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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 Lowdham Grange
Published 18 Jun 2025 · 837 prisoners
Self-harm: 821 Assaults: 450 Staff assaults: 261
HMP Lowdham Grange has seen some safety improvements since HMPPS took over, but faces critical challenges including six deaths in custody, widespread drug availability with high positive test rates, and a significant increase in use of force. Healthcare provision remains a major concern due to chronic staffing shortages, lack of night cover, and long mental health transfer delays. Persistent under-resourcing in probation and psychology departments impacts prisoner progression and resettlement, while the regime continues to be hampered by staffing issues and reduced social visits.
Key concerns identified
  • Six deaths in custody and concerns about learning from previous Prevention of Future Deaths reports.
  • Pervasive availability of illicit drugs, high positive MDT rates, and a marked increase in 'code blue' incidents posing significant safety risks.
  • Major deficiencies in healthcare provision, including lack of leadership, severe staff shortages (especially mental health and night cover), and long waits for transfers and appointments.
  • Significant increase in use of force and persistently high levels of assaults on staff, indicating ongoing safety challenges.
  • Chronic understaffing and under-resourcing in probation and psychology departments, impacting rehabilitation, resettlement, and access to purposeful activity.
  • Systemic failures in the prisoner complaints system, property management, and informing the IMB of serious incidents.
2024 PRISON Concerns Exeter
Published 13 Jun 2025
Self-harm: 276 Assaults: 120
HMP Exeter continues efforts to improve living conditions and outcomes amidst significant challenges, including high prisoner turnover, an increasing remand population, and persistent issues with an aging estate and refurbishment delays. The prison has seen positive trends in reducing violence and self-harm incidents, and healthcare provision is improving despite staffing shortages. Key concerns remain around the unsuitability of temporary segregation facilities, illicit drug use, property loss, and the sustainability of safety improvements if additional funding is withdrawn.
Key concerns identified
  • Ongoing and overrunning refurbishment projects, particularly the continued closure of A wing and the unsuitability of the temporary Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
  • Deteriorating prison fabric, specifically damp, mould, and plumbing issues in D wing.
  • Persistent availability and illicit use of drugs within the prison.
  • Staffing shortages in healthcare, leading to diversion of staff and impacts on patient engagement and complaint resolution.
  • Inadequate preparation and support for prisoners released under early release schemes, and the lack of appropriate accommodation on release.
2025 PRISON Concerns London short term holding facilities (STHF)
Published 12 Jun 2025
This report details the operations of London's Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) from February 2024 to January 2025. While positive aspects include safe environments, respectful staff interactions, and improved medical support, significant concerns persist. These include extended detention times in unsuitable conditions, particularly for children, lack of privacy, and inadequate access to medication and reliable translation services. The IMB makes recommendations to the Minister, UK Border Force/Home Office, and Mitie Care & Custody to address these systemic issues, many of which are recurring from previous reports.
Key concerns identified
  • Children experiencing extended waits in Controlled Waiting Areas (CWAs) without dedicated responsible adults or adequate facilities.
  • Holding rooms not being equipped for stays exceeding 24 hours, leading to discomfort due to insufficient mattresses, blankets, and lack of natural light/fresh air.
  • Persistent issues with temperature control in holding rooms at both London Heathrow and London City Airport.
  • Lack of direct internet access for detainees, hindering communication and access to personal health information.
  • Delays and unavailability of certain languages with The Big Word translation service, impacting inductions and communication.
  • Detainees at London City Airport and Eaton House lacking access to their own prescribed or over-the-counter medication.
  • Insufficient Border Force officers leading to unnecessarily extended periods of detention in CWAs and holding rooms.
  • Continued absence of toilet seats in Terminal 5 and frequent unavailability of showers in other terminals.
  • Delays in collection by Clearsprings for asylum seekers awaiting transfer to accommodation.
  • Difficulty for detainees in accessing timely and effective legal advice through provided lists.
2024 PRISON Concerns Northumberland
Published 6 Jun 2025 · 1,213 prisoners
HMP Northumberland, a Category C prison, experienced a challenging year due to RAAC issues impacting various areas, including education and reception, and contributing to spikes in self-harm and violence. Despite these challenges, the Board noted significant improvements in accommodation, healthcare provision, and progress in securing housing for prisoners on release. Key concerns remain around the inadequacy of mental health support and the effectiveness of education and vocational training in preparing prisoners for employment.
Key concerns identified
  • Inadequate mental health provision and slow access to support for prisoners.
  • Destabilising impact of RAAC on prison safety, particularly regarding increased violence and self-harm, and disruption to education and workshops.
  • Concerns over the effectiveness of initial assessment and the adequacy of education and training in preparing prisoners for employment upon release.
  • Limited capacity in vocational workshops and the modest level of qualifications attainable.
  • Long waiting times for optician appointments (16 weeks).
2024 PRISON Concerns Full Sutton
Published 5 Jun 2025 · 577 prisoners
Self-harm: 494 Assaults: 52 Staff assaults: 80
HMP Full Sutton, a high-security prison, maintained a generally calm environment in 2024 despite significant challenges posed by daily staff shortages, which led to rotational lockdowns and impacted regime delivery. The report highlights a concerning increase in serious assaults on staff and self-harm incidents. New healthcare contracts resulted in an unacceptable deterioration in prisoner access to services, especially mental health, while insufficient work opportunities and delays in new workshops remained key issues.
Key concerns identified
  • Daily staff shortages and high sickness levels led to rotational lockdowns, limiting regime delivery and impacting services.
  • There was a significant increase in serious assaults on staff and an overall rise in self-harm incidents.
  • The segregation unit roll remained consistently high, restricting regime provision and creating transfer challenges.
  • New healthcare contracts significantly hindered prisoners' access to services, particularly impacting mental health provision in segregation.
  • Insufficient work and education opportunities persisted, exacerbated by delays in opening planned workshops.
  • Concerns were raised regarding the training of new staff and their confidence in communicating with prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Deerbolt
Published 4 Jun 2025 · 500 prisoners
HMP/YOI Deerbolt, a Category C training and resettlement prison, faces significant challenges from an aging prisoner demographic and persistent staffing issues, impacting safety, regime delivery, and healthcare provision. Despite dedication from management and staff, levels of violence remain high, and a lack of meaningful activity contributes to drug use and self-harm. The IMB highlights a crucial need for increased financial support, a review of the staffing model, and adaptation of facilities and education to suit the changing population profile, as many previous concerns remain unaddressed.
Key concerns identified
  • Levels of violence remained high in the reporting period, whether this concerned serious prisoner-on-prisoners assaults or, indeed, prisoner assaults on staff.
  • There is a lack of meaningful rehabilitation, despite stabilised staffing numbers, a concern repeated from the previous report.
  • Turnover of newly enrolled staff and their competency in the role, coupled with a lack of professionalism and inability to lead prisoners, creates significant challenges.
  • Communication with some prison staff is difficult, hindering basic information requests from the IMB.
  • The interaction between staff and the wider prisoner population, particularly those not complying with the regime, is a concern.
  • Deerbolt lacks suitable facilities to deal with many prisoners with complex needs.
  • The physical healthcare team has struggled due to an increase in the age profile of prisoners and staffing challenges, leading to numerous complaints and instances of unaddressed threats to healthcare staff.
  • Prisoners are often locked up for too long, contributing to mental health issues and drug use.
  • The rapid increase in the average age of prisoners without a corresponding change in educational and rehabilitative offerings hinders meaningful progression.
  • The prison continues to struggle with short-notice cancellations of classes due to staff shortages or incidents, a concern repeated from the previous report.
  • There is a stark deficiency in the ability to allocate senior resident prison officers to each wing, and new staff lack sufficient 'prison craft' experience.
  • The IMB was not sent key information about individuals in the segregation unit, use of special accommodation, and incentive scheme status, as details were removed from daily reports.
  • Immense frustration exists over the loss of personal possessions during transfers, leading to compensation costs and resolution expenses.
  • Substance misuse remains an ongoing problem, with multiple 'code blue' medical emergencies due to drug use.
  • Furnishings in residential wings are often damaged or old and in poor repair.
  • Complaints data is not robust, especially for healthcare, where complaints are known to be made but responses are not forthcoming.
  • Maintenance issues plague industrial workshops, including electrical and heating failures, leading to closures and frustrated prisoners.
