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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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2025 PRISON Concerns North West and Midlands STHF
Published 3 Oct 2025
The North West and Midlands STHF IMB monitors multiple short-term holding facilities, including residential, port, and reporting centre locations. The Board highlights commendable aspects like care for children and professional detainee inductions, but expresses significant concerns regarding detainee welfare. Key issues include a lack of access to personal medication, inadequate medical provision outside Manchester RSTHF, compromised safety and dignity for women and during transfers, and poor conditions at some facilities like East Midlands Airport.
Key concerns identified
  • Detained individuals are consistently denied access to their own medication across facilities.
  • Most facilities lack full-time medical professionals, relying on emergency NHS services for healthcare needs, which the Board finds unsatisfactory.
  • The safety and dignity of women are compromised by being housed in a corridor with male accommodation at Manchester RSTHF.
  • Holyhead Port lacks a secure vehicle bay, leading to transfers being conducted in public view and a low rail near the dock posing a safety risk.
  • East Midlands Airport's holding room is inadequate, lacking hot food, a television, and essential safety/security upgrades like CCTV, with detainees sometimes held in the Controlled Waiting Area.
  • There is a concern regarding the slow rectification of structural and equipment deficiencies across all facilities, exemplified by cold and draughty conditions at Birmingham Airport.
  • A consistent approach to control and restraint training needs rolling out to all staff for uniformity across the estate.
2025 PRISON Concerns Pentonville
Published 2 Oct 2025 · 1,180 prisoners
Self-harm: 565 Assaults: 444 Staff assaults: 240
HMP Pentonville, a category B local prison, faced significant challenges including severe overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure, and a rise in drug use. While some improvements were noted in safety management, the Board raised serious concerns about inhumane living conditions, inadequate key work provision, and delays in support for vulnerable prisoners. The report highlights the impact of capacity pressures on regime delivery and resettlement efforts, stressing the need for urgent investment in the prison's fabric and resources.
Key concerns identified
  • First-night cells were often lacking basic equipment and welfare calls were not always given on arrival.
  • Accurate completion of ACCT documents remains an issue, and the documentation is over-complicated.
  • There was an insufficient number of Listeners in the prison for most of the year.
  • The crumbling fabric of the prison and poor conditions, including vermin infestations and damp cells, remain a serious concern.
  • Minimal levels of key work took place, with no proper system for allocation or monitoring.
  • Pentonville remains a completely unsuitable environment for prisoners with mobility issues.
  • The mosque remained out of use due to extensive flooring damage from an undetected leak.
  • An increase in the availability and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS), often resulting in medical emergencies.
  • Government-imposed measures to reduce prison overcrowding impacted the offender management unit’s ability to fulfil its remit, causing anxiety and frustration.
2025 PRISON Concerns Standford Hill
Published 1 Oct 2025 · 457 prisoners
Assaults: 1
HMP/YOI Standford Hill is an exceptionally well-run Category D prison and YOI with outstanding rehabilitation results, despite challenges from changes in its prisoner population due to early release schemes and TPRS. While the prison maintains a safe and fair regime with significantly improved healthcare and high educational attainment, the Board is concerned about the destabilising effect of short-term prisoner stays on its rehabilitative focus. Key issues include low night staffing, inadequate telephony, and delays in the prison's expansion project.
Key concerns identified
  • The disruption to the prison population has resulted in the prison struggling to maintain its effectiveness as a vehicle for rehabilitation. It is essential that open prisons are given the stability to focus on rehabilitation, and this can only come with a more stable and appropriate prison population.
  • Standford Hill’s initiative in establishing a prison shop is to be commended, but it could be improved by employing staff with the right level of experience or provide training in running retail businesses. If the management of the shop can be improved, the service should consider a bigger premises with a more ambitious remit in order to serve the prisoners better.
  • Staffing levels at night are very low, raising concerns about whether the prison is adequately resourced to respond effectively to unexpected incidents.
  • Technology to validate release on temporary licence (ROTL) has been suggested in previous reports - we believe this needs to be implemented to save significant staff costs.
  • The provision of PIN phones has been discussed for a very long time. It needs to be implemented to support relationships and rehabilitation.
  • While we appreciate that the prison has tried to obtain authorisation for non-internet mobile phones, this needs to be pursued. The current telephony provision is inadequate.
2025 PRISON Concerns Coldingley
Published 30 Sep 2025 · 513 prisoners
Staff assaults: 3
HMP Coldingley, a Category C resettlement and training prison, faced significant challenges this year due to accelerated prisoner churn, impacting safety, healthcare, and purposeful activity. While improved staffing led to better regime and communication, issues like widespread drug availability, delayed cell refurbishment, and slow mental health transfers remain key concerns. The Board noted positive efforts in staff-prisoner relationships and education but highlighted the need for systemic improvements in property handling and monitoring of progress.
Key concerns identified
  • The destabilising effects of accelerated prisoner churn, impacting safety, behaviour, healthcare, education, and resettlement.
  • Significant delays in the refurbishment project to install in-cell sanitation, leaving over a third of prisoners without facilities.
  • The widespread availability of drugs and illicit substances across the prison site.
  • The persistent challenge of staff retention and the impact of new immigration visa rules on newer staff.
  • The slow transfer process for mentally unwell prisoners, often resulting in prolonged unsuitable segregation.
  • Insufficient recording of use of force incidents on camera.
  • The continued prevalence of property-related complaints due to inadequate handling systems.
  • A 'loitering culture' with many men not engaged in purposeful activity during core hours.
2025 PRISON Concerns Wealstun
Published 25 Sep 2025 · 908 prisoners
Assaults: 213 Staff assaults: 65
HMP Wealstun has experienced a substantial increase in prisoner receptions and churn, impacting stability, staff workload, and resettlement efforts. Key concerns include rising violence, persistent drug availability, and poor conditions in older wings, alongside insufficient time out of cell and challenges faced by IPP prisoners. The Board notes good healthcare provision and well-managed segregation, but highlights staff retention issues, inconsistent regime application, and delays in drug test results.
Key concerns identified
  • The significant increase in prisoner receptions and churn has negatively impacted prison stability, staff workload, and resettlement opportunities.
  • Persistent availability of illicit substances, contributing to violence and debt, with mandatory drug tests peaking at 44% positive.
  • The poor condition of older wings (A and B) and plans to increase double cells raise significant concerns about decency and humane accommodation.
  • Insufficient time out of cell, particularly for unemployed prisoners or those on a basic regime, remains a concern.
  • Severely mentally ill individuals continue to be housed in prison due to a lack of suitable institutional places.
  • Prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences struggle to make progress through the system and access appropriate courses.
  • Inconsistency in staff communication, regime application, and the fair application of the incentives scheme across different wings.
  • Significant delays in receiving drug test results, hindering prosecutions and affecting prison security.
  • Concerns about officer retention, training adequacy, and the profile of key worker sessions.
2025 PRISON Concerns Winchester
Published 17 Sep 2025 · 629 prisoners
Self-harm: 784 Assaults: 273 Staff assaults: 148
HMP/YOI Winchester continues to face significant challenges including persistent overcrowding, staffing pressures, dilapidated infrastructure, and high levels of self-harm and violence. Despite these issues, the Board notes staff professionalism and adaptive responses, particularly in addressing the HMIP Urgent Notification. The prison is making positive efforts towards improvement, with some progress in repairs and adapting the regime, though key concerns like illicit substance ingress and healthcare provision persist.
Key concerns identified
  • Staffing levels are frequently under pressure, disrupting regime and impacting prisoner welfare, violence, and mental health.
  • Inconsistent provision of activities and education, compounded by over-stretched staffing, high remand population, and budget cuts.
  • A significant increase (28%) in illicit substance finds, linked to increased 'code blue' incidents, violence, and poor prisoner health.
