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IMB Annual Reports

780 reports 170 establishments 768 with key concerns

780 annual reports from Independent Monitoring Boards covering 170 establishments. IMBs provide independent oversight of prisons, immigration removal centres, and secure training centres. Source: imb.org.uk.

Key findings

Patterns across the corpus

98% of IMB reports flag key concerns. Independent monitors cover 170 establishments across prisons, immigration removal centres and secure training centres.

Annual reports

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2026 PRISON Concerns Ranby
Published 26 Jun 2026
Self-harm: 522 Assaults: 268 Staff assaults: 100
HMP Ranby, a Category C training prison, continues to face significant challenges with overcrowding, high levels of illicit drugs, and the inappropriate holding of mentally unwell prisoners in segregation due to transfer delays. While the Board commended staff professionalism and improvements in the complaints system, concerns remain regarding staff shortages, inexperience, and a lack of meaningful activity for prisoners. Property loss and canteen issues also persist, highlighting systemic problems impacting prisoner welfare and morale.
Key concerns identified
  • The prison remains seriously overcrowded, with ongoing cell sharing and delays in building new accommodation.
  • High levels of illicit drugs and associated violence undermine safety, with prisoners increasingly seeking sanctuary in segregation.
  • Long waiting times for mental health transfers result in vulnerable prisoners being inappropriately held in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
  • Significant staffing shortfalls, high turnover, and inexperience among staff negatively impact prisoner support and safety.
  • Insufficient meaningful education and work opportunities, particularly for short-term prisoners, hinder rehabilitation and progression.
  • Persistent issues include loss of prisoner property during transfers, problems with canteen orders and refunds, and a lack of availability of complaint forms on house blocks.
  • Concerns about the robustness of the role reconciliation process.
2024 IRC Heathrow immigration removal centre
Published 19 Jun 2026
2026 PRISON Concerns Leicester
Published 18 Jun 2026 · 325 prisoners
Self-harm: 314 Assaults: 134 Staff assaults: 76
HMP Leicester, a busy local prison for adult men, continues to be well-led despite significant challenges from ageing infrastructure and a high prisoner turnover. While there have been welcome reductions in self-harm and violence, and no deaths in custody, key concerns persist regarding prisoner resettlement, accessible facilities, reduced purposeful activity due to funding cuts, and inadequate confidential interview spaces. Staffing levels are generally good, but key worker sessions have fallen, and support for foreign national prisoners and those with disabilities needs improvement.
Key concerns identified
  • 38% of men released had no accommodation, and CAS 3 supported accommodation is at full capacity.
  • Lack of accessible shower facilities for wheelchair users and a broken lift on the Welford unit.
  • Education budget cuts reduced activity spaces, leading to more men locked up for 22 hours per day.
  • No dedicated, confidential space for initial interviews with new prisoners in reception.
  • Significant reduction in the number of key work sessions delivered, averaging only a third of the target.
  • Foreign national prisoners, especially non-English speakers, feel isolated and receive more incentives scheme warnings due to insufficient interpreting and translation services.
2026 PRISON Concerns Lewes
Published 17 Jun 2026 · 603 prisoners
Self-harm: 432 Assaults: 207 Staff assaults: 80
HMP/YOI Lewes, a Category B local prison, has reported welcome reductions in self-harm and use of force incidents, alongside an improved regime offering around eight hours out of cell daily. The Board commends improved staff retention, healthcare waiting times for some services, and the work of the chaplaincy and LAMS teams. However, significant concerns persist regarding the widespread availability of illicit drugs, the high number of releases to no fixed abode, delays in mental health transfers, and disproportionate outcomes for young adults and certain ethnic groups in use of force and segregation.
Key concerns identified
  • Illicit drugs remain too readily available on the wings, posing significant security threats.
  • Too many prisoners are released to no fixed abode, impacting their wellbeing and the wider community.
  • The prison is frequently required to accept prisoners arriving late in the evening, causing safety risks and stress for both prisoners and staff.
  • Practice regarding ACCT processes for at-risk prisoners needs to be strengthened, as they are not always managed or recorded in a timely manner.
  • Prisoners with significant mental health needs continue to face long delays for transfers to secure facilities, leading to inappropriate use of the CSU for their constant supervision.
  • There is a disproportionate representation of young adults and prisoners from Caribbean, African, other Black, and Muslim backgrounds in use of force incidents and segregation.
2025 PRISON Concerns Kent Coast Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Published 16 Jun 2026
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
The IMB report for Kent Coast STHF highlights that while staff are generally empathetic and security has improved, several key concerns persist. These include a lack of privacy for children during sensitive interviews, insufficient information for detainees about their onward journey, and issues with slow facility repairs and overcrowding at Manston. The Board reiterates recommendations for greater transparency and improved conditions, with some recommendations still unaddressed from the previous year.
Key concerns identified
  • Lack of privacy for sensitive interviews with children at KIU, particularly regarding modern slavery, general health, and mental health.
  • Detainees continue to lack clear information about their 'process journey' and next destinations, leading to confusion.
  • Delays in repairs, such as shower issues at KIU, persist due to slow Home Office approval.
  • Overcrowding in Manston marquees frequently results in detainees sleeping on floor mats in very close proximity to strangers.
  • Inadequate recreational facilities and a lack of outside access at WJF and Frontier House, with limited seating in RHR.
  • Concerns about radio communication integrity among Mitie C&C staff following a reported racist incident.
2026 PRISON Concerns Low Newton
Published 12 Jun 2026 · 278 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,595 Assaults: 58 Staff assaults: 133
HMP/YOI Low Newton, a women's prison, has implemented positive changes to its regime and culture, with strong commendations from HMIP. However, the reporting year saw a significant rise in self-harm, violence, and use of force, alongside persistent concerns regarding the transport of women to the prison and the inappropriate placement of severely mentally unwell individuals in a custodial environment. The Board noted good staff professionalism and effective rehabilitation programmes, but highlighted ongoing challenges with staffing shortages and resettlement support.
Key concerns identified
  • The Board is concerned about the significant rise in self-harm, violence and use of force over the reporting year.
  • Ongoing issues with unclean conditions in the care and separation unit (CSU).
  • There continue to be ongoing issues with the transport of women to the establishment, including mixed-sex journeys, inadequate toilet/sanitary provision, and lengthy journeys.
  • For several years, the Board has raised concerns about the number of severely mentally unwell women sent to prison who require specialist therapeutic care in secure hospital settings.
  • Concerns about the number of women who are released without accommodation to go to.
  • A major gas leak resulted in the loss of heating and hot water, highlighting a wider establishment issue.