  • The relative remoteness of Deerbolt remains an issue for visitors, particularly those relying on public transport, and the external visitors’ centre is a low priority for maintenance.
2024 PRISON Concerns Isis
Published 3 Jun 2025 · 580 prisoners
Self-harm: 312 Assaults: 419 Staff assaults: 207
HMP/YOI Isis experienced a significant increase in violence in 2024, with both prisoner-on-prisoner and staff assaults rising, alongside a worrying over-representation of black prisoners in violence metrics and PAVA use. Key concerns include slow emergency cell bell response times, poor hygiene in living areas, and the holding of mentally unwell prisoners in segregation. Despite these challenges, there have been improvements in educational attainment and some healthcare attendance, though staffing shortages continue to impede a full regime and purposeful activity.
Key concerns identified
  • Violence, including prisoner-on-prisoner and staff assaults, increased markedly during the year.
  • There is a disproportionate use of PAVA spray on black prisoners, who are also over-represented in violence metrics, with underlying causes unclear.
  • Emergency cell bells are not being answered within the required five minutes, particularly during peak times, posing a safety risk.
  • The general standard of cleanliness, especially in serveries, remains poor, with dirty food remains left overnight.
  • Prisoners with serious mental health problems are held in the Segregation Unit for extended periods, awaiting transfer to specialist hospitals.
  • Prisoners endure long periods locked in their cells, with those on separate regimes having very limited time out.
  • Issues with prisoner property, particularly during transfer, continue to generate a high volume of complaints and IMB applications.
2024 PRISON Concerns Kent Coast Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Published 3 Jun 2025
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
The IMB's annual report for Kent Coast STHF (Kent Intake Unit, Western Jet Foil, Manston, and Frontier House) highlights continuous operations processing a high volume of arrivals. While commending staff's empathetic approach and noting no self-harm or assault incidents, the Board raises significant concerns about privacy during interviews, inadequate isolation facilities, and insufficient information provided to detainees about their onward journey. It recommends improvements in communication, facility maintenance, and welfare provision for unaccompanied children.
Key concerns identified
  • The Board is concerned that induction interviews at KIU are not held privately, impacting privacy for sensitive questions like modern slavery and health issues, especially for children.
  • The isolation units at WJF are considered inadequate, inappropriate, and unsatisfactory, with one unit lacking a window and fresh air, a concern also noted by HMIP as "bleak." The hygiene of wooden benches in isolation units is also questioned.
  • Detained individuals still lack sufficient information about their "process journey," including where they will be taken and for how long, adversely affecting their welfare.
  • Unaccompanied children are sometimes subjected to initial age decision interviews during night hours, leading to them resting on wooden benches overnight instead of being properly rested before interviews.
  • Repairs across facilities, such as those for the flooding showers at KIU, are often slow and inadequate, with delays attributed to Home Office approvals.
  • The provision of visual information on screens for non-literate individuals needs improvement, as information is often only in written format.
  • Cleaning standards for various facilities, particularly when busy, need more consistent high levels of service to ensure hygiene in bathrooms and other areas.
  • Overcrowding can lead to individuals sleeping in close proximity on floor mats, with inadequate recreational seating in the barracks (3-4 chairs for 12 people).
  • HMIP noted that some welfare interviews with unaccompanied children took place without an appropriate adult, and safeguarding issues were not sufficiently explored, with necessary referrals not always made. Children suspected of having scabies were reported to be freely mixing with others at KIU.
2024 PRISON Concerns Kirklevington Grange
Published 30 May 2025 · 200 prisoners
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
HMP Kirklevington Grange is a Category D open prison that performs well across key areas, including safety, healthcare, and resettlement, as evidenced by 'good' HMIP ratings and strong staff-prisoner relationships. Despite positive outcomes in education and employment preparation, the Board highlights ongoing concerns regarding a lack of progress on new accommodation units and persistent issues with property transfers. The prison continues to manage population pressures and policy changes while striving to provide a constructive environment for release preparation.
Key concerns identified
  • There is no visible progress on the development of replacement accommodation units under the rapid development cell programme (RDCS).
  • Issues with prisoners' property being lost or mislaid on transfer between establishments continue to be a national problem.
  • Funding and budgets remain a concern, with a recommendation for more local purchasing autonomy.
  • The prison continues to experience bed-bug infestations despite ongoing efforts.
  • Support sought for two Jewish prisoners remains outstanding.
  • Doubling up in the induction block is perceived as a regressive step by prisoners.
  • Government policies are undermining successes in prisoner employment, with men having insufficient time to benefit from opportunities.
2024 PRISON Concerns Holme House
Published 29 May 2025 · 1,133 prisoners
Self-harm: 928 Assaults: 324 Staff assaults: 90
HMP Holme House operated as a Category C prison in 2024, with plans to reclassify to Category B in 2025, a transition observed to be managed with significant staff commitment despite some disruptions. The Board noted generally good healthcare, improved food quality, and successful drug recovery programmes. However, significant concerns were raised regarding increased self-harm and violence, ongoing staffing shortages impacting key worker support, and a lack of educational achievement.
Key concerns identified
  • Ongoing challenges with staff recruitment and retention, impacting key worker provision and overall morale.
  • Increased incidents of self-harm and violence among prisoners, exacerbated by drug misuse and debt.
  • Loss of prisoner property during transfers causing significant distress.
  • Lack of educational qualifications and reduced attainment over five years.
  • Delays in funding and execution of major capital works, particularly to the roofs.
  • Prisoner wages not keeping pace with rising canteen costs.
  • Potential detrimental effects of the prison's re-role on prisoner wellbeing and progression.
2024 PRISON Concerns Gartree
Published 28 May 2025 · 558 prisoners
Self-harm: 288 Assaults: 75 Staff assaults: 55
HMP Gartree, a Category B prison, maintains an ordered environment despite an aging infrastructure. Key concerns include deteriorating buildings, inadequate healthcare provision leading to increased complaints, and persistent issues with drug influx and obscured observation panels. The Board also highlights insufficient purposeful activity and support for rehabilitation, alongside challenges in mental health service access and long-term segregation.
Key concerns identified
  • The ageing fabric and building infrastructure at Gartree, particularly issues with heating, leaking roofs, and broken showers.
  • Healthcare provision generally, and lack of response to prisoners’ complaints about this service.
  • Inadequate access to mental health services and transfers to secure hospitals.
  • The continued influx of drugs and illicit items.
  • Prisoners being allowed to keep observation panels obscured, which is not challenged by staff.
  • Inadequate facilities for some of the older and/or disabled prisoners.
  • Access to truly purposeful activities for all.
  • The support and help available to rehabilitate prisoners prior to release.
  • Long periods of segregation for prisoners with complex needs due to lack of suitable alternative accommodation.
2024 PRISON Concerns Frankland
Published 27 May 2025
Assaults: 101 Staff assaults: 59
HMP Frankland is a high-security prison for adult convicted men, operating close to its capacity of 846. The IMB generally found it to be a safe environment, with positive initiatives in healthcare and education, including 100% pass rates for GCSEs and a 'Good' Ofsted rating. However, key concerns persist regarding the suitability of facilities for prisoners with dementia and mobility issues, significant delays from outsourced maintenance contractors, and the ongoing availability of illicit drugs.
Key concerns identified
  • The suitability of HMP Frankland or other LTHSE prisons for housing prisoners with dementia, given poor facilities and inadequate accommodation.
  • Persistent issues with outsourced maintenance contractors causing significant delays in repairing essential equipment, notably in kitchens and workshops.
  • The continued availability of illicit drugs within the prison.
  • Ongoing problems with healthcare waiting room facilities for prisoners with mobility issues, including lack of ventilation and accessible toilets.
  • Protracted delays in transferring prisoners requiring secure mental health hospital placements, with one transfer taking 146 days.
  • Capacity issues in other high-security segregation units hindering the progression of long-term segregated prisoners from Frankland's MPU.
2024 PRISON Concerns Parc
Published 23 May 2025 · 1,599 prisoners
Self-harm: 2,325 Assaults: 761
HMP/YOI Parc, a Category B/C resettlement prison, faced significant challenges including 19 deaths in custody, with a notable cluster of drug-related fatalities, and high levels of self-harm and violence, though a downtrend was observed towards the end of the reporting period. Persistent concerns included poor food quality and quantity, insufficient keyworkers, and ongoing issues with property transfers. Healthcare provision was strained by excessive waiting times for GP and mental health services, and staff shortages, though some improvements were noted in healthcare access and anti-drug measures.