  • Late delivery of prisoners by SERCO contractors, causing staff to work late and impacting welfare.
  • The total number of self-harm incidents (784) remains high and is the highest in its comparator group.
  • Assaults on staff (148) and prisoner-on-prisoner assaults (273) remain high compared to other similar prisons.
  • The use of force incidents (960) is 40% higher than the comparator group average.
  • Accommodation is overcrowded and dilapidated, with most single cells housing two inmates, and significant building repair delays (e.g., CSU, control room).
  • The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) capacity is frequently reduced due to cells being out of action, and it is inappropriately used for prisoners in acute mental health crisis.
  • Healthcare complaints increased, and doctor visits to the CSU did not meet required frequencies.
  • The high proportion of men on remand (over 70%) affects participation in purposeful activity and contributes to churn.
  • Resettlement planning is under pressure from early release schemes and high caseloads for staff.
2025 PRISON Concerns North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHF
Published 16 Sep 2025
Self-harm: 1 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 1
The IMB report for North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHFs highlights generally positive staff-detainee interactions and a relaxed atmosphere at Swinderby RSTHF, but raises significant concerns across the wider STHF estate. Key issues include inadequate risk identification processes, the inhumane policy of confiscating medication, and the unsuitability of several holding facilities. The Board's ability to monitor effectively is severely hampered by restricted access to records and persistent unresponsiveness from the Home Office regarding critical concerns, including medical confidentiality breaches and emergency response failures.
Key concerns identified
  • Inadequate reception interviews for risk identification and lack of privacy at Swinderby RSTHF.
  • Ongoing concerns regarding Home Office policy preventing detainees from taking their own medication for pre-existing conditions.
  • Unsuitable physical conditions and routine use of handcuffing at some port and reporting centre STHFs (e.g., Leeds Bradford, Hull, Sheffield Vulcan House).
  • Significant restrictions on the IMB's access to STHF records, compromising effective and independent monitoring.
  • A serious breach of medical confidentiality and shortcomings in emergency healthcare response following an attempted suicide at Swinderby.
  • The Home Office's consistent failure to respond promptly and adequately to IMB concerns and escalations.
2024 PRISON Concerns Hollesley Bay
Published 16 Sep 2025
Self-harm: 5 Assaults: 11
HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay is an open prison and YOI that operates as a safe and humane environment, with a strong focus on prisoner progression and resettlement. While HMIP's inspection yielded positive results and healthcare generally meets needs, the Board raises concerns about the impact of early release schemes on prison workload, a failing property transfer system, and the ongoing need for estate investment. Recommendations are made to the Minister, Prison Service, and Governor on issues including IPP re-sentencing, healthcare appointment management, and the provision of single rooms.
Key concerns identified
  • The ongoing challenge of re-sentencing for IPP prisoners in the open estate.
  • The significant workload and pressure placed on prison departments by temporary early release schemes (SDS40).
  • The failing system for transferring prisoner property between establishments, leading to increased complaints.
  • The constant need for increased investment in capital projects and maintenance for the prison estate, including rusting modular units.
  • Persistent issues with 'did not attends' (DNAs) for healthcare appointments, wasting resources.
  • The Board's continued advocacy for single room accommodation for all prisoners to enhance privacy and dignity.
2025 PRISON Concerns Swinfen Hall
Published 12 Sep 2025 · 616 prisoners
HMP Swinfen Hall continued to struggle, delivering reduced outcomes for young adults despite considerable efforts by the leadership. The prison is under-resourced, leading to safety concerns, staff confidence issues, and frequent weekend wing closures. Key areas like purposeful activity, staff-young adult relationships, and the paper-based application system remain inadequate. While some security improvements were noted, the overall regime and support for complex needs, including neurodiversity, require significant development.
Key concerns identified
  • The prison continued to struggle to deliver the improved outcomes planned for young adults in the last 12 months and in some areas has provided reduced outcomes.
  • The prison is under resourced and fails to be recognised for the very specialist role it carries out with a high-risk population that presents with many issues.
  • The Board has consistently been told by both staff and young adults that they consider the prison to be fundamentally unsafe.
  • Many wing-based staff lack confidence, or are too scared, to direct and challenge young adults over poor behaviour, and to build meaningful relationships.
  • Reduced availability of staff due to sickness, unauthorised absence, restricted duties, suspension, resulting in wing closures especially at weekends.
  • Failures to search thoroughly for weapons resulted in increased injuries.
  • Significant delays in timely production of OASYS reports for recently sentenced young adults.
  • The paper-based applications (prisoners’ written representations) system is not effective and the promised review to make improvements was not delivered.
  • Not enough purposeful activity places were available, and the curriculum lacked ambition and was impacted by staff absence and unfilled vacancies.
  • Relationships between staff and young adults were too inconsistent, with key work sessions held infrequently, if at all, for most young adults, a reflection of the considerable inexperience among the staff group.
  • The prison lacks enhanced gate security to prevent illicit substances from being smuggled into the prison.
  • When will the prison be provided with kiosks and young adults with laptops to facilitate improved communications and ease the many unnecessary frustrations the Board observes young adults enduring every day?
  • The HMPPS prison officer appointment process continues to result in some unsuitable appointments.
  • What is the roadmap to end the practice of constant wing closures at weekends where young adults are held in patrol state for half of every weekend day?
  • When can the Governor commit to introduce a fully operational key worker scheme?
  • Can the Governor ensure the regime reset and current staff training model will address the imbalance between negative (>80%) and positive (<20%) entries on young adults computer records?
2025 PRISON Concerns Send
Published 10 Sep 2025 · 245 prisoners
Self-harm: 590 Assaults: 45 Staff assaults: 14
HMP Send, a closed prison for adult women, managed a population of 245 prisoners against an operational capacity of 255. The Board commended staff efforts in ensuring safety and positive relationships, noting improvements in complaint handling. However, the report highlighted significant increases in self-harm, assaults, and use of force incidents, along with persistent concerns regarding the adequacy of mental health provision for complex needs prisoners, the lack of digital technology access, and issues with inter-prison transfers.
Key concerns identified
  • The needs of complex individuals with multiple mental health issues are not adequately met in prison, and such prisoners take up a disproportionate amount of staff time.
  • Continued detention and repeated recalls of IPP prisoners for relatively small breaches of licence conditions are considered unfair and inhumane.
  • There are concerning safety trends, including a significant increase in self-harm incidents, assaults (particularly prisoner-on-prisoner), ACCTs opened, and use of force incidents.
  • Drugs are reported to be available on one particular wing, posing a safety concern.
  • Problems persist with poor communication between prisons regarding health information and missing property during transfers, causing delays in medication and other issues.
  • The Board is concerned by the routine practice of using escort chains during intimate medical examinations or confidential consultations outside the prison, and by the number of prisoners declining breast screening.
  • Prisoners lack adequate access to digital technology, hindering their preparation for life in a digital society, and perceived the Incentives Policy as unfair.
2025 PRISON Concerns Styal
Published 9 Sep 2025
HMP/YOI Styal, a local women's prison, grapples with a complex population, leading to concerns about high self-harm rates and an increased number of deaths in custody. The Board highlights persistent issues with estate maintenance, fire safety, and a lack of consistent staff supervision on houses, which impacts prisoner safety and regime delivery. Despite improvements in healthcare and education attendance, significant delays in mental health transfers and pressure on resettlement accommodation remain critical challenges.
Key concerns identified
  • The increased number of complex and mentally unwell prisoners compromises safety, leading to high self-harm rates and an increased number of deaths in custody.
  • Long-standing maintenance and repair delays across the prison estate, particularly in the houses, compromise decency standards and pose fire safety risks.