  • Lack of available storage space has impacted access to the Hive, an incentivised association space.
  • Ongoing staff shortages continue to affect the regime, limiting opportunities for staff-prisoner relationships and potentially impacting mental health.
  • Waiting times for mental health transfers to secure hospital settings have been lengthy.
  • Concerns about the necessary resources available in the community to support women released with severe issues or in distress, particularly regarding accommodation.
  • Courts sentencing women to short sentences and early release schemes either prevent rehabilitation work from starting or disrupt ongoing programmes.
  • Access to the Listener service has not always been available.
2026 PRISON Concerns London short term holding facilities (STHF)
Published 11 Jun 2026
This report for London STHFs highlights that while holding rooms generally provide a safe environment and inductions are mostly high quality, significant issues persist. Key concerns include chronic understaffing of Border Force leading to long waits, inadequate provisions for extended stays in rooms not designed for them, and a persistent lack of access to personal medication at some facilities. The Board also notes issues with translation services and the absence of direct internet access for detainees.
Key concerns identified
  • Insufficient Border Force officers causing extended waiting times in CWAs and holding rooms.
  • Continued lack of access to personal medication for detainees at London City Airport and Eaton House.
  • Holding rooms, unequipped for long stays, frequently house detainees for over 24 hours without adequate mattresses or temperature control.
  • Inconsistent provision of translation services (The Big Word) and failure to offer translators to all non-English speakers.
  • Lack of direct Wi-Fi/internet access for detainees, limiting access to information and communication.
  • Safety concerns regarding minors in CWAs and unsuitable furniture in London City Airport's family room.
2025 PRISON Concerns Liverpool
Published 11 Jun 2026
HMP Liverpool continued its transition to a Category B reception prison in 2025, facing significant challenges from its 170-year-old infrastructure and high prisoner churn. While some positive developments were noted in reducing self-harm and drug incidents, and healthcare provision saw improvements, concerns persisted regarding the condition of the estate, staffing resilience, and access to education and purposeful activity. The Board raised key concerns about maintenance, drug supply, property transfers, and healthcare capacity, issuing recommendations to the Minister, Prison Service, and Governor.
Key concerns identified
  • The dilapidated state of the 170-year-old prison infrastructure and ineffective responsive repairs system.
  • The continued high supply of illegal drugs posing significant risks to prisoners and staff.
  • Persistent and excessive complaints regarding prisoner property transfers, particularly from HMP Altcourse.
  • Challenges in healthcare access, including missed hospital appointments, internal escorts, and mental health waiting times.
  • Low education attendance and limited purposeful activity, compounded by budget cuts and high prisoner turnover.
  • High staff sickness rates and their impact on regime delivery and the provision of key worker sessions.
2026 PRISON Concerns Lindholme
Published 9 Jun 2026 · 1,010 prisoners
HMP Lindholme, a Category C male training prison with an operational capacity of 1010, faced persistent challenges in safety during the reporting year, including high levels of self-harm, violence, and the ingress of illicit items, alongside five deaths in custody. The Board noted significant concerns regarding poor living conditions, delayed maintenance, and a decline in key worker engagement. Healthcare experienced strains, particularly with mental health transfers and a lack of complaints oversight. Reduced education and activity opportunities, exacerbated by workshop closures, undermined the prison's training function.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent high levels of violence, self-harm, and the significant challenge of illicit item availability.
  • Poor living conditions, including delayed maintenance, inconsistent heating, unsanitary toilets, recurring bedbug infestations, and the loss of courtesy keys leading to property theft.
  • Significant decline in key worker engagement and staff visibility, affecting prisoner support and the consistent application of basic standards.
  • Healthcare provision under strain, notably long waits for mental health gatekeeping assessments resulting in prolonged segregation stays, and limited oversight for healthcare complaints.
  • Reduced access to education and purposeful activity due to funding cuts, frequent class closures, and the long-term closure of workshops, undermining the prison’s training function.
  • A lack of prisoner trust in the complaints process and persistent issues with lost property during transfers and internal movements.
2025 PRISON Concerns High Down
Published 4 Jun 2026 · 1,133 prisoners
Self-harm: 575 Assaults: 162 Staff assaults: 82
HMP High Down, a Category C training and resettlement prison, housed 1133 prisoners at year-end, 135 above its CNA. The reporting year saw improvements in key work and education attendance, but significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate provision of social care, the holding of acutely mentally unwell prisoners in segregation, and delays in mental health transfers. Despite a decrease in self-harm incidents and assaults, issues with prisoner safety, illicit items, and communication remain prominent.
Key concerns identified
  • Inadequate social care provision, particularly for older and vulnerable prisoners, leaving them at risk during evenings and weekends.
  • The continued holding of acutely mentally unwell prisoners in the CSRU due to a lack of suitable alternative placements and slow transfer times to secure mental hospitals.
  • Significant pressures on the Offender Management Unit due to a shortage of prison probation staff, hindering prisoner progression.
  • Regime restrictions, including full-time workers being denied access to basic activities after work and the perception of the prison operating as Category B.
  • Persistent issues with property management, particularly items going missing during transfers to the CSRU.
  • Ongoing concerns about prisoner safety, including the prevalence of illicit items, despite some positive trends in assaults and self-harm.
2025 PRISON Concerns Gartree
Published 3 Jun 2026 · 664 prisoners
Self-harm: 457 Assaults: 71 Staff assaults: 68
HMP Gartree faced significant challenges in the past year, marked by a notable increase in violence, self-harm incidents, and deaths in custody. The prison continues to grapple with a deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate healthcare provision, and the persistent presence of illicit items. Despite some positive developments such as efforts to reintegrate self-isolating prisoners and support for family ties, significant concerns persist regarding the overall safety, regime delivery, and the progression opportunities for its long-term and IPP prisoner population.
Key concerns identified
  • Growing levels of violence and a perception that the prison is unsafe.
  • Prevalence of illicit items (drugs, mobile phones, weapons).
  • Inadequate healthcare services, particularly mental health, and staffing issues.
  • Deteriorating fabric and poor infrastructure, including heating, leaking roofs, and showers.
  • Limited access to purposeful activities, cutbacks to education provision, and high levels of segregation/wing restrictions.
  • High numbers and lack of progression for IPP prisoners, and inadequate support for older/disabled prisoners.