Key concerns identified
  • There were 19 deaths in custody, including 5 believed to be drug-related.
  • Food complaints were constant, covering both quality and quantity, with kitchen facilities designed for a smaller population.
  • The number of keyworkers remained lower than required, leading to prisoners complaining about lack of contact.
  • Persistent issues with inter-prison transfers meant prisoners' property was often not transferred with them.
  • Mental health provision had issues, particularly with ADHD assessments, and there were significant delays in accessing secure mental health beds.
  • Waiting times for GP appointments and emergency ambulances were frequently excessive, compounded by a shortage of nursing staff.
  • Education was restricted at times due to regime constraints, and there was a decline in the quality of education and purposeful activities in the YOI early in the year.
  • The uncertainty of release dates for IPP prisoners caused significant anxiety and negatively impacted their mental health and progression.
  • Violence levels in the YOI continued to fluctuate, with an increase observed during April-June 2024.
2024 PRISON Concerns Grendon
Published 22 May 2025 · 160 prisoners
Grendon is a Category B therapeutic community prison with an operational capacity of 185, holding around 160 men. The Board commends the safe environment and therapeutic work but highlights significant concerns regarding the inability to transfer "out of therapy" (OOT) prisoners due to wider prison overcrowding, which negatively impacts the regime and available spaces for new therapy participants. Persistent issues with poor building infrastructure, sanitation, and rat infestation also remain.
Key concerns identified
  • Men who are out of therapy cannot move on to another prison due to overcrowding, impacting the effective running of the therapeutic community.
  • There are very few opportunities at Grendon for men to build on their experiences once they are Out of Therapy (OOT) and remain too long.
  • Ongoing issues with building infrastructure, poor sanitation arrangements in non-refurbished wings, continued rat infestation, and overheating.
2024 PRISON Concerns Springhill
Published 22 May 2025 · 300 prisoners
Self-harm: 1
HMP Springhill, a Category D open prison, typically held over 300 men with an operational capacity of 3351. The reporting year saw low levels of self-harm and violence, but persistent infrastructure failures, understaffing in education and OMU, and disjointed resettlement activities posed significant challenges. While 41 new single cells were a positive addition, the influx of men following early release schemes strained mental health services and limited access to external work.
Key concerns identified
  • The UK government continues to under-invest in rehabilitation services for open prisons, specifically in offender management and educational/vocational services.
  • Persistent issues with outside probation and other agencies delay men’s access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL), exacerbated by new early release schemes.
  • Fluctuations in demand due to early release schemes like SDS40 overwhelm on-site services, particularly mental health.
  • The poor state of Springhill’s infrastructure (leaking buildings, unreliable fire alarms, power outages, failing sanitation, rats) seriously impacts the ability to deliver a safe and enabling environment.
  • Staffing problems in core education subjects and the Offender Management Unit (OMU) hinder men's progression and access to resettlement support.
  • Activities designed to support men's progression towards sustainable employment remain disjointed, leading to underemployment in low-value on-camp work.
2024 PRISON Concerns Highpoint
Published 21 May 2025 · 1,300 prisoners
Self-harm: 449 Assaults: 210 Staff assaults: 151
HMP Highpoint, a Category C training and resettlement prison, maintained a population of approximately 1,300 in 2024. While self-harm incidents decreased, there was a concerning rise in assaults on both prisoners and staff, and an increase in use of force and ACCTs opened. Key challenges include persistent issues with property management, the poor performance of the maintenance contractor (GFSL), and the unchecked influx of contraband, all contributing to ongoing safety concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • The ongoing loss and delay of prisoners' property during transfers and within the prison, exacerbated by issues with handling parcels.
  • The continued poor service and untimely completion of maintenance works by Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL).
  • The significant rise in healthcare applications, requiring investigation into underlying reasons.
  • The incomplete replacement of external netting, leaving the prison vulnerable to "throwovers" and contraband, impacting prisoner safety and wellbeing.
  • The persistent influx of large quantities of drugs and other contraband, contributing to an increase in violent incidents and drug debt.
  • Concerns regarding prison overcrowding, which complicates prisoner transfers and contributes to increased violence and unrest.
  • The IMB is concerned that one of the constant watch cells is located in the CSU.
2024 PRISON Concerns High Down
Published 20 May 2025 · 1,205 prisoners
Self-harm: 661 Assaults: 202 Staff assaults: 91
HMP High Down, a Category C prison, faces significant challenges with safety, regime, and healthcare, despite some positive developments. Key concerns include the treatment of acutely mentally unwell prisoners, high levels of illicit items, and extensive regime restrictions. Staffing shortages and persistent issues with accommodation and food quality continue to impact the humane treatment of prisoners, many of whom also face accessibility barriers.
Key concerns identified
  • Acutely mentally unwell prisoners held in segregation for long periods awaiting hospital transfer.
  • Overwhelming presence of illicit items, particularly due to drone incursions, and high positive drug test rates.
  • Significant regime restrictions and long hours in cell due to cancelled evening association.
  • Poor accommodation conditions (dirty cells, missing items, un-refurbished showers) and issues with food hygiene and portion control.
  • Understaffing in Offender Management impacting sentence progression and access to offender behaviour courses.
  • Persistent accessibility issues for prisoners with mobility needs due to broken lifts and lack of ramps, compounded by the needs of an ageing population.
  • High self-harm incidents, particularly among IPP and recall prisoners, and concerns about cell bell response times.
2024 PRISON Concerns Long Lartin
Published 16 May 2025 · 570 prisoners
Self-harm: 664 Assaults: 110 Staff assaults: 109
HMP Long Lartin experienced another challenging year marked by significant safety issues, including increased self-harm, violence, and prolific drone incursions delivering illicit items. The Board continues to raise concerns about the degrading lack of in-cell sanitation in four wings and the severe deterioration of the prison's infrastructure and maintenance. While some positive developments in education and family visits were noted, fundamental problems persist, many of which are long-standing.
Key concerns identified
  • Incidents of self-harm have continued to increase and are more prevalent than in other LTHSE prisons, linked to drug availability and lack of purposeful activity leading to violence.
  • Outdated and failing security systems, coupled with frequent drone deliveries of illicit items (drugs, weapons, phones), compromise safety and security.
  • Four wings lack in-cell sanitation, requiring the undignified 'slopping out' process, which falls below modern standards of decency.
  • The prison’s infrastructure and fabric continue to deteriorate, with ineffective maintenance provided by Amey plc, and critical facilities like the kitchen remaining unsuitable.
  • Inefficient management of prisoners’ property remains a major source of frustration and anger, leading to mistrust and self-harm.
  • Healthcare in-patient facilities are unsuitable for supporting prisoners in poor physical health or providing therapeutic support, contributing to long waiting times for transfers and GP appointments.
2024 PRISON Concerns Risley
Published 29 Apr 2025
Self-harm: 1,068 Assaults: 337 Staff assaults: 93
HMP Risley, a large Category C training and resettlement prison with a complex population including PCoSOs and foreign nationals, faced significant challenges during the 2022-2024 reporting period. The Board noted extremely high and increasing self-harm rates, poor estate maintenance exacerbated by contractor issues, and insufficient purposeful activity spaces. Positive observations included well-managed mental health provision, improved resettlement planning for some groups, and a well-regarded chaplaincy team, but critical concerns remain regarding safety, infrastructure, and regime provision for the diverse prisoner population.
Key concerns identified
  • Extremely high self-harm rates, significantly increasing year-on-year.
  • The ongoing complexity and impact of running two parallel regimes.
  • Poor fabric and maintenance of accommodation blocks, particularly A, B, C, and D wings, with delays to repairs and issues with contractor performance.
  • Ongoing issues with prisoner property, reflected in a high number of applications.
  • Lack of dental services for nearly a year, leading to transport needs and long waiting times.
  • Insufficient purposeful activity and education spaces for the prison's population size, impacting prisoner progression and time out of cell.
  • Delays in resettlement planning for high-risk men and foreign national prisoners.
  • Some areas of the prison estate, particularly heating and water systems, are beyond repair and unsuitable for prisoners and staff.
2024 PRISON Concerns Askham Grange
Published 25 Apr 2025
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 1 Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Askham Grange is generally a safe and positive environment for women, with excellent staff-prisoner relationships, no self-harm incidents, and no use of force. While healthcare provision is good, concerns persist regarding accessibility and transparency of the complaints process, and issues with medication dispensing lockers. The prison excels in purposeful activity and resettlement, yet faces challenges with maintaining capacity and ensuring prisoners arrive with sufficient time to fully benefit from open conditions.