  • Lack of consistent staff supervision on the houses and inadequate staffing for escorts impacts safety, prisoner access to support, and regime delivery.
  • Significant delays in transferring severely unwell prisoners to appropriate mental health placements and insecure medication storage remain critical issues.
  • The incentives scheme is not robust or fair, and opportunities for prisoner voice and effective monitoring of equality and diversity have declined.
  • Insufficient activity spaces and significant pressure on finding accommodation for prisoners on release, exacerbated by short-term recall prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT)
Published 4 Sep 2025
The Independent Monitoring Board's Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT) observed 12 charter operations during the reporting year, highlighting ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals removed from the UK. Key issues include the removal of vulnerable people, the inhumane duration of in-vehicle confinement for returnees, and an increase in the use of restraint. The Board also noted improvements in interpreter provision and escort interactions but raised alarms about medical confidentiality and the reliability of interpretation assessments.
Key concerns identified
  • The continued removal of highly vulnerable individuals, including those with severe mental health conditions or at risk of self-harm, often without proper authorisation.
  • The consistently long periods of in-vehicle confinement for returnees, often through the night, deemed unfair and inhumane by the Board.
  • Unreliable processes for identifying interpretation needs and the inconsistent provision and explanation of professional interpreting support.
  • An increase in the use of restraint on returnees, coupled with concerns about the accuracy and completeness of use of force documentation.
  • The potential breach of medical confidentiality due to the mass handover of returnees' prescribed medication and medical notes to receiving authorities.
  • Inadequate and unsanitary toilet facilities on coaches, including lack of privacy, and the demeaning use of disposable urine bags in vans.
2025 PRISON Concerns Downview
Published 3 Sep 2025 · 319 prisoners
Self-harm: 728 Assaults: 30 Staff assaults: 36
HMP/YOI Downview, a women's closed prison and YOI, reported an average population of 319 against an operational capacity of 356. Key concerns include significant delays in mental health transfers for acutely unwell prisoners, persistently low rates of Release on Temporary Licence, and extremely high levels of property loss during inter-prison transfers. While staffing levels were generally healthy, the Board noted inconsistencies in staff effectiveness and operational oversight, alongside ongoing impacts of population pressure on safety and regime delivery.
Key concerns identified
  • Acutely mentally unwell prisoners continue to be segregated in the CSU, awaiting transfer to appropriate psychiatric facilities, with staff lacking specialist training.
  • The prison continues to experience extremely high levels of property loss and damage for prisoners transferring from other establishments, with HMPPS systems proving ineffective.
  • Access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) remains alarmingly low, hindering resettlement efforts despite available employment links.
  • Population pressure continues to negatively impact prisoner outcomes, including increased self-harm, violence, and transfers away from family networks.
  • Inconsistent staff effectiveness in resolving basic prisoner issues, alongside poor operational oversight and meeting attendance, contributes to prisoner frustration.
  • Concerns persist regarding the lack of enhanced gate security and the rising presence of illicit drugs, including synthetic opioids.
2025 PRISON Concerns Oakwood
Published 27 Aug 2025 · 2,135 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,366 Assaults: 132 Staff assaults: 91
HMP Oakwood, a Category C training prison, generally provides a safe environment with reductions in self-harm incidents and prisoner-on-prisoner violence. The prison has seen significant improvements in healthcare provision, with CQC breaches lifted, and positive developments in purposeful activity and prisoner-staff relationships. Key challenges include persistent understaffing in the Probation Service, ongoing delays in mental health transfers, and issues with property management and the availability of complaint forms for prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • The Probation Service in the OMU remains understaffed, impacting the management of high-risk and IPP prisoners.
  • All transfers to secure mental health facilities continue to exceed the 28-day stipulated timeframe.
  • The Board no longer receives clinical reviews from PPO reports on deaths in custody, limiting monitoring.
  • There are ongoing issues with property policy adherence, particularly missing property for incoming prisoners.
  • Inconsistent standards during food service at serveries, including PPE use and equipment functionality, remain a concern.
  • There are persistent issues with the availability of prison and health complaint forms on houseblocks.
2025 PRISON Concerns North Sea Camp
Published 20 Aug 2025 · 296 prisoners
Self-harm: 1 Assaults: 5 Staff assaults: 1
HMP North Sea Camp is a Category D open prison providing a safe and humane environment with a new Governor making positive regime and community engagement changes. While healthcare and education services receive commendations, significant concerns persist around inadequate accommodation standards, particularly for double rooms and dormitories, and the lack of on-site residential healthcare for complex needs. The Board also highlights issues with delayed Offender Assessment System (OASys) completion by Community Offender Managers and the ongoing lack of progress for IPP prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • The size of double rooms is unsuitable and does not comply with PSIs when used by two prisoners, making it impossible to fit adequate furniture.
  • There are no on-site residential healthcare facilities, meaning prisoners with complex medical or end-of-life conditions must remain on units or be transferred externally.
  • Ongoing delays with Community Offender Managers completing OASys assessments for prisoners, causing delays to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) applications.
  • Little tangible progress continues to be made regarding the plight of IPP prisoners.
  • The quality of some accommodation is poor, and despite proposals, there has been no progress in replacing or converting dormitories to smaller, more suitable rooms.
  • Prisoners' property frequently does not arrive in its entirety on transfer, leading to long waits and potential loss of personal and legal documents.
2025 PRISON Concerns The Mount
Published 19 Aug 2025 · 1,022 prisoners
Self-harm: 343 Assaults: 138 Staff assaults: 71
HMP The Mount's IMB report highlights a period of little significant change, despite staff's efforts to manage challenges like drugs and overcrowding. While staff-prisoner interactions and healthcare provision showed improvements, key concerns persist regarding the inadequate support for IPP prisoners, severe overcrowding impacting living conditions, and limited purposeful activity opportunities. The Board also noted issues with property management and the unsuitability of the reception area.
Key concerns identified
  • The continuing influx of drugs and mobile phones, primarily via drones, exacerbating debt and organised crime within the prison.
  • The prolonged detention of IPP prisoners beyond their sentences due to insufficient programmes, courses, and support for progression towards release.
  • Overcrowding, particularly the doubling up of single cells, which is unsuitable for the prison's cohort, especially older prisoners with health issues.
  • Limited opportunities for purposeful activity, work, and education, further compounded by workshop closures for renovation and potential reductions in education provision.
  • The frequent short-term transfer of prisoners close to their release dates, disrupting resettlement planning and causing distress.
  • Persistent accessibility issues for disabled prisoners, including poor wheelchair access and long distances between essential services.
  • Ongoing problems with prisoners' property, particularly for those transferring between establishments, and inadequate reception space.
2025 PRISON Concerns Berwyn
Published 15 Aug 2025
Self-harm: 1,689 Assaults: 525 Staff assaults: 212
HMP Berwyn, a Category C training prison with an operational capacity of 2000, also accommodates B category and remand prisoners. While the Board noted improvements in staff training, purposeful activity, and resettlement outcomes, the prison continues to face significant challenges. These include high levels of self-harm, violence, and drug use, as well as critical issues with mental health provision, particularly long waiting times for secure hospital transfers and the appropriateness of holding mentally unwell individuals in the CSU. Substandard cell conditions, inconsistent key worker provision, and difficulties ensuring adequate time out of cell for working prisoners remain ongoing concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • Ingress of drugs remains a constant battle, with high incidents of prisoners being under the influence of illicit substances and violence.
  • In-cell fires and vandalism have increased, often stemming from fear of violence and demands for relocation.
  • Many prisoners are brought in from out of the area, creating challenges for family contact and gang management.
  • Large numbers of prisoners with mental health issues are held in conditions not designed for their needs, exacerbated by inadequate officer training and a severe lack of secure hospital spaces leading to prolonged waits for transfer.