2025 PRISON Concerns Isle of Wight
Published 2 Jun 2026 · 945 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,068 Assaults: 151 Staff assaults: 114
HMP Isle of Wight, a Category B training prison, faced chronic staff shortages during 2025, resulting in significant regime disruption, frequent lock-ups, and impacts on purposeful activity. While overall violence stabilised, its severity and self-harm incidents increased. The Board noted good physical healthcare and education provision, but raised concerns about stretched mental health services, persistent substance misuse, and the ongoing delays in transfers to secure hospitals. Key management oversight meetings were often missed due to staffing pressures, and the Board highlighted a lack of Governor autonomy in recruitment and the need for urgent infrastructure and security gate enhancements.
Key concerns identified
  • Transfers to secure hospital facilities are still taking much longer than the 28-day transfer target, a concern raised in previous reports.
  • Chronic staffing shortages, exacerbated by a lack of Governor autonomy in recruitment and budget, lead to frequent regime disruption and adversely affect all aspects of prisoner life.
  • The segregation unit remains regularly full, with key oversight meetings (SMARG) not taking place due to staff absences.
  • The gate security enhancement has not been rectified, posing a significant risk for drug ingress and potential fatalities.
  • Infrastructure issues across the estate (hydraulic gates, workshops, roofs, cameras) are extreme and require substantial capital investment.
  • Current provision of accredited rehabilitation programmes, particularly the Healthy Sex Programme for PCoSOs, is inadequate and not meeting prisoners' needs.
2026 PRISON Concerns South and West short term holding facilities
Published 29 May 2026
Staff assaults: 1
The South and West STHF Board was newly formed in January 2023. Members made a total of 139 monitoring visits (often in pairs) between 1 February 2025 and 31 January 2026. BF provided a monthly data sheet listing all people detained in the STHF. Bristol was the busiest site, with 129 detentions for longer than two hours, and Poole the quietest, with only seven detained individuals.
Key concerns identified
  • We were concerned that some people at Bristol and Cardiff were held for long periods in the CWA, without being transferred to the more comfortable and private STHF.
  • For a second year we were concerned that detained people could not have access to prescribed medication whilst in the STHF. Also, BF officers had inadequate access to health-related support and advice.
  • We were again concerned about BF failing to inform us of the use of force either within the agreed timescales or in one case not at all.
  • We questioned definitions of vulnerability because of the release of one detained person, a lone woman with no money, no accommodation and limited English.
  • We remain concerned that decisions about access to medication and nicotine replacement have taken over 12 months.
  • Although few in number, we were concerned about the additional time in detention, waiting for MITIE Care and Custody to arrive to transfer a detained person.
2025 PRISON Concerns Charter Flight Monitoring Team
Published 28 May 2026
The Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT) monitors and reports on the conditions for, and treatment of, people detained under immigration powers who are removed from the UK on charter flights. In 2025, the CFMT monitored operations to Albania, Romania, Vietnam, India, Pakistan and France. A significant proportion of individuals subjected to enforced removals are recognised as highly vulnerable.
Key concerns identified
  • For the last two years, the CFMT’s reports have highlighted HOIE’s removal of people with known vulnerabilities.
  • The CFMT observed 28 instances of UoF and noted concerns around inadequate de-escalation.
  • Once again, as in previous years, we report that some returnees have spent excessive time on board coaches or ‘chase’ vehicles.
  • Significant concerns were raised throughout the reporting year about inadequate interpretation.
  • The numerous documents for each charter flight and returnee do not always make the potential vulnerabilities of individuals clear, raising concerns that escorts may not be aware that those they are looking after may have specific medical or mental health needs.
2025 PRISON Concerns Exeter
Published 27 May 2026
HMP Exeter is an all-male and young offender category B reception prison (Local) with a small resettlement function. At the end of the reporting year, its operational capacity remains at 310. During the year there were four deaths in custody.
Key concerns identified
  • Delays in the CCTV project and the continued closure of A wing impact negatively on the safety and security of prisoners and staff
  • A rise in the number of illicit items entering the prison which causes intermittent instability
  • An increased number of prisoners self-isolating, linked to the high number of deaths in custody, but with some improvements in supporting their needs
  • Poor conditions in D wing – too hot in summer, damp and mould in winter
  • Lack of permanent, suitable clinical and peer review space throughout 2025
  • Reduced variety and choice in the provision of educational courses
2025 PRISON Concerns Deerbolt
Published 22 May 2026 · 470 prisoners
The IMB at Deerbolt acknowledges the significant and ongoing challenges facing the Prison Service. The IMB remains concerned about the lack of meaningful rehabilitation at a time when drugs are widespread and the prison population is increasing and shifting towards an older demographic with different and often more complex needs. Overall, the IMB continues to be impressed by the high calibre of many officers in the establishment.
Key concerns identified
  • Levels of violence remained high linked to the prevalence of drugs, debt-related violence and gang activity.
  • Current counter-drone measures are not fit for purpose.
  • Education courses seem to be geared towards low-ability prisoners.
  • Limited contact with offender managers due to high case-loads.
  • Optician waiting times remain unacceptable.
  • A move to half-day activity has negatively affected outcomes for the establishment.
2025 PRISON Concerns Long Lartin
Published 21 May 2026
Self-harm: 514 Staff assaults: 113
There was a promising start to the year with sufficient staff resources to provide a relatively stable regime, which is so important to prisoners. However by mid-year the prison was experiencing staff recruitment and retention problems. Well intentioned efforts to improve the prison and make Long Lartin a more humane and decent living environment for prisoners, are hampered by bureaucracy.
Key concerns identified
  • Drones: incursions continue to deliver dangerous illicit items into the prison.
  • Security systems: much of the existing security systems technology is obsolete and unserviceable, increasing the vulnerability of prisoners and staff.
  • Unsatisfactory management of infrastructure and maintenance: the Board remains concerned that the Minister’s department is not robustly managing the contract with Amey plc.
  • Lack of in-cell sanitation on four wings.
  • Officer shortages.
2025 PRISON Concerns Grendon
Published 20 May 2026 · 170 prisoners
Self-harm: 17 Assaults: 5 Staff assaults: 2
HMP Grendon is a category B prison and therapeutic community. Membership of the IMB Board remains well below capacity, limiting depth of monitoring and reporting. In the Board’s view, the prison continues to operate within a generally safe environment.
Key concerns identified
  • Outcomes for men as a result of frequent plumbing and sanitation issues across the wings have been poor.
  • Rat infestation continues to be a problem.
  • Handling of prisoners’ property and canteen continues to generate complaints.
  • The frequent cancellation of transfers for prisoners from HMP Grendon to their receiving prison causes considerable tension.
  • Staff vacancies, particularly Band 4 Officers have been an issue.
  • Healthcare does not operate a 24 hour service in Grendon.