Key concerns identified
  • The impact of the Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan on short sentences and the relatively low number of prisoners at Askham Grange.
  • How the Prison Service promotes the benefits of open conditions, particularly given Askham Grange remains below capacity and receives prisoners with insufficient time to benefit from opportunities.
  • Lack of services to support prisoners who have been subject to sexual and domestic violence, despite Governor's requests.
  • Healthcare complaints process is not evident, transparent, or encouraged, with prisoners feeling discouraged from complaining.
  • Ongoing problems with phone lines, impacting family contact.
  • Lack of a managing chaplain.
  • Traka medication distribution lockers being out of action for the entire reporting year.
  • Uncertainty of central funding for the reading specialist post and lack of funding for the prisoner health champion role.
  • Prisoners' reluctance to submit complaints due to fear of return to closed conditions.
  • Dissatisfaction with how a small number of staff interact with prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Drake Hall
Published 24 Apr 2025 · 317 prisoners
Self-harm: 782 Assaults: 87 Staff assaults: 18
HMP/YOI Drake Hall, a women's closed prison, averaged 317 prisoners during the reporting year, demonstrating a safe and humane environment despite an increasingly complex population. The prison experienced significant increases in self-harm (782 incidents) and assaults (87 prisoner-on-prisoner, 18 on staff). Key concerns include dilapidated accommodation units needing replacement for over 20 years, the use of segregation for acutely mentally ill prisoners, chronic property issues, and a restrictive regime with limited exercise.
Key concerns identified
  • The increasingly complex nature of the prison population has led to a rise in self-harm, violence, and bullying, making some women feel unsafe.
  • The prison faces staffing resource concerns, with a minimal number of officers available impacting the basic regime and staff morale.
  • The poor and dilapidated conditions of Richmond and Plymouth houses, dating back to WWII, remain a long-standing and unresolved issue for over 20 years.
  • The use of the Care and Support Unit (CSU) to manage women with acute mental illness awaiting hospital transfer is a disturbing and unacceptable systemic problem.
  • Property delays and losses, particularly during transfers, continue to be a significant and distressing problem for women, often remaining unresolved.
  • The regime is more restrictive compared to pre-pandemic, with inadequate opportunities for fresh air and meaningful exercise for women.
  • The education budget has seen no increase for over 10 years, leading to a real-terms reduction in resources.
  • The increasing number of women transferred with short sentences or close to release impedes rehabilitative work and preparation for release.
  • Ongoing problems with medication management, including administration processes, control of prescription trading, and dispensary design.
2024 PRISON Concerns Cookham Wood
Published 23 Apr 2025 · 20 prisoners
HMYOI Cookham Wood operated as a young offender institution until its closure in May 2024, after a period of significant instability and an Urgent Notification from HMIP. Throughout much of the reporting period, boys experienced an unpredictable regime with limited time out of cell and inconsistent education due to resource shortages. However, a marked improvement in the regime was observed in the final weeks as the population decreased, demonstrating the potential for a more humane environment with sufficient staffing. The closure process itself raised major concerns regarding leadership, communication, and the impact on relocated boys and specialist staff.
Key concerns identified
  • Cookham Wood was an unstable and unsettling place for boys, with makeshift weapons commonplace and a pervasive fear of violence.
  • Boys were frequently locked in their rooms for over 20 hours a day, consistently failing to meet the minimum standard of two hours out of cell, which the Board deemed inhumane.
  • The constantly changing regimes and broken promises about activities and association time shattered trust, leading to significant frustration, anxiety, and low self-esteem among the boys.
  • Insufficient officer numbers frequently meant education and purposeful activity were irregular and inconsistent, limiting opportunities for rehabilitation.
  • The decision to close the YOI, and the lack of timely, concrete information, caused extreme uncertainty and anxiety for boys being relocated far from home, and severely damaged staff morale.
  • Overall, there was an appalling lack of clarity of leadership and impactful project management from YCS and HMPPS regarding the closure and the future of highly trained staff and budgets.
2023 IRC Concerns Heathrow immigration removal centre
Published 15 Apr 2025
Self-harm: 180 Assaults: 131 Staff assaults: 54
The IMB report for Heathrow IRC (2023) highlights increasing safety concerns, including a rise in self-harm (180 incidents), assaults (131 detainee-on-detainee, 54 on staff), and drug finds (104). The Board expresses significant concerns over the detention of mentally unfit individuals, the dilapidated infrastructure, and the misuse of segregation units. While health needs are generally met, staffing shortages and delayed Rule 35 responses remain problematic. The report also notes repeated concerns about prolonged detention times and the need for improved resettlement pathways for those on bail.
Key concerns identified
  • The centre is less safe than previous years, with increasing fights, assaults on staff, frequent lockdowns, and a rise in throwovers, illicit drugs, vapes, and phones.
  • People who are mentally unfit for detention are still assessed and approved for detention, exacerbated by Operation Safeguard bringing more Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) who contribute to increased violence.
  • Failings of the Detention Engagement Team (DET) to engage effectively contribute to frustration and powerlessness, potentially leading to self-harm incidents.
  • The dilapidated infrastructure, frequent loss of services (power, gas, water, communications), and lack of significant investment severely test the fairness and humanity of treatment.
  • Concerns about the variety, quantity, and quality of food on offer, impacting physical and mental well-being, as well as safety and security.
  • The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is being misused, including for facilitating removal directions days in advance of cancelled flights, housing individuals who refuse to share rooms, and for mentally ill detained people, contrary to Detention Centre Rules.
  • Complaints regarding contracted services are not believed to be properly investigated, leading to a lack of trust in the system, with 77% of complaints unsubstantiated.
  • Staff shortages and lack of escorts result in cancelled hospital appointments and worse health outcomes for detainees.
  • Too many detained people are held for unacceptably long periods without the prospect of imminent removal, including those held for over 200 days.
  • Delays in finding suitable accommodation for those granted bail, particularly for time-served foreign national offenders (TSFNOs), due to inconsistent communication between Home Office, Probation, and local authorities.
  • Significant increase in throwovers (44 in 2023 vs zero in 2022) containing drugs and contraband, indicating a breach in security.
  • Lack of progress on crucial investment in infrastructure, especially heating and ventilation systems, despite previous recommendations and a delayed new contract.
  • Rule 35 reports are not responded to within the mandated two working days, causing Adults at Risk to remain detained when they should be released.
  • Prolonged detention of mentally ill individuals in the CSU, contrary to rules, exacerbates anxiety and poor mental health, with no appropriate alternative mental health pathway.
2024 PRISON Concerns Guys Marsh
Published 11 Apr 2025 · 483 prisoners
HMP Guys Marsh experienced a challenging reporting year marked by a significant rise in self-harm and assaults, exacerbated by staff shortages that led to a three-month restricted regime. The ingress of illicit items remained a persistent concern, and the prisoner complaints system broke down mid-year. While positive developments included an award-winning healthcare service and new prisoner incentives, the poor state of the older wings and high offender manager caseloads continue to hinder rehabilitation and decent conditions.
Key concerns identified
  • Significant rise in self-harm and high levels of prisoner-on-prisoner and staff assaults.
  • Pervasive issue of illicit items entering the prison, including by drone, creating risks.
  • Breakdown of the prisoner complaints process for much of the year, leading to frustration.
  • Poor physical state and decency levels of older wings, with prolonged maintenance delays.
  • Suspension of education and purposeful activity for three months due to staff shortages.
  • High caseloads for prison offender managers, impacting prisoner progression.
2024 PRISON Concerns Durham
Published 10 Apr 2025 · 974 prisoners
Self-harm: 798 Assaults: 409 Staff assaults: 108
HMP Durham, a Category B reception and resettlement prison, faced significant challenges in the reporting year ending October 2024. The prison, operating at 98.9% of its operational capacity with 974 prisoners, saw a concerning decline in safety, marked by substantial increases in self-harm (34%), assaults (52%), and use of force (76%). Overcrowding and a deteriorating estate were persistent issues, alongside critical failures in healthcare provision, an inconsistent regime, and poor engagement in education, leading to an overall reduction in prisoners feeling safe.
Key concerns identified
  • Significant increases in self-harm (34%), assaults (52%), and use of force (76%), indicating a decline in safety.