  • Early release schemes reduce time for prisoners to complete rehabilitation courses, obtain qualifications, and adequately prepare for resettlement, further impacted by the Wrexham Borough Council policy of assessing housing only on the day of release.
  • Substandard cell conditions persist due to a halted refurbishment programme, and medication cannot be dispensed over weekends if prisoners arrive late on Fridays.
  • Key worker provision remains inconsistent, and digital food thermometers are frequently out of order due to stolen batteries.
2025 PRISON Concerns Erlestoke
Published 14 Aug 2025 · 515 prisoners
Self-harm: 318 Assaults: 141 Staff assaults: 105
HMP Erlestoke is a Category C training and resettlement prison with an operational capacity of 512. The Board observed improvements in healthcare attendance and use of force scrutiny, alongside a decrease in staff turnover. However, significant concerns remain regarding the deteriorating healthcare building, the pervasive availability of illicit substances, and the inadequate provision for vulnerable prisoners, including the elderly and those requiring essential medication on transfer.
Key concerns identified
  • The poor standard and maintenance of induction cells and the lack of clear guidance for new arrivals.
  • The continued availability of illicit substances despite enhanced security measures.
  • The deteriorating and insufficient healthcare building, leading to issues with decency, confidentiality, and space.
  • Challenges with healthcare provision, including prisoners arriving without essential medication, frequent loss of hospital appointments due to escort shortages, and lack of nicotine replacement therapy.
  • The inability to adequately manage frail and elderly prisoners within the main estate and the high caseload of offender managers.
  • The ineffective operation of the prison council and the persistence of property loss during transfers and cell clearances.
2025 PRISON Concerns Rochester
Published 12 Aug 2025 · 644 prisoners
Rochester experienced an exceptionally challenging year marked by leadership instability and an HMIP Urgent Notification highlighting long-standing failures. While safety metrics showed improvement and staff interactions with prisoners were generally positive, the prison grappled with dilapidated infrastructure, persistent property issues, and staffing shortages impacting the regime. Major cohort changes were implemented too quickly, creating significant logistical demands.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent lack of consistent senior leadership created a significant lack of structure and impacted the prison's ability to address issues.
  • The HMIP Urgent Notification highlighted long-standing failures, with recommendations from a 2021 inspection still unaddressed, particularly in respect, purposeful activity, and preparation for release.
  • The prison's Edwardian-built wings continue to deteriorate, barely meeting acceptable accommodation standards, with ongoing issues like mould and vermin.
  • Major strategic changes, including the Cookham Wood merger and the introduction of PCoSOs, were implemented too quickly with insufficient planning, causing significant logistical and operational disruption.
  • Staffing shortages due to high sickness and inexperience frequently lead to restricted regimes and limited time out of cell for prisoners.
  • Ongoing problems with property loss during transfers and internal moves persist, exacerbated by a failure to implement volumetric control.
  • There is a lack of trainers and tutors in Education and Skills, and insufficient provision of behavioural programmes, particularly for PCoSOs, impacting resettlement.
2025 PRISON Concerns Rye Hill
Published 8 Aug 2025 · 840 prisoners
Self-harm: 235 Assaults: 27
HMP Rye Hill, a privately run Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, successfully managed a significant expansion and recategorisation during the reporting year. The prison saw a considerable reduction in violence, self-harm, and use of force, alongside an 'outstanding' CQC rating for its healthcare provision. Key concerns persist regarding the ongoing injustice of IPP sentences, the complexities of the compassionate release process, and issues with prisoner property and hospital escort availability.
Key concerns identified
  • The lack of a centrally directed, long-term solution to the injustice of the IPP sentence and its impact on the mental health and wellbeing of affected prisoners.
  • The need for government initiatives to facilitate national partnerships for employment for prisoners convicted of sexual offences (PCoSOs) and encourage appropriate employment opportunities on release.
  • The compassionate release process remains unnecessarily difficult, with specific requirements leading to applications not being completed before death.
  • The need for increased staff to avoid rationing hospital escorts, given the ageing population and high demand.
  • Concerns regarding property lost on transfer, especially sensitive documentation, and the need for improved checking processes.
  • Questions regarding the reliability of the prison body scanner and its impact on CSU placements.
  • A sense of hopelessness among many IPP prisoners and a potential gap in one-to-one targeted support for more complex prisoners.
2025 PRISON Concerns Ranby
Published 6 Aug 2025
Self-harm: 533 Assaults: 265 Staff assaults: 82
HMP Ranby, a Category C training prison, faced significant challenges in the reporting year, including a high level of violence, persistent issues with illicit substances, and severe overcrowding. The Board noted ongoing concerns regarding the deteriorating estate, the rising proportion of inexperienced staff, and significant delays in mental health transfers. Despite its training designation, the prison continues to house a high proportion of short-term resettlement prisoners who cannot access appropriate courses.
Key concerns identified
  • High level of violence in the prison, including prisoner-on-prisoner assaults.
  • Illicit substances continue to enter the prison, with high availability, including through drones and thrown packages.
  • Significant delays in transferring prisoners with mental health issues from the CSU to appropriate facilities.
  • Deteriorating estate condition, including shabby shower/toilet blocks, bedbug problems, and persistent overcrowding.
  • Ongoing issues with loss or misplacement of prisoners' property during transfers, causing distress and frustration.
  • HMP Ranby functions more as a resettlement prison (40%) than its designated Category C training role (60%), exacerbated by a high churn of short-term prisoners who cannot access rehabilitative courses.
  • A rising proportion of inexperienced staff, lacking life skills and empathy for vulnerable prisoners, compounded by key workers being pulled from duties due to staff shortages.
  • Persistent problems with the canteen system, including incorrect orders, delayed refunds, and inadequate contract management.
  • Complaint forms (including IMB and IPCI ombudsman forms) have not been readily available on the house blocks despite repeated concerns raised.
  • Healthcare staffing shortages contributing to delayed responses to prisoner complaints.
2024 PRISON Concerns Humber
Published 5 Aug 2025 · 1,034 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,175 Assaults: 238 Staff assaults: 104
HMP Humber, a Category C resettlement prison, experienced significant challenges in 2024 due to high prisoner turnover and population pressures. While the Board commends management's efforts in maintaining safety and improving regime stability, issues persist concerning property loss, inadequate purposeful activity, and cell sharing. Healthcare provision is improving but faces space and recruitment challenges, while key worker schemes are compromised by staffing shortages.
Key concerns identified
  • The high level of 'short time to release' prisoners creates significant 'churn' pressure, impacting regime, education, employment, and the OMU.
  • There are not enough education, skills or workplaces, leading to low attendance and too many prisoners being released to no fixed abode.
  • Prisoner property loss during transfers remains an unacceptable and long-standing issue, exacerbated by increased churn.
  • 256 prisoners are sharing cells designated for single occupancy, which the Board views as unsatisfactory or not decent.
  • Key worker sessions are severely compromised by high prisoner turnover and staffing pressures, leading to low figures.
  • Healthcare providers face additional workload from population turnover and drug/alcohol issues, with oversubscribed clinic space and some weak medicines management.
2024 IRC Concerns Yarl’s Wood IRC
Published 5 Aug 2025 · 388 prisoners
Self-harm: 57 Staff assaults: 7
Yarl's Wood IRC experienced a 40% increase in detainee throughput in 2024, operating close to its 444-person capacity. While staff are commended for humane treatment and effective incident management, concerns persist regarding high levels of violence, inappropriate detention of vulnerable individuals, and poor information sharing. The Board highlights issues with prolonged detention, slow casework progression, and the inappropriate use of the CSU for mental health cases, noting that staff recruitment and retention remain challenging.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent high levels of violence, linked to the proportion of Time Served Foreign National Offenders (TSFNOs) and detainee frustration over prolonged detention.