2025 PRISON Concerns Springhill
Published 20 May 2026
Self-harm: 4 Assaults: 12 Staff assaults: 1
HMP Springhill is an open establishment (category D) that focuses on the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners. There has been a reduction in education provision. Instances of self-harm, violence, assaults, and the use of force remain at low levels.
Key concerns identified
  • Can the minister offer reassurance that sufficient funding will be available to address the necessary requirements to offer much improved accommodation and associated services at HMP Springhill?
  • Why has there been a 30% reduction in real terms to the education provision across Springhill as this support is a key part of prisoners’ rehabilitation and preparation for employment when released?
  • Property related issues experienced at Springhill create unnecessary anxiety and generate numerous complaints from prisoners. What priority is the Prison Service giving to finding effective solutions for the continued issues with prisoners’ personal property and adherence to the National Policy Framework?
2025 PRISON Concerns Holme House
Published 19 May 2026
Self-harm: 807 Assaults: 394 Staff assaults: 125
HMP Holme House was reclassified to a category B reception, training and resettlement prison in January 2025. The re-role has impacted all aspects of the prison’s routine and operating protocols. There has been a shift in key safety metrics, including an increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and an increase in the use of force.
Key concerns identified
  • Problems associated with drug abuse continue to be significant for the prison.
  • Just under 18% of the expected key worker sessions were achieved.
  • Delays in occupational health assessments were caused by delays to therapists being approved and vetted to enter the prison.
  • The impact of the prison holding remand prisoners and having far greater ‘churn’ has detrimentally affected the delivery of prisoner employment activities.
2026 PRISON Concerns South and East Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Published 15 May 2026
The South and East Independent Monitoring Board monitors and reports on the welfare of people in various short-term holding facilities (STHFs) in the south and east of England. The Board has monitored activity across locations throughout the reporting period. The Board continues to have concerns about safety and fair treatment of detainees.
Key concerns identified
  • The Board continues to be concerned about the size of the accommodation, especially at Luton Airport. Every month the Board observes people sleeping on the floor, restricting the movement of others.
  • The Board is very concerned about the lack of urgency to resolve problems in a timely manner, especially when it involves the potential for self-harm.
  • For the fourth year in succession, the Board draws the Home Office’s attention to the capacity issues at Luton and Stansted airports’ STHFs and the fact that the needs of those with mobility, hearing or sight impairment issues are still not being adequately addressed across all facilities.
  • In the opinion of the Board, the STHF at the Port of Felixstowe does not provide a humane place for holding people.
  • The Board continues to be very concerned about the lack of privacy afforded to detained persons during the initial induction at some of the STHFs or while being examined by an Aeromed health professional.
  • The Board is concerned that that there were inadequate processes to cater for uncovered food.
2025 PRISON Concerns Kirklevington Grange
Published 14 May 2026
Self-harm: 1 Assaults: 1
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is a category D open prison, located close to the village of Kirklevington, in North Yorkshire, catering for adult men and young adult men. The operational capacity of the prison was 2071 throughout the year. The IMB consider that HMP Kirklevington Grange is a safe environment for both prisoners and staff.
Key concerns identified
  • Toxicology tests have yet to be finalised thus delaying the investigation by the prisons and Probation Ombudsman, preventing progress towards an inquest.
  • Staffing levels at Kirklevington are good, without many peaks of sickness but the Board is concerned at the amount of time it takes to start a new member on site between their initial interview and acceptance.
  • Misplaced property is a continuing issue.
  • The rapid development cell programme again failed to come to fruition during the reporting year.
2026 PRISON Littlehey
Published 13 May 2026
2025 PRISON Concerns Isis
Published 13 May 2026 · 580 prisoners
Assaults: 405 Staff assaults: 114
HMP/YOI Isis is a public sector training prison for young adults between 18 and 21 years, and category C adults (considered low risk, unlikely to escape or re-offend, and capable of benefiting from rehabilitative initiatives) up to 27 years old. In December 2025, the population was around 580. The Board is seriously concerned about the cuts to the education budget, particularly in a prison serving 18-27-year-old young men.
Key concerns identified
  • The Board is seriously concerned about the cuts to the education budget, particularly in a prison serving 18-27-year-old young men, for whom access to education is critical to improving their long-term life chances.
  • In 2025, the prison started to receive life-sentenced prisoners. The Board observed that there was little appropriate provision for education and training for prisoners starting a life sentence.
  • Why is force used disproportionately against black prisoners and why are the numbers of black prisoners affected by Pava disproportionately high?
  • We have continued to report that there are still serious problems with the loss of prisoner property or delays in its receipt on transfer, as shown by the number of applications we received on the issue during 2025.
  • Prisoners frequently raise the issue that they are unable to see their family because of the distance families have to travel, and are unable to get transfers to prisons closer to home.
  • Levels of violence on the Growth spur were consistently high throughout 2025 - the highest of any spur - and accounted for 20% of violent incidents.
2025 PRISON Concerns Full Sutton
Published 12 May 2026 · 580 prisoners
Self-harm: 410 Assaults: 53 Staff assaults: 42
HMP Full Sutton is a high-security dispersal prison accommodating male prisoners in category A and category B. As of 31 December 2025, the number of prisoners held was 580. The Board’s observations reflected those of the previous report, with HMP Full Sutton continuing to be a safe and generally calm prison.
Key concerns identified
  • rising incidences of prisoners under the influence of suspected illicit substances and reduced drugs testing activity
  • bullet lack of dedicated mental health provision for the segregation unit
  • bullet disproportionate number of evening lockdowns that the CSC and STEP units have endured
2025 PRISON Concerns Hindley
Published 1 May 2026
Assaults: 350 Staff assaults: 98
The Board is increasingly concerned about the prison not always feeling safe, due to rising levels of violence, affecting both prisoners and staff, and the availability of illicit substances. The national problem of overcrowding in prisons impacted on HMP/YOI Hindley, which was operating at very near or full capacity throughout the year. As highlighted in previous annual reports, the Board remains concerned about the insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation
Key concerns identified
  • The increased number of assaults on both prisoners and staff.
  • Drugs, mobile devices and weapons continuing to be readily available.
  • The lack of security and searching at the main gate.
  • Insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation.
  • The introduction of early release schemes to manage the national capacity crisis in prisons at relatively short notice meant that many men left Hindley unprepared for their release.
2025 PRISON Concerns Garth
Published 30 Apr 2026
HMP Garth is a category B secure training prison that accommodates long-term prisoners who pose significant risk but do not meet the criteria for the highest risk category. The IMB reports on several key issues including safety concerns related to self-harm, violence, illicit items and staffing. Accommodation and facilities are also continuing to deteriorate due to lack of funding.