  • Persistent overcrowding, with 90% of cells double-occupied, and unsatisfactory internal fabric, including damp, mould, and stalled refurbishment of A Wing.
  • Deterioration in prisoners' feeling of safety, with 80% reporting feeling safe (down from 92%), alongside a 50.5% increase in drug finds and concerns about Spice and homemade drugs.
  • Major issues in healthcare provision, including 14% of new arrivals missing first-night assessments, poor secondary screening, high "did not attend" rates, and a lack of cooperation between healthcare and operational teams.
  • Inconsistent regime delivery with no improvement in time out of cell, poor attendance in education, and lack of motivation among remand prisoners for activities.
  • Ongoing concerns about the quality and completion of ACCT documents (78% with omissions) and the prison being designated a cluster death site multiple times.
2024 PRISON Concerns Foston Hall
Published 4 Apr 2025 · 292 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,423 Assaults: 136 Staff assaults: 84
HMP/YOI Foston Hall is deemed a reasonably safe prison for women, with a significant decrease in self-harm incidents and an increase in its operational capacity. However, the report highlights critical concerns including a notable rise in prisoner-on-prisoner violence, increased illicit items entering the prison, and systemic issues with delayed mental health transfers to secure hospitals. Problems with accommodation, the prisoner application system, property access, and persistent missed healthcare appointments continue to impact prisoner welfare, despite positive efforts in regime maintenance and staff-prisoner interactions.
Key concerns identified
  • Prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs remain too long at HMP Foston Hall due to delayed transfers to secure hospitals.
  • A significant rise in remand, short-sentence, and recalled prisoners has led to an increase in drugs and illicit items, causing debt, bullying, and violence.
  • The accommodation in the CSU and D wing remains inadequate, lacking funding for improvements.
  • Without a body scanner at reception, staff are hampered from detecting concealed drugs, compromising safety.
  • The rise in prisoner-on-prisoner violence is a significant concern.
  • Problems persist with the prisoner application system, with responses often late or not received.
  • Prisoners experience considerable difficulties and lengthy delays in accessing their property.
  • Lack of shelter for prisoners queuing at the medication dispensing hatch in all weathers.
  • Missed internal healthcare appointments remain significantly high.
  • No social care 'buddies' for prisoners with care needs.
2024 PRISON Concerns Haverigg
Published 2 Apr 2025 · 483 prisoners
Self-harm: 11 Assaults: 6
HMP Haverigg, a Category D open prison for men, maintained low levels of self-harm and violence, with two deaths in custody. The Board commended efforts to improve facilities and provide high-standard healthcare for an increasingly elderly and complex population, despite some staff vacancies. Key concerns included challenges for ex-PCoSO prisoners in finding employment, difficulties securing accommodation on release, and prisoners' reluctance to raise complaints due to perceived negative consequences.
Key concerns identified
  • The disadvantage faced by ex-PCoSO prisoners in gaining employment upon release due to reluctance from some businesses.
  • Growing difficulties in securing timely and suitable accommodation for prisoners on release, risking homelessness and reoffending.
  • The need for improved support services for an increasing number of very frail elderly prisoners with complex physical, mental, and social care needs.
  • Concerns around prisoners’ unwillingness or reported reluctance to raise legitimate complaints or approach the IMB for support, fearing adverse consequences.
  • Ongoing issues with the structural integrity of accommodation blocks and delays in completing the Fire Safety Improvement Plan.
  • Concerns about the quality, quantity, and calorific value of meals.
  • Prisoners arriving on transfer without prescribed medication due to travel distance.
  • Mounting concerns from prisoners about changes to individual risk levels affecting progression, ROTL access, and release arrangements.
2024 PRISON Concerns Forest Bank
Published 27 Mar 2025 · 1,470 prisoners
HMP/YOI Forest Bank, a Category B reception and resettlement prison operated by Sodexo, faced significant challenges during the reporting year, including an increased churn rate and high operational capacity. While purposeful activity and education standards improved, rates of violence and use of force increased, and there were four deaths in custody. Key concerns include managing complex needs, particularly mental health transfers, addressing staff-prisoner relationships and improving medication dispensing and cleanliness.
Key concerns identified
  • Forest Bank continues to operate at capacity, raising questions about future expansion plans and support.
  • The model for reception prisons, which are under significant pressure, requires review and evaluation.
  • Staff and prisoner relationships, particularly the delivery and effectiveness of key worker sessions, need attention.
  • Frequent missed medication dispensing times are impacting prisoners’ health.
  • Illicit items remain an operational and safety challenge, requiring further investment and support.
  • The management of prisoners with complex needs, especially regarding timely mental health transfers, continues to be a challenge.
  • Cleanliness and maintenance issues on accommodation blocks, including out-of-use water coolers and lack of air conditioning, are persistent concerns.
  • Rates of violence and use of force have increased significantly.
2024 PRISON Concerns Eastwood Park
Published 21 Mar 2025 · 366 prisoners
Self-harm: 4,204 Staff assaults: 44
HMP/YOI Eastwood Park, a closed local prison for women, faced significant challenges in the reporting year, particularly concerning high levels of self-harm and use of force incidents. While staffing shortages and the concentration of complex prisoners strained the regime, efforts were made to improve healthcare, purposeful activity, and resettlement support. The Board highlighted concerns regarding mental health transfers, estate development, and the overall impact of managing complex individuals on staff and the general prison population.
Key concerns identified
  • Deeply concerning levels of self-harm, with Eastwood Park accounting for 38% of all prolific incidents in the women’s estate.
  • 1039 use of force incidents, double the number from the previous year, with a small number of troubled prisoners being a key factor.
  • Long delays for transfers to mental health units and inadequate provision for women with multifaceted social care needs.
  • Under-used activity workshops that are not operating as originally intended.
  • The significant adverse pressure on the regime and staff due to the concentration of individuals who prolifically self-harm in a single prison.
  • Unfinalised proposals for replacing residential unit 7, which remains unoccupied due to fire safety concerns.
  • Prisoners experiencing lengthy journeys to court due to the delayed operationalisation of a video conferencing centre.
  • The impact of staff compassion burnout, injuries, and attacks on staff morale and goodwill.
  • The running of the prison is negatively impacted by low staffing levels and a high number of inexperienced staff.
  • Gaps in provision for programmes addressing offending behaviour.
2024 PRISON Concerns Wayland
Published 13 Mar 2025 · 1,000 prisoners
The IMB's latest survey at HMP Wayland shows a generally positive shift across many areas, including improved induction experiences, property handling, and healthcare complaint responses. However, significant challenges persist, particularly concerning staff's ability to provide effective support for personal issues and loneliness, which has worsened. Concerns also remain regarding cell decency, the pervasive availability of drugs, inadequate resettlement preparation, and the perceived unfairness of the complaints system, indicating much work is still needed.
Key concerns identified
  • Staff are unable to effectively help prisoners with personal problems, and the ability to respond to loneliness has seen a catastrophic drop.
  • Cell cleanliness and adequate equipping remain an unacceptable issue, with over half of respondents reporting unclean cells on arrival.
  • The easy availability of drugs and hooch significantly compromises prisoner safety and rehabilitation efforts.
  • Most prisoners (80%) feel they are not being helped by staff for life after release, and many struggle with literacy without adequate support.
  • The complaints system is perceived as unfair by 79% of prisoners, and both Prisoner Forums and regime communications are largely considered ineffective.
2023 PRISON Concerns Dungavel House
Published 11 Mar 2025 · 103 prisoners
Self-harm: 4
Dungavel House IRC maintained a safe and humane environment in 2023, with good staff-resident relationships, comprehensive healthcare, and a relaxed regime. Despite these positives, concerns persist regarding persistent roof access issues and the impact of frequent late-night arrivals from Edinburgh Airport on detainees. The IMB also highlighted its own significant challenges in recruiting members.
Key concerns identified
  • Incidents of residents climbing on to the roof remain an occurrence, despite previous recommendations for preventative measures.
  • Detainees frequently experience late-night arrivals from Edinburgh airport, sometimes being returned the next morning due to lack of suitable overnight accommodation, raising concerns about night movements.
  • One resident was able to escape from Dungavel during the year.
  • The IMB itself faced significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining members, affecting its ability to fully monitor the centre.