  • Inappropriate detention of vulnerable individuals with significant mental health problems, including their prolonged housing in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) due to a shortage of specialist beds and poor information sharing from prisons.
  • Safeguarding concerns, including the shared CSU for male and female detainees and issues with visual access between male and female units leading to unwelcome comments.
  • Lengthy and uncertain detention periods, especially for TSFNOs, contributing to detainee frustration, anger, and deteriorating mental health, compounded by slow casework progression and bail accommodation delays.
  • Inconsistent application of rules and potentially inhumane treatment, such as threats of force for administrative transfers and routine handcuffing of detainees during hospital visits.
  • Challenges in healthcare provision due to a lack of medical history for new arrivals, particularly from the prison estate, which delays essential medication and assessment.
2024 PRISON Concerns Isle of Wight
Published 1 Aug 2025 · 951 prisoners
Self-harm: 911 Assaults: 133 Staff assaults: 123
HMP Isle of Wight saw a less safe environment in 2024, with significant increases in assaults, self-harm, and use of force, largely attributed to rising drug availability and staffing pressures, especially among probation and mental health teams. Key concerns include a lack of secure hospital beds for mentally ill prisoners, long healthcare waiting times, and issues with the regime, including poor laundry facilities and food service. The Board highlights improvements in education attendance, neurodiversity support, and some aspects of reception and induction, while also noting repeated recommendations regarding mental health transfers and probation staffing remain unaddressed.
Key concerns identified
  • The prison is a less safe environment than last year for prisoners and staff, with significant increases in staff assaults and prisoner-on-prisoner violence.
  • There is an increased availability of illicit drugs, particularly Spice, and consequential prisoner debt, which are major contributory factors to the increased violence.
  • Equality appears to be of lower priority due to the unreplaced full-time equality manager role, impacting the timeliness of discrimination complaints.
  • The prison faces considerable challenges with prisoners requiring mental health transfers to secure hospitals, highlighting a lack of sufficient beds.
  • Staffing shortages and contract issues contribute to excessively long waiting times for GP and dental appointments.
  • The chronic shortage of qualified probation officers persists, leading to delayed categorisations and unsustainable workloads.
  • There is no robust system for identifying and assessing prisoner social care needs, especially for the increasing elderly population.
  • The number of prisoners on open ACCT plans in the SARU is concerningly high, given the exceptional nature of such segregation.
  • The lack of enhanced security gates at both sites facilitates the ingress of illicit items, contributing to safety issues.
  • Workshops and family visit waiting facilities require urgent repair and funding.
  • Many adjudications are procedurally incorrect or dismissed, indicating issues with the disciplinary process.
  • Poor condition of food trolleys, issues with food temperature, portion control, and servery supervision negatively impact prisoner welfare.
  • The central laundry has been out of operation since 2021, and there are ongoing problems with washing machines and dryers on wings.
2025 PRISON Concerns Moorland
Published 31 Jul 2025 · 1,021 prisoners
Self-harm: 600 Assaults: 132 Staff assaults: 43
HMP/YOI Moorland faced significant pressures this year from a high turnover of prisoners and early release schemes, yet reception staff performed well. While positive developments include improved ACCT records, successful translation programs, and some regime liberalisations, the report highlights concerns over increased violence, self-harm, and use of force. Key areas for development include addressing overcrowding (single cells as doubles), improving healthcare quality and access, and enhancing rehabilitation and purposeful activity for prisoners, particularly for IPPs.
Key concerns identified
  • The continued use of small single cells as doubles, with barely screened toilets, raises concerns about dignity and humane treatment.
  • Complaints regarding the quality, quantity, and ordering system of food are rising, with the food comments book often inaccessible.
  • Prisoner-on-prisoner violence and self-harm incidents have increased, as have incidents where force was used.
  • Preventing the availability of illicit items, especially drugs like Spice, remains a constant challenge, with a noticeable spike in 'under the influence' cases.
  • The PPO has raised concerns about the quality of physical healthcare not being equivalent to community standards.
  • There are delays in transferring PIN numbers for prisoners moving from private to public sector establishments, causing anxiety and impeding family contact.
  • Inadequate bandwidth prevents the consistent deployment of body-worn video cameras.
  • The amount of property lost during transfers, exacerbated by high prisoner churn, remains a significant problem.
  • Limited specialised rehabilitation procedures are available for IPP prisoners, leading to persistent low optimism.
  • Mental health waiting times of 5-6 months exclude many short-sentence prisoners from receiving necessary support.
  • The amount of work available in workshops is reported to be lower than in the past, with instructors having to slow pace to occupy prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Morton Hall
Published 30 Jul 2025 · 351 prisoners
Self-harm: 66 Assaults: 32 Staff assaults: 6
HMP Morton Hall, a Category C prison for foreign national offenders, maintained a population of around 350 in 2024. The Board noted good staff-prisoner relationships, improved access to mental healthcare, and increasing educational and vocational opportunities. However, significant concerns included frequent breakdowns of kitchen and unit appliances, persistent issues with lost or delayed prisoner property transfers, and ongoing delays in Home Office processing for release. The Board also highlighted under-resourced purposeful activity in the segregation unit and the library, and a high number of unemployed prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Appliances in the main kitchens frequently break down, posing food safety risks and requiring upgrades.
  • The transfer of prisoners' property between institutions remains problematic, with unacceptable amounts going missing or experiencing significant delays.
  • Delays in Home Office processing for the Early Release Scheme and for prisoners beyond their conditional release date cause frustration and unnecessary pressure on the prison system.
  • The library is under-resourced in staffing, leading to frequent closures and reduced service, hindering this essential rehabilitative function.
  • A high number of prisoners are unemployed or jobseekers, and attendance at education and workshops is concerningly low.
  • There is little purposeful activity and limited educational resources available in the Care and Separation Unit.
2025 PRISON Concerns Leyhill
Published 29 Jul 2025 · 464 prisoners
Self-harm: 22 Assaults: 13
HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, is undergoing significant expansion to increase its operational capacity. While the IMB commends its focus on prisoner safety, humane treatment, and efforts in education and resettlement, it raises concerns regarding delayed parole for IPP prisoners, the lack of approved premises, and persistent issues with unreliable telephony. The Board emphasizes the need to maintain current standards during the expansion and address staffing and property transfer challenges.
Key concerns identified
  • Delay in mobile phone pilot scheme and lack of equivalent communication devices
  • Lack of spaces in approved premises leading to delays in parole/release
  • IPP prisoners remaining incarcerated beyond their indicative tariff dates
  • Unreliability and regular failures of BT PIN phones
  • Food budget not keeping pace with inflation
  • Inefficiency and increased workload of Community Offender Managers (COMs) impacting resettlement
  • Need to increase facilities and staffing levels proportionally to the proposed rise in operational capacity
  • Property transfer issues and failure to apply volumetric limits consistently across establishments
  • Increasing complaints involving intimidation and bullying of vulnerable prisoners
  • Delay in providing an emergency call bell system in wings for less able and elderly prisoners
  • ISFL drug testing failing to reflect local drugs of choice (Subutex and ketamine)
2024 PRISON Concerns Liverpool
Published 28 Jul 2025 · 830 prisoners
Self-harm: 557
HMP Liverpool, a Category B reception prison, continued to improve in some areas under new leadership despite persistent staffing challenges. Concerns escalated regarding prisoner safety, including increased self-harm, violence, and use of force, alongside significant delays in mental health transfers and regime delivery. The prison also struggles with the entry of illicit items and maintenance issues with its Victorian infrastructure.
Key concerns identified
  • The constant struggle to find staff resources, leading to frequent regime cancellations and poor delivery of key worker contact.
  • A significant increase in reported self-harm incidents (from 400 to 557), violence on both prisoners and staff, and use of force incidents (from 334 to 469).
