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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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2023 PRISON Concerns Parc young person’s unit
Published 10 Sep 2024
Assaults: 86
HMP/YOI Parc Young Person’s Unit maintained its reputation as a leading YOI, lauded for its strong leadership, innovative programmes, and compassionate staff-child relationships. The unit successfully reduced violence and improved time out of cells, alongside excellent family contact. However, the report raised concerns regarding the challenged healthcare provision following a staff departure and the quality of education delivered by the new provider.
Key concerns identified
  • Healthcare became a challenged function due to the departure of the onsite nurse.
  • The new education provider, Novus Gower, was ill-prepared, leading to inadequate teacher numbers and children reporting boredom and disinterest in lessons.
  • A low uptake of library books, with only 290 taken out during the year, was noted as a concern.
2024 PRISON Concerns Usk and Prescoed
Published 6 Sep 2024 · 536 prisoners
Self-harm: 27 Assaults: 18 Staff assaults: 0
HMP Usk and Prescoed are considered well-managed with positive outcomes for prisoners, who generally report feeling safe. Key strengths include high levels of purposeful activity, positive staff-prisoner relationships, and good healthcare, despite staffing concerns. However, the Board highlights issues such as the lack of IPP prisoner recategorisation, parole board delays, inadequate healthcare and probation staffing, and persistent property loss during transfers.
Key concerns identified
  • Lack of recategorisation for IPP prisoners.
  • Significant delays in parole board hearings.
  • Concerns about access to support for personal social care for prisoners with limited mobility and disabilities.
  • Inadequate healthcare staffing establishment, especially for the increasing number of elderly prisoners with complex needs.
  • Inadequate number of probation officers, a repeated concern from previous reports.
  • Persistent problem with the loss of prisoners' property during transfers between prisons, which has not improved.
  • Impact of increased hospital transfers on staffing levels, leading to additional lockdowns.
  • Delay in gaining support from HMPPS for escorted absence for men suitable for progression to open conditions.
2024 PRISON Concerns Stafford
Published 5 Sep 2024 · 746 prisoners
Self-harm: 131 Assaults: 12 Staff assaults: 1
HMP Stafford, a Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offenses, is largely perceived as safe and calm, with commendations for staff and positive developments in medicines management. However, the Board raised significant concerns over persistent legionella issues and inadequate shower facilities, ongoing staff shortages impacting regime, and the unaddressed plight of IPP prisoners. Challenges also include the poor state of healthcare facilities, insufficient neurodiversity support funding, and difficulties in Board member recruitment.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent legionella issues in the water supply and ongoing shower refurbishment negatively impacting prisoners, with only 63-75% of showers working at times.
  • Ongoing staff shortages impacting the 'normal' running of the prison, leading to lost activities and wing closures, particularly due to detached duty.
  • Continued failure to address the release requirements for IPP prisoners, causing frustration, lack of hope, and feelings of injustice.
  • Insufficient budget allocation (£1500) for neurodiversity support, despite 40% of prisoners being neurodiverse and the importance of this area.
  • Poor condition of healthcare consulting rooms and prison roadways, with little improvement noted since previous inspections.
  • Recruitment and retention challenges for IMB Board members, impacting the Board's capacity.
2024 PRISON Concerns Downview
Published 3 Sep 2024 · 324 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,171 Assaults: 26 Staff assaults: 48
HMP/YOI Downview experienced significant population pressures and a more complex demographic during the reporting year, leading to an unsettled environment and increased safety incidents. While healthcare saw some positive working relationships and good mental health support, there were critical delays in transferring acutely unwell women to psychiatric units and persistent issues with medication distribution. The Board raised concerns about the accuracy of education attendance data, the inconsistent key worker system, and a decline in library services.
Key concerns identified
  • The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is frequently at full capacity, housing acutely mentally unwell women in an unsuitable, therapeutic-free environment, with unacceptable delays in transfers to psychiatric units.
  • The Board lacks confidence in the accuracy of attendance data for education and activities, and overall purposeful activity is low, coupled with a decline in library provision.
  • Staffing issues persist, including a high rate of inexperienced staff, high sickness absence, and inconsistent embedding of the key worker system.
  • There has been a significant rise in assaults on staff and use of force, attributed to population pressure and a more complex prisoner demographic.
  • Extremely high levels of property loss during inter-prison transfers continue, exacerbated by poor management of family engagement services by PACT.
  • Equalities work remains a low priority, and there is no commissioned provision for dementia testing in the prison.
2024 PRISON Concerns Swaleside
Published 30 Aug 2024 · 900 prisoners
Assaults: 252 Staff assaults: 192
HMP Swaleside, a Category B training prison, faces significant challenges due to unprecedented staff shortages which impact regime delivery and prisoner wellbeing. Despite these difficulties, the Board commends the senior leadership and staff for efforts to improve conditions. Key concerns include a growing gang culture, drug-related debt, persistent issues with IPP prisoners, and delays in mental health transfers, alongside problems with estate maintenance and purposeful activity provision.
Key concerns identified
  • The developing gang culture, illegal substance trade, and associated violence remain a significant safety concern within the prison.
  • Persistent and unprecedented staff shortages across all departments profoundly impact the regime, prisoner wellbeing, and service delivery, including healthcare and offender management.
  • Access to mental healthcare and timely transfers to specialist units continue to be problematic, exacerbated by the effects of long-term lockdown.
  • The 'Offender Flow and Allocation' system, which directs younger, shorter-sentenced prisoners to a Category B training prison, negatively affects stability and resettlement efforts.
  • Long-standing estate issues, such as overflowing sewage, broken showers, and non-functional industrial dryers, pose significant health, safety, and hygiene risks.