2024 PRISON Concerns Dovegate
Published 4 Mar 2025 · 1,160 prisoners
Self-harm: 814
HMP Dovegate, a privately run Category B training prison for men aged 21 and over, operated at or near its 1160 operational capacity during the reporting year. The Board observed generally calm wings with good staff-prisoner relationships and commended improvements in education. Key concerns include three deaths in custody, long healthcare and mental health transfer waiting times, persistent issues with lost property during transfers, and regime restrictions due to tight staffing levels exacerbated by a more complex prisoner population.
Key concerns identified
  • Three deaths in custody occurred during the reporting year, one apparently self-inflicted.
  • There is an increasing number of prisoners with complex issues, many from outside the local area, which combined with national prison population pressure, has changed the demographics and can cause conflict.
  • Long waiting times for healthcare appointments and cancellations are a significant issue for prisoners.
  • Prisoners with serious mental health issues face lengthy waits for transfer to secure mental health units, leading to deterioration and violent behaviour.
  • Property lost during transfers between establishments remains a major, repeated concern, despite computerisation improvements.
  • Tight staffing levels have resulted in regimes being cut back, restricting time out of cell and activities.
2024 PRISON Concerns Maidstone
Published 27 Feb 2025 · 599 prisoners
Self-harm: 84 Assaults: 63 Staff assaults: 40
HMP Maidstone generally operates as a safe and humane Category C foreign national prison, with improvements noted in reception processes, ACCT care, and analysis of violent incidents. The Board commended staff care in healthcare and overall good relationships, but raised significant concerns regarding the prevalence of illicit substances, the limited purposeful activity and lack of ROTL, and delays in mental health transfers due to national bed shortages. Improvements are needed in staffing for UoF oversight, translation services, and collaboration with immigration authorities.
Key concerns identified
  • The continued prevalence of illicit substances and items entering the prison, exacerbated by a lack of external CCTV and gate searches.
  • Insufficient provision of meaningful and purposeful activity, soft skills opportunities, and the absence of a Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) facility.
  • National delays in transferring prisoners with acute mental health needs to secure beds, resulting in extended stays in the Care and Separation Unit.
  • Challenges in communication and collaboration with Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE), causing anxiety for prisoners regarding their immigration status and release.
  • A shortage of officers trained to quality assure Use of Force incidents, leading to delays in their proper scrutiny.
  • The ongoing need for improved translation services for foreign national prisoners to understand official documentation.
2024 PRISON Concerns Ford
Published 25 Feb 2025 · 343 prisoners
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 1
HMP Ford, a Category D open prison, generally provides a safe and humane environment, with commendable improvements in induction processes, security measures, and a strong focus on rehabilitation through education and employment. However, the Board remains concerned about the failing building infrastructure, including critical boiler issues, inadequate phone provision, and persistent delays from probation services impacting prisoner progression and resettlement. The ongoing delay in the prison expansion project and budget cuts to vocational training are also significant concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • The inadequate phone provision continues to be an issue, impacting communication between prisoners and their families.
  • The building infrastructure across Ford is failing, with a constant cycle of electrical issues, unacceptable internal drain conditions, and broken hot water systems, which poses a health and safety risk.
  • The delayed prison expansion project is now not anticipated to be completed until 2029, following two main contractors going into administration.
  • Budget for critical rehabilitation activities, specifically the Chichester College School of Construction, has been cut by 50% for the 2025 financial year.
  • Delays in responses from Community Offender Managers (COMs) within the Probation Service are a major source of frustration for prisoners and staff, impacting ROTL and release planning.
  • The Board reiterates that Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences are inhumane and should be removed from existing prisoners.
  • The low rates of pay in Engineering and Land Based Activities are a source of discontent for prisoners.
  • The lack of purpose-designed rooms for prisoners with disabilities and the still unconnected disability alarm system in some pods are concerning.
2024 PRISON Concerns Werrington
Published 21 Feb 2025 · 83 prisoners
Self-harm: 136 Assaults: 154 Staff assaults: 150
HMYOI Werrington's report for 2023-2024 highlights ongoing challenges with violence, inadequate education, and poor time out of room, despite some improvements in conflict resolution and healthcare provision. Staffing shortages in social care and difficulties in monitoring segregation contribute to key concerns. The Board raises several recommendations to the Minister, Youth Custody Service, Local Authority, and Governor to address these issues and improve conditions for young people.
Key concerns identified
  • The general level and severity of violence, including fights and assaults, remain a significant concern.
  • Educational provision is wholly inadequate due to restricted regime, violence, 'keep-aparts', and contractual issues.
  • The inhumane accommodation of young people, legally children, far from family due to YOI Cookham Wood's closure, is a serious issue.
  • Time out of room continues to be poor, especially at weekends, falling below pre-pandemic levels.
  • Staffing levels in social care are low, impacting workload and support for vulnerable young adults.
  • Monitoring of Rule 49 reviews by the IMB is hindered by infrequent submission of paperwork.
  • The number of young people self-isolating has increased due to fear of others' behaviour and getting into trouble.
2024 PRISON Concerns Doncaster
Published 19 Feb 2025 · 1,128 prisoners
Self-harm: 831
The Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Doncaster reports a generally fair and humane treatment of prisoners, with good staff-prisoner relationships and improved education attendance. However, the prison faces significant challenges, primarily due to severe overcrowding and population pressures, leading to inhumane double occupancy of cells and restricted regimes. Key concerns include extended waits for mental health transfers, a problematic reception and induction process, and insufficient community support for released prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Population pressures affecting reception and induction processes.
  • Overcrowding and double occupancy of single cells.
  • Extended waits for mental health transfers to secure hospitals.
  • Difficulties with resettlement for out-of-area prisoners, leading to releases as 'no fixed abode'.
  • Lack of adequate probation and community support for released prisoners.
  • Cell bells not being answered quickly enough.
  • Insufficient support and progression for IPP prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns The Verne
Published 18 Feb 2025 · 605 prisoners
Self-harm: 140 Assaults: 12
HMP The Verne is a Category C training prison for sex offenders, holding 605 prisoners with an operational capacity of 608. The IMB noted generally good staff-prisoner relationships and effective healthcare, but raised significant concerns about the deplorable state of the healthcare building and kitchen roof. Key issues also include the barely functioning key worker scheme, a backlog in OASys assessments, and increased bullying linked to the prison's more moderate regime.
Key concerns identified
  • The key worker scheme is barely functioning, with a compliance rate of just 11.5% for sessions allocated.
  • The healthcare building is in a deplorable state, urgently needing temporary and long-term new accommodation.
  • The kitchen roof is in a very poor state, with rainwater leaking through, causing extensive mould and peeling paint.
  • The absence of an end-of-life care facility is a concern, especially given the elderly population and associated burden of bed-watches on staff.
  • Need to expedite the introduction of a sex offence programme at The Verne, as many prisoners are released without completing one.
  • The Offender Management Unit remains understaffed, leading to significant backlogs in OASys assessments and reviews.
  • The more moderate regime and free association have led to increased bullying, coercive behaviour, and grooming of vulnerable prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Wakefield
Published 12 Feb 2025 · 740 prisoners
Self-harm: 665 Assaults: 136 Staff assaults: 136
HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison for around 740 men, saw a significant increase in assaults and self-harm during the reporting year, leading the Board to deem it 'less safe'. Key concerns include persistent delays in mental health transfers, a reduction in experienced staff, and urgent needs for infrastructure upgrades. Despite these challenges, healthcare provision is improving, and the education department is praised for its ambitious curriculum and positive prisoner engagement.
Key concerns identified
  • The prison is deemed 'less safe' than previous years due to a significant increase in prisoner-on-prisoner and prisoner-on-staff assaults.
  • Serious concerns regarding delays in mental health transfers to secure hospitals for prisoners in urgent need of treatment.
  • Ongoing staffing issues, including a reduction in experienced officers, use of detached duty, and unfulfilled key worker sessions impacting prisoner support.
  • Urgent need for improvement in the physical security and aging infrastructure of the prison, which also impacts humane living standards and access to full regimes for those with mobility issues.
  • Persistent issues with purposeful activity, with too many prisoners not engaged in education or work opportunities, compounded by limited higher-level and IT-specific education.
  • Lack of progress in addressing repeated concerns, such as the astroturf pitch and timely property delivery.