  • Failures in the use of body worn video cameras (BWVC) and an unreliable CCTV infrastructure, impacting monitoring and accountability.
  • Frequent failure to deliver beyond minimum regime, resulting in prisoners being locked in cells for prolonged periods.
  • The inhumane length of time prisoners with severe mental health issues are kept in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) awaiting appropriate hospital transfers.
  • Outstanding prisoner complaints from other establishments, particularly regarding lost property during transfers, remain a persistent problem.
  • The persistent and worsening problem of illicit items (drugs, mobile phones, weapons) entering the prison, despite vigilance.
  • Significant delays in refurbishment works (G wing and new workshops) due to contractor liquidation, leaving 230 bedspaces unavailable and an uncertain timescale.
  • Poor maintenance response times for the old building's infrastructure and electro-mechanical services, impacting security, safety, and decency.
2025 PRISON Concerns Onley
Published 24 Jul 2025 · 737 prisoners
Self-harm: 393 Assaults: 126 Staff assaults: 60
HMP Onley, a Category C prison, experienced a challenging year with significant increases in violence and self-harm incidents. Key concerns include high levels of illicit substances, poor living conditions, and unacceptable waiting times for healthcare. Despite some positive developments in key worker delivery and resettlement initiatives, staffing shortages and backlogs in offender management continue to hinder progression.
Key concerns identified
  • High levels of illicit substances and increased drone activity, impacting safety and security.
  • Significant increases in violence and self-harm incidents, with a high number of prolific self-harmers.
  • Poor and sub-standard living conditions, including cell windows, older cells, exercise yards, and inadequate laundry facilities.
  • Unacceptable long waiting times for general practitioner and dental appointments, with an urgent need for dental chair replacement.
  • Lack of prisoner engagement in meaningful activities and an inadequate number of workspaces.
  • Persistent delays in vetting new staff appointees and significant backlogs in Offender Management System (OASys) completion and sentence planning.
  • Ongoing issues with missing, mislaid, and delayed prisoner property, particularly during transfers.
2024 PRISON Concerns Hull
Published 22 Jul 2025
HMP Hull, a Category B local prison and YOI, faced significant challenges in the reporting year, including a sharp rise in self-harm and assaults, and ongoing issues with overcrowding, vermin, and property transfers. The Board commended improvements in healthcare provision and the development of the industries unit, but expressed concern over national prison capacity, communication protocols, and probation staffing shortages. The Board's own monitoring capacity was severely restricted due to a low number of active members.
Key concerns identified
  • Inadequate capacity within the prison system, leading to double-celling in inadequate spaces and prisoners being held far from support networks.
  • Lack of capital funding for enhanced gate security measures.
  • Persistent significant issues with prisoners' property during transfers between establishments.
  • Insufficient catering budget allocations, requiring the establishment to supplement from other budgets and prisoners to subsidise their diets.
  • Significant resourcing challenges within the Probation Team, impacting support for prisoners pre- and post-release.
  • Poor communication protocols from prison officers to the IMB regarding serious incidents and segregation reviews.
  • Ongoing issues with vermin infestation, particularly in the Victorian section of the establishment.
  • A sharp rise in incidents of self-harm and assaults on both prisoners and staff.
2025 PRISON Concerns Thorn Cross
Published 18 Jul 2025
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 4 Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Thorn Cross maintains a safe and rehabilitative environment with positive staff-prisoner relationships and strong support for education and community employment. Despite these strengths, significant concerns include an inadequate kitchen, persistent issues with illicit items, and challenges in mental health engagement. Delays in infrastructure projects and restricted gym access during non-working hours also require urgent attention.
Key concerns identified
  • The kitchen is inadequate for the prison's size, impacting food quality, with a promised new kitchen repeatedly delayed.
  • Illicit items, particularly steroids, continue to be found, contributing to a worrying rise in adjudications.
  • Despite efforts, engagement with mental health services remains low, suggesting ongoing stigma or prioritisation of employment over mental wellbeing.
  • Reduced gym access during evenings and weekends due to staffing limitations frustrates men, especially those engaged in community work.
  • The new OMU building was demolished due to significant faults, leading to considerable delays and indicating a failure in building project monitoring.
  • There is an increasing trend of men arriving at the prison without their essential medication.
2024 PRISON Concerns Derwentside
Published 18 Jul 2025 · 55 prisoners
Self-harm: 113
The IMB report for Derwentside IRC highlights a generally safe environment and positive staff interactions despite significant staff churn and the planned re-roling of the centre. However, key concerns persist regarding the centre's remote location and poor communications infrastructure, contributing to inhumane treatment via long, disruptive journeys for detainees. While healthcare provision is praised, unacceptably long waits for Rule 35(3) assessments and reduced activity provision for wellbeing remain critical issues, alongside ongoing dissatisfaction with food and the lack of a detention time limit.
Key concerns identified
  • The unsuitable remote location and inadequate communications infrastructure, leading to inhumane and unequal treatment.
  • The long and frequent disruptive journeys, often at night, causing anxiety and fear for vulnerable women.
  • Continued detention of extremely vulnerable women, including those with serious mental health issues, and maintenance of detention after Rule 35(3) reports.
  • Unacceptably long waiting times for Rule 35(3) assessments (up to 21 days).
  • Frequent dissatisfaction with the variety, quality, and portion sizes of food provided.
  • Deficiencies in the availability and consistent use of translation services and lack of progress on mobile phone reception/Wi-Fi calling.
  • Reduced provision of activities for health and wellbeing, particularly for those with anxiety and mental health issues.
  • The absence of a legal time limit for immigration detention.
2024 PRISON Concerns Leeds
Published 17 Jul 2025
HMP Leeds, a local reception prison with an operational capacity of 1110, reported 8 deaths in custody during 2024, six of which were self-inflicted. Overcrowding, persistent staff shortages leading to regime curtailments, and significant delays in transferring prisoners with severe mental health issues were key concerns. Despite these challenges, the Board highlighted positive staff-prisoner relationships, efforts in drug rehabilitation, purposeful activity, and initiatives to maintain family contact.
Key concerns identified
  • The large number of self-inflicted deaths in custody continues to be a critical concern.
  • ACCT document checks on prisoners at risk of self-harm and suicide may not have been accurately logged.
  • Prisoners continue to share cramped cells, often with recurrent toilet defects, and experience extreme temperatures.
  • Lack of clarity and progress for IPP prisoners remains a concern despite a fall in numbers.
  • The large number of prisoners with severe mental health issues are not prioritised for transfer to appropriate facilities.
  • The presence of illicit substances is a major concern, exacerbated by failed drug testing equipment and resulting regime curtailments due to staff shortages.
  • Overcrowding creates pressure across all prison areas, impacting accommodation and resettlement outcomes for released prisoners.
2023 PRISON Doncaster
Published 17 Jul 2025
2023 PRISON East Sutton Park
Published 17 Jul 2025
2023 PRISON Elmley
Published 17 Jul 2025
2022 PRISON Askham Grange
Published 17 Jul 2025
2022 PRISON Cardiff
Published 17 Jul 2025
2024 PRISON Concerns Brinsford
Published 15 Jul 2025 · 529 prisoners
Self-harm: 400 Assaults: 484 Staff assaults: 8
HMP Brinsford, a resettlement prison for young men (18-22 with temporary extension to 29), operates at full capacity of 577, with an average population of 529. The report highlights improvements in self-harm reduction and healthcare provision, but raises significant concerns about low staffing levels impacting safety, the ongoing increase in violence, and the critical lack of purposeful activity places. There are also persistent issues with infrastructure, property management, and delays in transferring prisoners with severe mental health needs.
Key concerns identified
  • Low staffing levels impact safety of prisoners and staff.