Key concerns identified
  • Self-harm, ACCT plans, constant supervision and deaths in custody have remained at similar levels to the previous year.
  • Violence between prisoners and against officers has remained high.
  • Incursion of illicit items via drones continues to be high.
  • More prisoners are testing positive for drugs.
  • Staffing remains a concern.
  • Accommodation and facilities are continuing to deteriorate due to lack of funding.
2025 PRISON Concerns Aylesbury
Published 24 Apr 2026 · 402 prisoners
Self-harm: 254 Assaults: 77
In the Board’s view HMP Aylesbury showed overall improvement as a category C training prison over the reporting year. Strong interdepartmental working underlies HMP Aylesbury prison’s commitment to ensuring prisoner safety. Aylesbury is a training prison but it is not resourced to prepare prisoners for release.
Key concerns identified
  • TO THE MINISTER
  • TO THE PRISON SERVICE
  • TO THE GOVERNOR
2025 PRISON Concerns Risley
Published 24 Apr 2026 · 1,042 prisoners
Self-harm: 852 Assaults: 273 Staff assaults: 82
HMP Risley is one of the largest category C training and resettlement prisons in the UK. The prison continues to be a hub for foreign national prisoners. There was a change in population during the year which resulted in an increase in the number of prisoners arriving compared to the previous period.
Key concerns identified
  • The IMB continues to be very concerned about the service provided by the maintenance contractors (AMEY) at HMP Risley.
  • The IMB shares the concern of prison management about the shortfall in activity places for the men.
  • The IMB is concerned that property remains an issue.
2025 PRISON Concerns Guys Marsh
Published 21 Apr 2026 · 490 prisoners
Staff assaults: 82
The HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) January 2025 unannounced inspection of HMP Guys Marsh reflected the Board’s concerns about safety, staff-prisoner relationships and purposeful activity. The Board recognised the Governor’s efforts to improve standards, reflected in HMIP’s November 2025 independent review of progress (IRP) findings of reduced violence, a more consistent regime and better staff and prisoner relationships, while agreeing that illicit drugs remain a serious threat to safety and stability.
Key concerns identified
  • Illicit items (drugs, phones, etc) remained a serious threat.
  • There were high levels of prisoners under the influence (UTI) of psychoactive substances, particularly in August.
  • The physical environment remained unsuitable.
  • Missed healthcare appointments and long waiting times.
  • Delays in dental care.
2025 PRISON Concerns Drake Hall
Published 17 Apr 2026
Self-harm: 716
Drake Hall is a prison and young offender institution for women. As a closed prison, Drake Hall faces the same challenges found in other women’s establishments, including an increasingly complex population with poor physical and mental health. The prison population is increasingly complex and many of the women have poor physical and mental health and experience of trauma.
Key concerns identified
  • In relation to Richmond and Plymouth, the Board asks what the plan is for these buildings – keep them going at any cost, some form of replacement programme or is there no plan in place?
  • Across the female estate an increasing number of women are experiencing crisis associated with serious mental illness. They need treatment in a specialist hospital setting.
  • An increasingly complex group of women with more serious risk profiles are being transferred to a prison with no cellular accommodation.
  • The staffing establishment was set at a time when the prison was very different than today. This situation needs to be addressed at a strategic level.
  • Property is a systemic problem across the prison services: digital solutions have proved effective in improving this situation.
  • The Board is interested in the plan to increase the number and quality of keywork sessions.
2025 PRISON Concerns Foston Hall
Published 16 Apr 2026
Self-harm: 2,014 Staff assaults: 1,022
HMP/YOI Foston Hall is a women’s prison and young offender institution. Its capacity is 3241. The Board has noted a rise in self-harm incidents, violence, and use of force.
Key concerns identified
  • The continuing rise in prisoners who are on short-fixed term recalls, and subject to short sentences has a significant limiting impact on rehabilitation and resettlement.
  • bullet It is still the case that prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs are frequently received, or remain too long, at HMP Foston Hall, rather than being accommodated and cared for in hospital or in the community in line with the ambitions of the female offender strategy.
  • bullet There is still no evidence that the decision to identify pregnancy as a specific mitigating factor in sentencing decisions has had any impact on the number of pregnant prisoners passing through Foston Hall, including prisoners on short-term recall.
  • bullet There are increasing problems with the quality and decency of accommodation, including the longstanding inadequacy of the CSU and D wing and the ongoing health and safety and decency issues on F wing caused by water damage from leaking showers.
  • bullet There continues to be a lack of adequate mental health provision for prisoners experiencing less severe but still impactful conditions, including anxiety and depression.
  • bullet There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level.
2025 PRISON Concerns Haverigg
Published 15 Apr 2026 · 521 prisoners
Self-harm: 13 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
HMP Haverigg is a category D open prison for PCoSOs. The IMB report notes good healthcare provision and positive efforts to maintain family ties. Key concerns include discharge planning, property loss, and reluctance of prisoners to raise concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • Discharge planning, particularly for prisoners with health and social care needs and those serving indeterminate or long sentences, is complex, especially when the majority of prisoners are from beyond Cumbria.
  • The introduction of the Prisoner’s Property Policy Framework (PPPF) appears to have had a limited impact on the loss of prisoners’ property, particularly on transfer between establishments.
  • There remains a reluctance by some, especially those approaching parole or release, to raise concerns or support needed, as evidenced by conversations with prisoners and applications to the IMB.
  • As the use of force is rarely required, what action is taken to ensure that staff do not become deskilled.
2025 PRISON Concerns Elmley
Published 10 Apr 2026
Assaults: 276 Staff assaults: 142
HMP/YOI Elmley is a local prison situated on the Isle of Sheppey which serves the courts of Kent. The operating capacity of Elmley at the start of the year was 1137 and decreased to 1043 by the end of the reporting period in October 2025. The Board has concerns regarding prison staffing levels and the implementation of key working.
Key concerns identified
  • Substantial investment is required to bring existing accommodation up to an acceptable standard, including access to clean working showers with sufficient hot water.
  • Vocational work-based and educational opportunities for prisoners to support effective transition back into legitimate paid employment upon release is of critical importance.
  • The removal of contaminated waste is allowed to build up on site.
  • The washing machines on all houseblocks are in a very poor state of repair.
  • The amount of allocated time for key working fluctuates greatly from day to day and week to week.
2025 PRISON Concerns Parc
Published 2 Apr 2026 · 1,785 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,465 Assaults: 712
HMP/YOI Parc is Wales’ only privately run prison. It is a category C resettlement prison that holds convicted adult men aged over 18 years, as well as convicted or remanded vulnerable prisoners. Outcomes for prisoners were poor for safety and not sufficiently good for respect, purposeful activity and preparation for release.