2024 PRISON Concerns Brixton
Published 10 Feb 2025 · 749 prisoners
Self-harm: 351 Assaults: 301 Staff assaults: 100
HMP Brixton continues to face severe challenges, primarily driven by overcrowding and the transfer of prisoners with complex needs and insufficient sentence time for effective resettlement. Key issues include unacceptable living conditions, an inconsistent regime offering limited purposeful activity, and pervasive illicit items like drugs and weapons contributing to high levels of self-harm and violence. While healthcare provision is generally satisfactory, and efforts are made in vocational training, significant shortfalls in education and the poor performance of outsourced services undermine rehabilitation efforts.
Key concerns identified
  • The prison's inability to appropriately manage prisoner transfers, receiving men with complex needs and insufficient sentence time for resettlement, exacerbated by population pressures.
  • Unacceptable living conditions, including overcrowding (men sharing single cells), erratic decency checks, and chronic shortages of bedding, clothing, and furniture.
  • Inconsistent and poor regime, especially on B wing, leading to prolonged time in cells and lack of purposeful activity for men awaiting induction.
  • Pervasive availability of illicit items such as drugs, phones, and improvised weapons, contributing to self-harm, violence, and debt-related self-isolation.
  • Inadequate education, skills, and work training provision, with significant induction backlogs and unmet learning needs in English and maths, contributing to boredom.
  • Poor performance of subcontracted services (e.g., maintenance, vermin control, washing machines, cell bells, CCTV) affecting safety, decency, and regime.
2024 PRISON Concerns Wormwood Scrubs
Published 7 Feb 2025 · 1,253 prisoners
Self-harm: 323 Staff assaults: 120
HMP Wormwood Scrubs faced significant challenges during the reporting year, including an increased population running near operational capacity and a sustained upward trend in violence and self-harm incidents towards the end of the period. While some progress was made in healthcare and education, these gains were frequently undermined by critical staffing shortages leading to cancelled activities and appointments. Outdated infrastructure and the ongoing availability of illicit substances remained persistent issues, severely impacting safety, conditions, and the humane treatment of prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Levels of availability of illicit substances in the prison, reflected in high positive drug tests.
  • Inconsistent wearing of body worn video cameras by prison officers for use of force incidents.
  • Impact of outdated buildings and critical infrastructure breakdowns (cell bells, lifts) on fair treatment and safety.
  • Prisoners with complex mental health issues remaining in the CSU due to lack of space in the healthcare unit.
  • Unacceptable number of routine healthcare appointments and therapeutic sessions cancelled due to lack of prison officer availability.
  • Long waiting times for assessment and transfer to external secure mental health facilities.
  • Inconsistent and limited time out of cell for prisoners, with many spending 22 or more hours locked in cells.
  • Marked increase in complaints about lost property, despite new policy framework.
2024 PRISON Concerns Feltham
Published 6 Feb 2025 · 582 prisoners
Staff assaults: 147
HMP/YOI Feltham faces significant challenges, particularly high staff absence severely impacting regime delivery and time out of cell for both young people and adults. The physical environment is in a poor state, with persistent issues like leaking roofs and mould, alongside a worrying increase in violence, including staff assaults on Feltham B, and a rise in contraband finds. While healthcare provision is generally good and staff are commended for their dedication, the lack of purposeful activity, effective key worker sessions, and the closure of the Enhanced Support Unit hinder rehabilitation and overall prisoner wellbeing.
Key concerns identified
  • High staff absence significantly impacts regime delivery and time out of room for children and adults.
  • Persistent violence, including prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and a worrying increase in staff assaults on Feltham B.
  • The poor state of the built environment, including leaking roofs, damp, and mould, remains unaddressed despite previous reports.
  • Insufficient purposeful activity, education, and vocational training provision, particularly for the older age group on Feltham B.
  • Significant impact of non-associations ("keep-aparts") and gang-related issues on safety, regime, and opportunities for young people.
  • Rise in contraband finds, including drugs and mobile phones, with obvious smell of cannabis on units.
  • Closure of the Enhanced Support Unit (ESU) on Feltham A, depriving the prison of an important resource for complex needs.
  • Lack of key worker sessions limits support and guidance for prisoners, impacting staff-prisoner relations.
  • Issues with food provision, including inconsistent servery cleanliness, lack of PPE, and substantial amounts of food going missing.
2024 PRISON Concerns New Hall
Published 5 Feb 2025 · 365 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,032 Assaults: 133 Staff assaults: 110
HMP/YOI New Hall, a closed category prison for women, held 365 residents against an operational capacity of 381. The Board noted positive developments in reception, staff-prisoner relationships, and the introduction of a drug recovery wing. However, significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate funding and suitability of the prison environment for women with complex mental health needs, leading to unacceptable delays in transfers to secure units. There was also a notable increase in healthcare-related applications to the IMB and issues impacting access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL).
Key concerns identified
  • The process of transferring prisoners with mental health issues to secure units is too slow.
  • Higher levels of funding are required to meet the complex and severe mental health needs of the women.
  • The prison is increasingly being used inappropriately as a place of safety for women with severe mental health conditions.
  • Prison is not an appropriate environment for women with severe mental health issues, with assessments and transfers to secure mental health establishments not prompt enough.
  • There was a significant 61% increase in healthcare-related applications to the IMB, particularly concerning prescribing issues.
  • The use of the vacant 'Larch' plot, previously identified as a concern, remains undecided.
  • The shared Governor arrangements and clustering with HMP Askham Grange negatively impact New Hall prisoners' access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL).
2024 PRISON Concerns Channings Wood
Published 31 Jan 2025 · 723 prisoners
Self-harm: 533 Assaults: 141 Staff assaults: 12
HMP Channings Wood has navigated a challenging year following the closure of HMP Dartmoor, resulting in significant population changes and regime disruptions. While staff resilience and a downward trend in self-harm and assaults are positive, the prison faces persistent issues with property loss, inadequate infrastructure maintenance, and delays in access to purposeful activity. Concerns also remain regarding the care of an expanding ageing population and the plight of IPP prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • The disruptive effects of the HMP Dartmoor closure, including changes to the estate, redistribution of work roles, and pressure on activities and resettlement, have created a very challenging period.
  • The persistent backlog in repairs to roofing, heating systems, and work-related equipment continues to adversely affect decency and purposeful activity.
  • Missing property, especially on transfer, remains a significant and unresolved issue, causing distress and undermining trust.
  • The long-term segregation of a prisoner on a 'dirty protest' highlights the lack of alternative solutions for managing challenging behaviour.
  • Excessive waiting times for opticians and psychologists, particularly for VP group sessions (38 weeks), indicate gaps in healthcare provision.
  • The absence of a national strategy for an expanding ageing prisoner population means local initiatives are insufficient to adequately meet needs, leading to unacceptable social care provision.
  • Prisoners serving IPP sentences experience hopelessness, frustration, and poor mental health due to difficulties in progression and the lack of a resentencing exercise.
  • Purposeful activity is undermined by instructor shortages and ageing, prone-to-failure infrastructure, preventing the 75% participation target from being met.
2024 PRISON Concerns Cardiff
Published 29 Jan 2025 · 774 prisoners
Self-harm: 595 Assaults: 135 Staff assaults: 36
HMP Cardiff, a Category B local training prison, maintained a 'Good' HMIP rating despite significant population pressures, with the IMB noting positive staff-prisoner relationships and cell refurbishment efforts. However, the Board expressed serious concerns over rising self-harm, violence, and use of force incidents, alongside persistent overcrowding leading to inhumane eating conditions. Key challenges included inadequate mental health staffing at weekends, a doubling of medication complaints, and poor key worker scheme delivery.
Key concerns identified
  • Significant increases in self-harm (63%), violence (57%), and use of force (68%) incidents.
  • Persistent overcrowding and unacceptable living conditions, including prisoners eating in shared cells with integral toilets, and issues with heating, hot water, and vermin.
  • Doubling of medication/prescription complaints, insufficient weekend mental health team cover, and delays in the health needs analysis.
  • Inconsistent delivery of the key worker scheme (11.08% compliance) and underrepresentation of ethnic minority staff.
  • Concerns over resettlement planning, specifically for accommodation and employment on release, and the unsuitability of premises for disabled prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Fosse Way
Published 28 Jan 2025 · 1,715 prisoners
Self-harm: 425 Assaults: 159 Staff assaults: 35
HMP Fosse Way opened in May 2023 as a category C prison and quickly reached its operational capacity of 1715 prisoners by February 2024. The IMB's first annual report highlights significant building design flaws, including inadequate facilities and security concerns, alongside staffing shortages and regime limitations. Despite successful integration of vulnerable prisoners, the rapid population increase led to a rise in self-harm and violent incidents, coupled with insufficient purposeful activity and education provision.