  • Violence, particularly gang-related incidents, continues to increase.
  • Insufficient purposeful activity places, education, and training opportunities lead to prisoner frustration.
  • Severe mental health needs are not met due to delays in transfer to secure hospitals.
  • Persistent issues with property loss during transfers and poor condition of infrastructure (cells, heating, windows).
  • The Crown Prosecution Service inadequately follows up and prosecutes assaults reported by the prison.
2024 PRISON Concerns Garth
Published 11 Jul 2025
Self-harm: 612
HMP Garth, a Category B training prison, experienced a challenging year ending November 2024, marked by a 45% increase in violence and significant staffing shortages. These issues led to frequent regime changes, excessive prisoner time in cells, and difficulties in delivering purposeful activity. Key concerns include easy access to illicit drugs, the prolonged detention of mentally unwell prisoners in segregation, and the ongoing injustice faced by IPP prisoners, all compounded by critical issues in staff recruitment and retention and the deteriorating prison estate.
Key concerns identified
  • The significant increase in violence (45%) and the challenges of managing safety due to inexperienced staff.
  • Easy access to drugs within the prison, evidenced by high positive random drug tests, and increasing illicit item delivery via drones.
  • Frequent, unpredictable regime changes and prolonged periods of cell confinement directly caused by staff shortages, impacting purposeful activity and prisoner well-being.
  • Persistent and critical issues with staff recruitment and retention, leading to high turnover, redeployment, and an inability to consistently deliver key work.
  • The unacceptable duration of segregation for prisoners with severe mental health issues due to a lack of suitable alternative accommodation and overburdened mental health services.
  • The ongoing injustice of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, which continue to severely impact a significant number of prisoners.
  • The deteriorating prison estate, including leaking roofs (until late in the reporting year), poor ventilation, and inadequate healthcare waiting facilities, with funding gaps for necessary repairs.
  • Major problems with the timely and complete transfer of prisoner property, leading to loss of vital documents and compensation claims.
2025 PRISON Concerns Lindholme
Published 10 Jul 2025 · 946 prisoners
Self-harm: 755 Assaults: 225 Staff assaults: 141
HMP Lindholme, a Category C male training prison, faced significant challenges in the reporting year ending January 2025, largely due to a substantial ingress of illicit drugs, which led to increased violence and self-harm incidents. The prison's population of 946 was held in an establishment designed for 924, including 160 doubled-up cells. Key concerns include prisoner safety, the misuse of segregation as a sanctuary, and inadequate education and work provisions, impacting preparation for release.
Key concerns identified
  • The significant ingress of illicit drugs has profoundly negative effect on safety, leading to increased violence and self-harm.
  • The prison is less safe for many prisoners and staff compared with the previous year, with prisoners increasingly seeking segregation as a sanctuary.
  • The practice of "doubling up" cells designed for one continues.
  • A high number of inexperienced staff contributes to a lack of knowledge in dealing with prisoner issues and an unwillingness to challenge unacceptable behaviour.
  • Complaint forms are often not reaching the clerk or replies not reaching prisoners, eroding trust in the complaints process.
  • Too few meaningful education and work courses are offered, inadequately preparing prisoners for release and contributing to boredom and drug misuse.
  • The Board is concerned about the lack of options for senior managers when choosing the most appropriate location for a prisoner whilst awaiting assessment for transfer under the Mental Health Act, often resulting in prolonged stays in segregation.
2025 PRISON Concerns Lancaster Farms
Published 9 Jul 2025 · 560 prisoners
Self-harm: 357 Assaults: 172
HMP Lancaster Farms, a Category C resettlement prison, continues to provide a largely safe environment for its 560 prisoners, with positive initiatives like the complex care unit and CrossFit program. However, significant concerns persist, particularly around healthcare provision, including long waiting times and issues with medication and data transparency. The Board also highlights problems with property management during transfers, a rise in prisoners on the restrictive basic regime, and continued challenges in placing prisoners with complex mental health needs in specialist facilities.
Key concerns identified
  • High levels of self-harm among prisoners with complex mental health needs who cannot be transferred to specialist facilities.
  • Occasional accommodation of prisoners in double cells with limited toilet screening or no toilet seats.
  • Outstanding estate maintenance issues including poor ventilation, missing door screens, broken exercise equipment, and poor drainage.
  • Shortages of basic bedding and clothing for new arrivals.
  • Delays and lack of communication regarding prisoner complaints, especially those related to previous prisons.
  • Poor handling and loss of prisoners' property, particularly during transfers, which is a national systemic issue.
  • Sharp increase in healthcare applications and unacceptably long waiting times for non-urgent and specialist appointments.
  • Issues with medication administration, including delays and men going without essential medication.
  • Lack of transparency in healthcare performance data and complaints, coupled with a significant discrepancy in complaint response times between the prison and healthcare providers.
  • Concerns about the attitude and empathy of some healthcare staff.
  • Under-resourced chaplaincy team with staffing gaps.
  • A significant rise in prisoners on the basic regime, which is very restrictive and poses mental health challenges.
  • Inconsistent use of body-worn video cameras during use of force incidents.
2025 PRISON Concerns Lewes
Published 8 Jul 2025 · 581 prisoners
Self-harm: 651 Assaults: 194 Staff assaults: 79
HMP Lewes saw improvements in its regime, leading to increased time out of cell and a fall in prisoner-on-prisoner violence. Healthcare provision also improved, with reduced waiting times for routine appointments. However, significant challenges persist with the prison's heating system, gaps in mental health services, and a worrying increase in self-harm and assaults on staff. The Board highlighted ongoing concerns regarding disproportionality in the use of force and adjudications against certain prisoner groups.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent issues with the heating and hot water system, leading to unacceptably hot or cold conditions.
  • Significant gaps in psychiatry provision, impacting mental health service delivery.
  • Continuing delays for prisoners requiring transfer to secure mental health facilities.
  • Increase in self-harm incidents, up by around one third over two years, despite a slowing rate of increase.
  • Increase in assaults on staff (15%) and use of force incidents (25%), with disproportionality against young adults and ethnic minority prisoners.
  • Fall in prisoner attendance at education since late 2024 following regime changes.
  • Disappointment that plans to renew and expand CCTV collapsed, leaving some high-risk areas uncovered.
  • Property remains the biggest category of prisoner complaint.
2025 PRISON Concerns South and West short term holding facilities
Published 8 Jul 2025 · 441 prisoners
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
This IMB report details monitoring of multiple Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) in the South and West region for the year ending January 2025. Key concerns include inconsistent access to detention records, inadequate healthcare arrangements, and persistent facility issues such as heating and hot water, alongside varied provision of hot food. While the Board notes positive engagement from Border Force staff and some improvements in record-keeping, it highlights areas requiring urgent attention to ensure humane treatment and effective oversight of detained individuals.
Key concerns identified
  • The IMB's access to detention records, especially at Poole and Cardiff, remains consistently inadequate, severely compromising effective monitoring.
  • Border Force's lack of prompt responses to IMB questions and concerns from July to December 2024 prevented effective oversight.
  • The absence of routine Use of Force statistics in monthly data returns prevents effective monitoring of this critical area.
  • Persistent facility deficiencies include the absence of heating at Poole, frequent failures in providing hot water and soap at Portsmouth, and inadequate bedding storage at Bristol.
  • The inability to consistently provide hot food and drinks at all sites, and for protracted periods at some (e.g., Portsmouth), was a concern, especially given potentially long detention periods.
  • The expansion in passenger numbers at Bristol Airport will strain detention facility capacity, with no clear reassurance that this will be addressed.
  • Deficiencies identified in Disability Access Reviews at all sites, even if not required to meet current regulations, are concerning.