Key concerns identified
  • Insufficiency of staff, attributed to recruitment and retention difficulties
  • High levels of deliberate self-harm (DSH) compared with comparable prisons
  • Violence levels remained consistently high
  • Use of force continued to rise, disproportionately affecting ethnic minority prisoners.
  • Food provision across the adult estate, with limited choice and inconsistent portions
  • Complaints procedure and property-handling systems lacked transparency and effectiveness
2025 PRISON Concerns The Verne
Published 24 Mar 2026 · 645 prisoners
Self-harm: 222
HMP The Verne is a Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, housing 645 prisoners at the end of the reporting period. The Board found it generally safe and humane, commending healthcare, key worker improvements, and the new Building Choices program. Key concerns include staffing uncertainty, lack of 24-hour clinical cover, and the impact of budget cuts on education and purposeful activity.
Key concerns identified
  • Uncertainty regarding the permanence of the visa exemption for prison officers creates workforce uncertainty.
  • The lack of 24-hour on-site clinical cover leads to reliance on emergency services and staff shortages for escorts.
  • Severe, ongoing problems with clothes dryers on D wing are resulting in damp laundry for elderly and infirm prisoners.
  • The capacity of the new Building Choices sex offence programme is insufficient to meet the rehabilitative needs of the prisoner population.
  • Significant budget cuts and tendering uncertainty are impacting the provision and number of education and vocational training programmes.
  • There is no formal pathway for medical assessment of neurodiversity, and support for neurodiverse prisoners is under-resourced.
2025 PRISON Concerns Durham
Published 20 Mar 2026 · 961 prisoners
Self-harm: 461 Assaults: 428 Staff assaults: 90
HMP Durham, a reception and resettlement prison, housed an average of 961 men against an operational capacity of 985 during the reporting year. The Board observed improvements in first-night healthcare screening and a reduction in self-harm incidents, alongside a significant increase in overall deaths in custody. Persistent overcrowding, inadequate regime delivery with prisoners spending 21.5 hours in cells, and critical staffing shortages impacting key working and healthcare access remain significant concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent overcrowding and unhygienic living conditions, with 90% of cells designed for single occupancy now double-occupied.
  • Widespread administrative issues with 90.9% of ACCT documents, indicating a deterioration in their completion.
  • Staffing shortages led to a significant reduction in key working delivery, impacting prisoner support and rehabilitation.
  • Failure to sustainably deliver the core day, resulting in prisoners spending 21.5 hours a day in cells, restricting access to purposeful activity and healthcare.
  • Increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and use of force incidents, with a significant proportion of prisoners involved in use of force not seen by healthcare professionals.
  • Non-compliance with minimum kit entitlement for newly admitted prisoners, a concern first raised in the previous report.
  • Significant education budget cuts and loss of specialist staff, limiting class provision.
2025 PRISON Concerns Eastwood Park
Published 18 Mar 2026 · 351 prisoners
Self-harm: 4,479 Assaults: 139 Staff assaults: 235
HMP Eastwood Park, a women's closed local prison, maintained a population of 351 against an operational capacity of 395. The report highlights ongoing challenges with an extremely high rate of self-harm (4,479 incidents) and 235 assaults on staff, although no deaths in custody occurred for the second consecutive year. Significant concerns include the detention of mentally unwell women awaiting hospital transfers, persistent staffing shortages exacerbated by vetting delays, and a restrictive regime for the general population due to the management of segregated prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Too many very mentally unwell women are in prison due to lack of community services and places in secure mental health hospitals, leading to delayed transfers.
  • The rate of self-harm remains extremely high, with a small number of women self-harming repeatedly, contributing to many assaults on staff during restraint.
  • Prisoners face unnecessarily restricted time out of cell because the general population is locked down while segregated women are unlocked individually.
  • Officer recruitment and retention are problematic, exacerbated by an inordinate backlog in vetting for new staff, impacting operational delivery and leading to increased prisoner lockdowns.
  • Numerous essential works projects, including bathroom refurbishments and the video conferencing centre, are significantly delayed or cancelled due to poor planning and oversight.
  • There is insufficient resettlement support for remand and recalled women, alongside a lack of suitable approved premises with disabled facilities for vulnerable prisoners upon release.
2025 PRISON Concerns Ford
Published 17 Mar 2026 · 382 prisoners
Self-harm: 1 Assaults: 2
HMP Ford, a Category D open prison, continues its focus on rehabilitation and resettlement amidst significant challenges. The prison has seen a rise in high-risk prisoners and increased population churn, while facing persistent issues with failing infrastructure and substantial cuts to the education and training budget. Despite these hurdles, the IMB commends the prison for its generally safe environment, excellent healthcare provision, and ensuring all released prisoners secure accommodation.
Key concerns identified
  • Failing infrastructure and unacceptable accommodation conditions across the prison estate.
  • Continued delays in the planned expansion of HMP Ford's capacity.
  • Inadequate phone access for prisoners, hindering family contact and contributing to illicit mobile phone use.
  • Significant budget cuts affecting education, vocational training, and purposeful activity provision.
  • Systemic delays in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) assessments due to Probation Service resourcing issues.
  • The changing risk profile of prisoners and high population churn impacting engagement and motivation.
  • Loss of funding for the vital transfer and discharge co-ordinator role in healthcare.
  • The Prisoner Earning Act deduction (levy) acting as a disincentive for external work.
  • Absence of an effective system to monitor prisoners' reoffending rates post-release.
2025 PRISON Concerns Hatfield
Published 11 Mar 2026
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
HMP Hatfield, a Category D open men's prison and YOI, maintains a generally safe environment with no self-harm, assaults, deaths, or use of force incidents reported in the year. The IMB commends the prison's strong focus on resettlement, evidenced by high rates of employment (62.85%) and accommodation (99.75%) upon release. While facilities are improving through capital maintenance and healthcare provision is well-managed, concerns remain regarding the negative impact of prison population pressures on the Category D ethos, maintenance issues at the Lakes site, and the suitability assessment process for new prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Measures to relieve prison population pressures across the estate can and do have a negative impact on the ethos and performance of category D prisons.
  • Maintenance at the Lakes is managed by the adjoining prison and is not connected to Hatfield, and their maintenance work is often prioritised over the Lakes.
  • Increase in complaints, which could be due to men entering HMP Hatfield when they are not prepared for an open prison regime in taking responsibility for personal problem solving.
  • Lack of resettlement preparation.
  • Prisoners placed in open prison conditions following the change from two years to five years left in a sentence could possibly account for the increase in illicit mobile phone and drug use, due to a lack of incentives and compliance as there may be more time left to serve.