Key concerns identified
  • The gymnasium, designed for 15 prisoners, is inadequate for a population of 1720, requiring conversion of workshops.
  • There is no central laundry facility for large items, leading to costly transport to another prison.
  • Domestic-standard washing machines and other electrical items on house blocks frequently require repair and have a limited lifespan.
  • There is a significant shortage of office space, with some staff working in cupboards and the IMB office located outside the secure zone.
  • On-site healthcare ceases at 7pm, with no residential unit, forcing prisoners with severe mental health needs or requiring palliative/24-hour care to be accommodated on wings or in the CSU.
  • The library's location is poor, leading to congestion and noise, which hinders studying prisoners.
  • Cell window design is flawed, leading to deliberate damage and security risks, as ground floor windows lack bars.
  • Cell furniture made of MDF is easily damaged, necessitating frequent repairs and rendering cells uninhabitable.
  • The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) has insufficient cells for the prison's population, with additional cells on G block converted to meet demand.
  • Perimeter fencing around house block yards lacks razor wire, creating a security risk through climbing.
  • Ongoing staff retention issues and inexperience are impacting the regime and increasing pressure on staff.
  • Employment opportunities and education places are insufficient for the prisoner population.
  • The Offender Management Unit (OMU) is understaffed, creating a backlog of offender assessments (OASys) for category reviews.
  • Self-harm and violence incidents have increased with the rise in prisoner numbers.
2024 PRISON Concerns Elmley
Published 21 Jan 2025 · 1,043 prisoners
Self-harm: 580 Assaults: 245 Staff assaults: 137
HMP Elmley faces significant challenges, notably an "intolerable" fire safety risk in House Block 5 and generally deteriorating accommodation. While healthcare and equality initiatives show improvement, safety remains a concern with increased self-harm and use of force incidents, exacerbated by poor key working and inconsistent reception processes. Education attendance is low, and there's a need for more purposeful activity.
Key concerns identified
  • House block 5 poses an intolerable fire safety risk, with a high likelihood of fire and extreme consequences for life safety, requiring urgent action.
  • The quality of accommodation continues to deteriorate, with dirty/broken showers, insect infestations, heating breakdowns, and inadequate maintenance.
  • Inconsistent reception and induction processes for new prisoners lead to kit shortages and difficulties with phone access.
  • Self-harm incidents have risen significantly, and use of force incidents have increased, with black prisoners disproportionately affected, while independent scrutiny of UoF and DIRFs is lacking.
  • The key working scheme is insufficiently developed, with low attendance rates, and the cessation of the Listener scheme compromises safer custody efforts.
  • Education attendance is unacceptably low despite good teaching quality, and there are limited opportunities for purposeful work-based training or using prisoner labour to improve the prison environment.
2024 PRISON Concerns Aylesbury
Published 15 Jan 2025 · 401 prisoners
Self-harm: 353
HMP Aylesbury, a Category C prison, completed its transformation from a YOI this year, adapting to an older population with improved but still sub-standard regime delivery. Significant efforts were made to enhance safety, reduce gang violence, and manage illicit items, though their incursion remains a serious problem. While staffing levels improved, staff inexperience and a lack of purposeful activity remain key challenges impacting prisoner wellbeing, progression, and resettlement, as evidenced by long waiting times for healthcare and inadequate release preparation.
Key concerns identified
  • The persistent incursion of illicit items, including dangerous drugs, leading to debt, bullying, and health issues.
  • Insufficient and uninspiring purposeful activity that falls below Category C standards and does not prepare prisoners for release.
  • Inadequate preparation for release for prisoners leaving directly from Aylesbury, risking reoffending and public safety.
  • A deleterious imbalance between experienced and inexperienced staff, impacting induction quality, prisoner support, and potentially increasing use of force incidents.
  • Long waiting times for GP (3 weeks) and dental (13 weeks) appointments, leading to prisoner complaints.
  • Overstretched Offender Management Unit staff due to significant vacancies, hindering sentence planning and progression.
  • Inadequate provision of secure hospital beds for prisoners with severe mental illness, placing undue pressure on prison staff.
  • Disproportionate representation of Black and Muslim prisoners in adjudications, with lower rates of dismissals, suggesting potential inappropriate use of the disciplinary process.
  • Frequent loss or misplacement of prisoner property, particularly during transfers.
  • The age and layout of the prison building, including unreliable heating and inadequate adaptations for disabled prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Littlehey
Published 14 Jan 2025 · 1,225 prisoners
Assaults: 79 Staff assaults: 19
HMP Littlehey, a Category C training prison for sex offenders, generally maintained a safe and humane environment with positive developments like a new wing and in-cell phones. Despite commendations for healthcare and resettlement efforts, the IMB remains critically understaffed, hindering its monitoring capacity. Key challenges include persistent cell sharing, poor property transfer management, healthcare resource deficits, and inadequate educational provision, many of which are repeated concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • The critically low number of IMB members (three against an establishment of 16) and the inadequate recruitment process, significantly hindering the Board's statutory duties.
  • Persistent issues with cell sharing in unsuitable conditions and the estate-wide poor management of prisoner property on transfer, both noted as repeated concerns from previous reports.
  • The absence of IT systems for managing internal complaints, contributing to a high volume of paper-based complaints and a significant staff workload.
  • Continued concerns regarding healthcare provision, including the lack of 24-hour on-site services, insufficient resources, weak governance in medicines management, and long waiting times for physiotherapy, podiatry, and optician appointments.
  • Inadequate funding for the repair and replacement of gym equipment, along with the unresolved issue of a leaking workshop roof, affecting purposeful activity and the estate.
  • Insufficient provision of English, maths, and ESOL education, coupled with the absence of a comprehensive reading strategy, highlighted by an Ofsted inspection.
2024 PRISON Concerns Wetherby
Published 10 Jan 2025 · 150 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,163 Staff assaults: 24
The IMB report for HMYOI Wetherby covers a year of accelerated change and leadership transition. The Board acknowledges some improvements, particularly in staff morale, healthcare provision, and initial efforts to improve the regime. However, significant concerns persist regarding violence, limited time out of cell, and a disappointing education provision. Staffing issues, including redeployment of specialist teams and high sickness, also remain a challenge alongside ongoing concerns about support for vulnerable young people.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent violence and the presence of improvised weapons, leading to staff and young people sustaining injuries during restraints.
  • An unpredictable and limited regime, poor communication, and inadequate time out of cell, especially for separated young people.
  • Significant shortfalls in education provision due to recruitment/retention issues, substantial lost hours, and lack of access to teaching staff for young people.
  • Inadequate support for vulnerable young people, including those serving long sentences, looked-after children, and remanded young people who cannot access interventions.
  • Staffing challenges such as the frequent redeployment of specialist intervention teams (e.g., Conflict Resolution, MMPR, CuSP), high sickness rates, and concerns about staff mental health and support.
  • Continuing issues with estate maintenance, including areas in urgent need of refurbishment (e.g., Keppel, healthcare department) and unsuitable, grim rooms on Benbow.
2024 PRISON Concerns Bullingdon
Published 9 Jan 2025 · 902 prisoners
HMP Bullingdon, a local Category B prison, faces persistent challenges including chronic overcrowding, high prisoner turnover, and significant staff shortages impacting safety and regime delivery. Violence and self-harm remain high, and a substantial number of prisoners are released homeless. While healthcare provision is generally good and peer support schemes are positive, dilapidated facilities, food quality issues, and reduced key working sessions are ongoing concerns for the Board.
Key concerns identified
  • Chronic overcrowding and high prisoner turnover hinder rehabilitation efforts.
  • Significant staff shortages and high turnover negatively impact almost every aspect of the prison.
  • The prison remains a violent and unsafe environment for both prisoners and staff, with self-harm and assaults remaining high.
  • Many cells designed for single occupancy are occupied by two prisoners, and much of the prison shows signs of dilapidation.
  • Issues persist with the quality and quantity of food, and defective kitchen/servery equipment needs repair or replacement.
  • A great deal of prisoner property continues to go missing during transfers and within the prison.
  • A large number of prisoners are released homeless and are subsequently recalled to prison within a short period.
  • There has been a significant decrease in key working sessions.
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