  • The arrangements for assessing and treating health conditions, particularly the withholding of medication, are deemed inadequate and pose potential health risks.
  • Staffing levels, especially at Bristol Airport, are sometimes insufficient, leading to extended waits in less comfortable areas, with weekend flexibility still an issue.
  • Children sometimes had to wait a considerable time for Social Services to attend, with the range of waiting times indicating room for improvement.
  • Record-keeping quality, though showing some improvement, still frequently misses key information, hindering effective monitoring.
  • Extended detention times frequently occur due to delays in arranging transport by Mitie Care & Custody or Clearsprings.
2025 PRISON Concerns Low Newton
Published 3 Jul 2025 · 274 prisoners
Self-harm: 999 Assaults: 36 Staff assaults: 81
HMP/YOI Low Newton is a women's closed prison that has seen improvements in culture and regime under new leadership. While safety is prioritised, challenges remain with a high number of self-harm incidents and significant mental health needs among the population, often leading to the prison acting as a place of safety. Efforts are being made in purposeful activity, resettlement, and healthcare, with strong staff dedication noted.
Key concerns identified
  • The persistent issue of women with severe mental ill health being held in prison rather than suitable healthcare environments, causing significant disruption and resource strain.
  • A substantial year-on-year increase in self-harm incidents that the Board wishes to see reversed.
  • The need to capture and record every incident of use of force and violent assault, building on current progress.
  • The ongoing challenge of short sentences preventing meaningful work and effective resettlement planning for some prisoners.
  • The concern that some prisoners are still released without settled accommodation, often leading to recall.
  • Lengthy waiting times for transfers of severely mentally ill prisoners to community mental health beds.
  • Uncertainty regarding the future funding for two key NEPACS staff members providing crucial resettlement support.
2025 PRISON Concerns South and East Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Published 1 Jul 2025
The South and East IMB report highlights significant concerns regarding the inhumane conditions and inadequate facilities across its Short-Term Holding Facilities. Key issues include severe overcrowding, particularly at Luton and Stansted, where detainees, including vulnerable individuals and families, are held for extended periods without sufficient sleeping provision, privacy, natural light, or exercise areas. The Board also expressed disappointment over persistent maintenance problems, delayed responses to disability access reviews, and the routine, non-compliant use of handcuffs at Luton Airport.
Key concerns identified
  • Inhumane conditions and overcrowding in STHFs, with detainees often held for extended periods (over 24 hours/overnight) without adequate sleeping provision, privacy, natural light, or exercise areas, and limited hot food.
  • Lack of privacy during inductions and medical consultations, particularly for sensitive personal information, and inadequate facilities for healthcare professionals.
  • Persistent issues with the fabric and maintenance of facilities, including the dilapidated Port of Felixstowe STHF and non-compliance with disability access standards in both old and newly built facilities like 2 Ruskin Square.
  • Failure to deliver on ministerial commitments regarding facility improvements at Gatwick North and Felixstowe.
  • Routine and non-compliant use of handcuffs at Luton Airport during detainee escorts, despite concerns about individual risk assessments.
  • Lengthy waiting times (16-17 hours) for Children’s Services to respond to requests for support for unaccompanied minors.
2024 PRISON Concerns Huntercombe
Published 27 Jun 2025 · 491 prisoners
Self-harm: 63 Staff assaults: 40
HMP Huntercombe, a Category C prison for foreign national men, faced significant challenges in 2024, particularly regarding infrastructure issues like heating and hot water, a malfunctioning new kitchen, and inadequate healthcare accommodation. Despite improved staffing in healthcare and education, a surge in drug incidents and prisoner-on-staff assaults raised safety concerns. The rapid churn of the prisoner population due to early removal schemes impacted purposeful activity, resettlement, and offender management.
Key concerns identified
  • The level of illicit items and drugs entering the prison and the number of prisoners appearing to be under the influence of substances.
  • The significant increase in prisoner-on-staff assaults, from 9 to 40 incidents, including three serious assaults.
  • The ongoing issue of a failing central heating and hot water system, reported for the last five years, causing unreliable showers and anxiety.
  • The new kitchen not functioning as intended due to contractor issues and expired warranties, with no new maintenance arrangement.
  • One cell in the segregation unit being out of action for most of the year due to delays in replacement parts for the door.
  • Persistent problems with property going missing during transfers, a lack of volumetric control between prisons, and unreliable handwritten property cards.
  • The delay of over two years in providing new, suitable healthcare accommodation, leading to reduced care provision and inadequate clinical space for mental health services.
  • Delayed mental health transfers, with some breaching the 28-day target timeframe.
2025 PRISON Concerns Leicester
Published 24 Jun 2025 · 290 prisoners
Self-harm: 379 Assaults: 270
HMP Leicester, a busy local male prison, continues to be well-led despite the challenges of an aging Victorian estate and high prisoner turnover. The reporting year saw a positive 33% reduction in self-harm incidents and no deaths in custody, alongside effective intelligence work to intercept illicit items. However, concerns persist regarding an increase in violent incidents, significant delays in mental health transfers, a lack of accommodation for 33% of prisoners on release, and the persistent availability of drugs.
Key concerns identified
  • Delays in transferring seriously mentally ill prisoners to secure hospital settings and diversion from prison.
  • A significant proportion of prisoners (33%) are released without arranged accommodation.
  • Lack of suitable pathways and facilities for prisoners with severe dementia.
  • Ineffective resettlement for men on repeated 14-day recalls.
  • The persistent availability of illegal drugs within the prison, enabled in part by deteriorating cell windows facilitating drone deliveries.
2024 PRISON Concerns Response to the 2023-24 HMP Cardiff IMB
Published 23 Jun 2025
This document provides the Minister's and HMPPS's response to HMP Cardiff's IMB annual report for the year ending August 2024. The Minister acknowledged a prisoner death and concerns about overcrowding, while commending positive staff-prisoner relationships, consistent purposeful activity, and strong charity links. HMPPS provided detailed responses to IMB-raised concerns regarding estate maintenance, mental health transfer delays, staff recruitment, and the future of peer support initiatives.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding and its impact, including issues with cell sharing.
  • The death of a prisoner by self-inflicted harm during the reporting year.
  • Problems with heating and water systems, and inadequate funding for maintenance.
  • Delays in transferring vulnerable mental health prisoners from the CSU to appropriate hospital care.
  • Accessibility issues for disabled prisoners and lack of privacy with in-cell toilets.
  • The impending end of funding for the "Here 2 Help" peer support and emotional resilience training project.
  • Recruitment and diversity of staff from local ethnic minority communities.
2024 PRISON Concerns Hindley
Published 20 Jun 2025 · 599 prisoners
Self-harm: 558 Assaults: 315 Staff assaults: 72
HMP/YOI Hindley, a Category C prison, operated at or near its 600 operational capacity throughout 2024, housing adult and young adult males. The Board noted some positives like improved healthcare provision and staff-prisoner relationships, particularly in wellbeing areas. However, significant concerns remain, primarily regarding rising violence, high drug availability, and self-harm incidents. Unacceptable staff absence led to extended lockdowns and a severe lack of purposeful activity, while the physical estate continues to be unfit for purpose with no plans for refurbishment.
Key concerns identified
  • Rising levels of violence, self-harm incidents, and use of force.
  • The pervasive issue of drug availability, high positive MDT rates, and insufficient main gate security.
  • Extended periods of lockdown (up to 23 hours per day) due to unacceptably high staff absence levels.
  • A significant deficit in purposeful activity places, leaving many men idle and impacting their rehabilitation.
  • Concerns regarding overcrowding and the poor condition of existing, often unfit-for-purpose, accommodation, exacerbated by plans for a three-tier system post-expansion.
  • The ongoing situation of IPP prisoners held long beyond their tariff, impacting their mental health and hope for release.
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