2025 PRISON Concerns East Sutton Park
Published 10 Mar 2026
Self-harm: 2 Assaults: 2
HMP/YOI East Sutton Park is an open female prison praised for its safety, healthcare, and resettlement efforts, with no deaths in custody during the reporting period. Key concerns include ongoing issues with property transfers, inconsistent responses to bullying, and delays in ROTL progression. The Board also highlights accessibility challenges in the old building and spatial constraints in healthcare facilities.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent issues with property transfers from other prisons causing frustration for prisoners.
  • Inconsistent and sometimes delayed responses to prisoner-on-prisoner bullying and low-level negative behaviour.
  • Delays and lack of clarity in ROTL risk assessments and progression, exacerbated by external input and new procedures.
  • Challenges for prisoners with physical disabilities and mobility issues due to the old building's lack of accessibility features and limited suitable internal jobs.
  • Healthcare facility's lack of space, leading to capacity restrictions and confidentiality risks.
  • Prisoners' fear of raising issues or complaints due to concerns about being returned to closed conditions, occasionally exacerbated by reported staff threats.
2025 PRISON Concerns Swansea
Published 5 Mar 2026
Self-harm: 180 Assaults: 8
HMP Swansea operates as a Category B/C prison for men, generally maintaining a safe and stable environment despite an overcrowded Victorian estate and significant prisoner turnover. While healthcare access is timely and education has improved, key challenges include extensive waits for mental health transfers, persistent issues with property complaints, and inconsistent staff practices regarding key working and the use of Body Worn Video Cameras. The Board highlights the need for addressing overcrowding, enhancing support for vulnerable prisoners, and improving transparency in healthcare complaint handling.
Key concerns identified
  • Lengthy waits for mental health inpatient transfers, often in segregated conditions.
  • Overcrowded Victorian estate, particularly double occupancy of single cells.
  • High prisoner turnover and short custody periods, impacting reoffending and resettlement efforts.
  • Lack of IMB access to health partnership forum agendas and minutes, and outcomes of healthcare-related complaints.
  • Persistent issues with missing or delayed property, both within the prison and during transfers.
  • Inconsistent quality of key working sessions and records.
  • Low uptake and inconsistent use of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs) and their pre-record function by staff.
  • Staff awareness of the impact of limited English language ability and underutilisation of official translation tools like 'The Big Word'.
  • Disparity in the availability of faith-related items on the canteen supply contract.
  • Long gap between evening meal and breakfast, and portion inconsistencies.
  • The long-overdue upgrade of the fire alarm system.
  • Inability for prisoners to make applications online, relying on paper systems.
  • Lack of access to exercise.
2025 PRISON Concerns Wakefield
Published 27 Feb 2026 · 793 prisoners
Assaults: 95 Staff assaults: 86
HMP Wakefield is a high-security prison for men, reporting an operational capacity of 744 and a population of 793. The Board noted significant improvements in staff recruitment and key worker sessions, as well as the delivery of healthcare and a varied education curriculum. However, it raises serious concerns regarding prisoner safety, including drone incursions and increased violence. Longstanding issues with delays in mental health transfers to hospitals, inadequate physical infrastructure, and insufficient purposeful activity opportunities for prisoners remain critical areas for development.
Key concerns identified
  • The prison continues to be 'less safe', compounded by increasing safety concerns from vulnerable prisoners due to the population mix, and serious threats from drone incursions.
  • Significant, longstanding delays persist in assessing and transferring prisoners with serious mental health and personality disorders to secure hospitals, a concern repeated since 2015-2016.
  • The physical condition of residential accommodation and overall infrastructure requires upgrading, affecting regime access for prisoners with mobility issues and leading to frustration and regime curtailment.
  • Too many prisoners are not meaningfully engaged in education or work opportunities, and there are limited IT and higher-level course provisions, a repeated concern.
  • Prisoners do not receive 'in possession' property from reception in a timely manner, which is a repeat issue causing frustration.
  • The segregation unit is deemed unsuitable for prisoners with extreme forms of neurodiversity, and staff on the Mulberry unit lack training for co-occurring personality disorders.
2025 PRISON Concerns New Hall
Published 26 Feb 2026 · 313 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,162 Assaults: 138 Staff assaults: 79
HMP/YOI New Hall operates as a closed prison for women, holding 313 prisoners against an operational capacity of 376. The report highlights several positive developments, including effective reception processes, successful key worker implementation, and improved chaplaincy services. However, significant concerns remain regarding inadequate mental health provision and lengthy transfer delays for acutely unwell prisoners, a 50% increase in healthcare complaints, and ongoing issues with regime limitations and prison maintenance.
Key concerns identified
  • Inadequate provision and significant delays for acutely mentally unwell prisoners to access appropriate mental health services and secure transfers.
  • Persistent issues with prison maintenance, including slow repairs of essential equipment and furnishings.
  • Concerns regarding potential national policy cuts to education funding which may reduce access to learning opportunities.
  • An increase in healthcare complaints, particularly concerning medication delays and poor treatment.
  • Regime limitations, including a lack of sufficient time out of cells, early lockups, inadequate temperature control on some wings, and unproductive time due to intermittent work contracts.
  • Challenges in resettlement due to staff cuts, high turnover affecting community service cohesion, some prisoners lacking confirmed accommodation on release, and unclear Prison Offender Manager roles.
2025 PRISON Concerns Channings Wood
Published 24 Feb 2026 · 727 prisoners
Self-harm: 438 Assaults: 87 Staff assaults: 22
HMP Channings Wood, a Category C prison, experienced an increase in deaths in custody and persistent issues with prisoner property and outstanding infrastructure repairs during the reporting period ending August 2025. Despite improvements in education attendance and some aspects of daily regime, concerns remain regarding out-of-hours healthcare for an ageing population, insufficient purposeful activity, and the negative impact of staffing reductions on key services. The Board highlights the inhumane conditions for IPP prisoners and notes a significant rise in prisoner complaints.
Key concerns identified
  • The significant increase in deaths in custody (seven this year, up from one) raises concerns about the ageing prisoner population and delays in processing Early Release on Compassionate Grounds (ERCG).
  • Persistent problems with lost or damaged prisoner property continue to be the largest source of complaints and IMB applications, having worsened despite previous HMPPS attention.
  • Critical infrastructure repairs, including leaking roofs in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) and a living block, remain unresolved and will not be addressed until a long-term expansion project is completed.
  • The lack of 24-hour out-of-hours healthcare provision is a serious concern, particularly for the increasing number of elderly and disabled prisoners.
