ethnic, 33% of prisoners identified as having a disability, and 15% of prisoners were over 50 years old. Please may the Governor explain why other groups are not represented at the meeting?	Governor / Director
10	Would the Governor please explain why statistics for prisoners identifying as having a disability are not analysed within use of force reports? 33% of prisoners within HMP/YOI Norwich identify as having a disability.	Governor / Director
11	The Board still has concerns about ACCT documents. What action will the Governor take to ensure further improvements in the management of the ACCT process and completion of documents by staff? Repeated	Governor / Director
12	ACCT reviews involving prisoners who do not speak English are difficult. Although a phone translation service, The Big Word, is used, reviews are conducted in busy offices and constantly disturbed. What action will be taken to improve the quality of such reviews?	Governor / Director
13	The Board is concerned about the lack of process reintegrating prisoners who self-isolate back into the normal prison regime. What action will the Governor take to rectify the situation?	Governor / Director
14	There are currently no ‘baby bonding’ sessions (aimed at introducing prisoners to newborn babies) for prisoners on the category B site, following the removal of facilities in 2023. When will these important sessions be reinstated?	Governor / Director
15	What action will the Governor take to ensure that all prisoners are offered at least one hour of gym a week? Sessions are regularly cancelled due to shortages of staff.	Governor / Director
16	To assist the Board monitor health and wellbeing in the prison, could the Governor please ensure that copies of the following reports are provided: • HCRG quality reports and clinical governance reports. • Minutes from Norfolk Prison Health and Partnership board meetings. • Social care reports. • Minutes from medicines management meeting.	Governor / Director
17	Why are prisoners with severe mental health issues or learning difficulties still being held in custody? Repeated Response At the time of writing, the Bill had reached its second reading in the House of Commons. Prisoners with severe mental health difficulties continue to be held in custody.	Ministry of Justice
18	When will a realistic minimum rate for prisoners’ pay be set under Prison Service Order (PSO) 4460, with corresponding increases made to prison budgets? Repeated Response A pay rise was given to prisoners in October 2024 funded by Ministry of Justice. However, the minimum rate of pay for prisoners under PSO 4460 remains unaltered since 2020 and the Board cannot understand why.	Ministry of Justice
19	When will the new policy framework relating to prisoners in segregation be published? Repeated Response At the time of writing this report, the new policy had not been issued.	HMPPS
20	Why are there are no adequate local laundry facilities in HMP/YOI Norwich? Repeated Response The situation remains unsatisfactory.	HMPPS

Applications to the IMB

Category	Current	Previous
Accommodation (including transfers)	45	38
Activities and work (including education and visits)	118	128
Discipline, adjudications and incentives	29	33
Discrimination	5	4
General welfare (including food, clothing and hygiene)	24	29
Healthcare	39	41
Property	30	47
Requests for information, policies and other matters	29	24
Staff conduct and treatment	10	11

Related inspections & investigations

— PPO fatal incident Hallum Elgood · Self-inflicted

— PPO fatal incident Andrew Clark · Natural causes

— PPO fatal incident Alfred Grimble

— PPO fatal incident Thomas Verdon

— PPO fatal incident John Slater

1 May 2024 PFD Mohammed Azizi · State Custody related deaths

2 Feb 2015 PFD Darren Wright · State Custody related deaths

Other reports for Norwich

2024 Published 2 Oct 2024 Population 792 · Concerns

2023 Published 19 Jul 2023 Population 710 · Concerns

2022 Published 12 Jul 2022 Population 710 · Self-harm 181 · Concerns

2021 Published 23 Jul 2021 Population 710 · Concerns

2020 Published 8 Jul 2020 Population 745 · Concerns

Report details

Establishment: Norwich
Type: Prison · Cat B, C, D, local, YOI
Report year: 2025
Published: 7 October 2025
Responsible body: HMP Norwich
Recommendations: 20
MoJ rating (2024/25): 2 — Concern

Population

Population	773
Operational capacity	758
CNA (designed for)	640 121%

Service providers

Catering

Aramark

Education

The Growth Company

Facilities Management

Amey

Healthcare

HCRG Care Group

IMB Secretariat

Ministry of Justice

Prisoner Escort and Custody Services

Mitie

Source links

IMB report page → imb.org.uk →