  • Inadequate access to purposeful activity, with long waits for courses and a lack of accredited qualifications, hinders prisoner progression and resettlement.
  • Staffing reductions, due to detached duty and sickness, have negatively impacted the delivery of core services, including key worker sessions and mandatory drug testing.
2025 PRISON Concerns Hewell
Published 20 Feb 2026 · 1,008 prisoners
Self-harm: 755 Assaults: 334 Staff assaults: 144
HMP Hewell, a local Category B reception prison, continues to face significant challenges from overcrowding, high population churn, and court backlogs, despite dedicated efforts by staff. Positive developments include a reduction in self-harm, a proportionate approach to use of force, and impactful peer mentorship schemes, alongside strong commitment to equality. However, profound concerns persist regarding mental health provision, limited purposeful activity, the quality of regime and accommodation, and the high number of men released without secure housing, with several issues repeated from previous reports.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding and cell sharing, leading to discomfort, conflict, and difficulties in cell maintenance.
  • Persistent court backlogs causing high numbers of long-term remand prisoners and population churn.
  • High levels of mental ill health and prolonged waits for appropriate services, with frequent use of segregation for unwell individuals and Governors overriding healthcare assessments.
  • Inconsistent and low-level delivery of formal key working.
  • Insufficient purposeful activity and employment opportunities, compounded by population churn affecting education completion.
  • Inadequate social visits, lack of a child contact room, and no refreshments for visitors.
  • Risk to the continuation of the 'Here to Help' peer mentorship programme due to insecure funding.
  • Lack of IT access for prisoners, hindering skills development and prison efficiency.
  • Staffing issues including inexperience, distraction, and restrictions on local recruitment for Band 3 staff.
  • A significant proportion of men leaving the prison without arranged accommodation.
2025 PRISON Concerns Usk and Prescoed
Published 19 Feb 2026
Self-harm: 8 Assaults: 10 Staff assaults: 0
HMP Usk and Prescoed are generally well-managed establishments with strong leadership, where prisoners report feeling safe and experience positive staff relations. However, the Board raises significant concerns regarding the welfare and progression of specific prisoner groups, particularly IPP prisoners, and elderly/disabled individuals requiring social care. Challenges related to staffing, the impact of early release schemes on rehabilitation, and delays in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) are highlighted as key areas needing intervention from both the Minister and HMPPS.
Key concerns identified
  • The lack of recategorisation and level of recalls for IPP prisoners remains a concern, with an increase from 10 to 11 across both prisons.
  • Rising number of prisoners with limited mobility and other disabilities face worries about access to personal social care from HMPPS, particularly for those who are frail or have cognitive challenges.
  • The early release scheme risks becoming standard practice, leading to constant turnover and insufficient time for meaningful rehabilitation through ROTL in Category D open prisons.
  • An increase in the average time required to achieve Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) at HMP Prescoed, involving several external agencies.
  • The ageing population at HMP Usk presents significant challenges for both general and palliative healthcare, requiring additional resources and funding, and the current infrastructure is not well-suited for older individuals.
  • The changed profile of prisoners at HMP Prescoed, due to overcrowding strategies, means some prisoners lack sufficient time for ROTL and require an expanded offering of purposeful activities.
  • Insufficient phones at HMP Prescoed and a lack of privacy for prisoners using them.
2025 PRISON Concerns Dovegate
Published 17 Feb 2026 · 1,160 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,018
HMP Dovegate, a Category B training prison, experienced an increase in self-harm incidents and use of force during the reporting period, alongside five deaths in custody. Key concerns include a lack of specialist resources and exit plans for prisoners with personality disorders, significant pressure on offender management due to policy changes, and disruptions to the Therapeutic Community. Positively, education attendance and achievements are strong, and the Board notes improvements in property management, healthcare access, and various purposeful activity initiatives.
Key concerns identified
  • 505 individuals self-harmed during the reporting period, with 1018 total incidents, an increase from the previous year.
  • Use of force has increased, partly due to a policy on rigid bar handcuffs for non-compliant transfers.
  • There is a need for more specialist resources to manage prisoners with personality disorders, as CSU staff lack expertise and exit plans for these prisoners are often non-existent.
  • Changing policies on sentence calculations and release dates have placed significant pressure on the Offender Management Unit (OMU) resource and impacted sentence plans.
  • Increased numbers of recalls significantly impact OMU workload, and the short timeframes for recalls (14/28 days) are deemed insufficient for effective resettlement support.
  • A significant backlog exists in formalising Oasys sentence plans, hindering progression and resettlement.
  • The demand for specialised mental health and personality disorder provision remains higher than available, lacking a structured plan for increased spaces and staff.
  • Therapeutic Community stability has been disrupted by policy changes, leading men to leave therapy early, increasing churn and drug availability.
  • Late arrivals of prisoners at HMP Dovegate, sometimes after midnight, cause issues for both reception staff and prisoners.
  • A lack of suitable long-term accommodation near work placements hinders successful employment upon release.
2025 PRISON Concerns Doncaster
Published 5 Feb 2026 · 1,145 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,063 Assaults: 303
HMP Doncaster was rated the top local prison nationally, demonstrating strong performance in areas like refurbishment and support services. Despite an improved regime and full staffing, significant challenges persist, including increased prisoner violence due to overcrowding, and persistent, prolonged delays in mental health transfers. The IMB highlights critical issues such as national probation staffing deficits, property management concerns, and unanswered cell bells, calling for urgent attention from government and prison management.
Key concerns identified
  • Prolonged delays transferring mentally ill patients to secure hospitals.
  • The continued high number of prisoners doubled up in single-cell accommodation.
  • Prisoner violence has seen an increase, largely due to overcrowding, an increase in out-of-area prisoners and gang-related issues.
  • Significant backlog in the vetting system causing lengthy delays for new officers and staff.
  • The national Probation Service is critically understaffed and poorly managed, impacting support for prisoners pre- and post-release.
  • The continued high number of cell bells unanswered within the required timeframe.
  • Internal property issues remain a concern for the Board and cause great frustration for prisoners.
2025 PRISON Concerns Werrington
Published 4 Feb 2026 · 84 prisoners
Self-harm: 56 Assaults: 185 Staff assaults: 131
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.
Key concerns identified
  • The general level of violence, its severity, and the number of fights and assaults remain very concerning.
  • A further increase in young people self-isolating, often driven by fear of others, is a significant worry.
  • Time out of room continues to be poor, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, despite some improvements.
  • The Board is concerned about the increase in the use of force incidents during the reporting year.
  • The ingress and circulation of illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, remains a problematic issue.
  • Delays in the vetting process for staff and IMB members are significantly impacting operations.
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