  • IPP prisoners continue to face limited opportunities for progression and release, despite repeated recommendations for government review.
2024 PRISON Concerns Standford Hill
Published 29 Aug 2024 · 461 prisoners
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
The IMB finds HMP/YOI Standford Hill to be a well-led and well-run prison, demonstrating high standards in rehabilitation, education, training, and resettlement work, with good healthcare provision and very low rates of violence and self-harm. However, the Board is deeply concerned by the deteriorating condition of some buildings, the unsatisfactory performance of the maintenance provider GFSL, and the impact of early release schemes on the prison's core rehabilitative function. Further concerns include the lack of essential security scanning equipment and inadequate telephony for family contact.
Key concerns identified
  • The poor condition of some prison buildings, showing signs of subsidence, with a lamentably slow response from the Prison Service to address these safety issues.
  • Ongoing extreme dissatisfaction with the performance of Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) in maintenance and repairs.
  • The failure to install scanning equipment at the open site, hindering security and the prevention of illicit items.
  • Poor telephony provision, which is inconsistent with the need to enhance prisoners’ family contact.
  • The concern that early release protocols could diminish the rehabilitative role and operational capacity of open prisons like Standford Hill.
  • Unhappy with the condition of laundry equipment and a persistent roof leak in the laundry, impacting clean clothing provision.
  • The lack of a Christian minister operating in the prison during the reporting year.
2023 IRC Concerns Gatwick IRC
Published 29 Aug 2024
Assaults: 82 Staff assaults: 146
The Gatwick IRC experienced a deterioration in safety during 2023, marked by increased violence, assaults on staff, and a rise in use of force incidents, partly attributed to a changing detainee population. Key safeguards for vulnerable individuals, such as Rule 34 and Rule 35 assessments, were found to be insufficient or subject to unacceptable delays. The report highlighted significant concerns regarding inadequate mental health provision, unfair regime practices including prolonged lock-in times, and a lack of effective pathways for release for detainees granted bail.
Key concerns identified
  • Deteriorating safety due to increased violence, assaults on staff, and poorly handled anti-social behaviour.
  • Weaknesses in key safeguards: Detention Gatekeeper not robust, insufficient use of Rule 34/35 assessments, and unacceptable wait times for Rule 35 appointments.
  • Inadequate mental health provision and an over-reliance on untrained officers to manage complex needs.
  • Unfair and inhumane treatment including indefinite detention, increased lock-in times, blanket use of control-and-restraint, and excessive handcuffing.
  • Problems with accommodation, cleanliness, and ventilation, exacerbated by pervasive smoking.
  • Failure to establish effective release pathways, leading to extended detention for those granted bail, and lack of meaningful access to legal advice.
  • Concerns about fairness of the complaints process and inadequate pay for work and daily allowances.
  • Significant increase in illicit substances within the centres, with indications of staff involvement in supply.
2024 PRISON Concerns Low Newton
Published 28 Aug 2024
Self-harm: 704 Assaults: 26 Staff assaults: 81
The IMB finds HMP/YOI Low Newton a reasonably safe and clean environment with generally good staff-prisoner relationships. However, the Board is concerned about the increasing number of women with severe mental health issues being sent to prison, impacting self-harm and assault rates. Delays in accessing healthcare and mental health support, along with the negative effects of custodial transport and staffing shortages leading to lockdowns, remain key challenges.
Key concerns identified
  • Many prisoners with severe mental ill health and personality disorders are continuing to be sent to prison.
  • Lack of funding for a body scanner.
  • Custodial transport services create trauma for women and adversely impact reception processes.
  • Delays in prisoner access to healthcare and mental health support.
  • IMB's lack of opportunity to attend adjudications.
  • Improvement of relationship between IMB and Governor.
2024 PRISON Concerns Oakwood
Published 23 Aug 2024 · 2,097 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,388 Assaults: 143 Staff assaults: 82
HMP Oakwood is a Category C training/resettlement prison reporting for the year ending March 2024. While the Board found it generally safe with a respectful culture, concerns persist regarding widespread dissatisfaction with food provision, persistent property issues, and significant challenges in mental health service capacity and staffing. Efforts have been made in violence reduction and prisoner support, but key areas require further attention and resource allocation.
Key concerns identified
  • Widespread dissatisfaction among prisoners regarding food quality and quantity.
  • Persistent issues with missing or lost prisoner property, particularly for incoming prisoners and internal movement.
  • Ongoing recruitment and retention challenges in mental health services, including a psychologist vacancy, leading to insufficient provision and delayed mental health transfers.
  • Absence of a mental health professional during CSU good order reviews for prisoners with significant mental health concerns.
  • Officers not consistently activating body-worn video cameras early enough to capture the full context of use of force incidents.
2024 PRISON Concerns Wandsworth
Published 22 Aug 2024 · 1,522 prisoners
Self-harm: 998 Assaults: 442 Staff assaults: 518
Wandsworth Prison experienced a critical reporting period marked by significant safety and humanitarian failures, culminating in an Urgent Notification from HMIP. Chronic understaffing, decaying infrastructure, and insufficient external support severely undermined the prison's ability to operate safely and humanely. Overcrowding led to inhumane living conditions, with basic regime delivery frequently failing and key services like the new healthcare centre remaining unused.
Key concerns identified
  • Chronic and severe understaffing with high inexperience levels, significantly undermining prison function and regime delivery.
  • Unsafe environment characterized by high deaths in custody (10, with 6 self-inflicted), increased self-harm, and easy access to illicit items including drugs and weapons.
  • Inhumane living conditions due to severe overcrowding (over 1,200 prisoners sharing single cells), squalid, poorly maintained cells, and frequent shortages of basic kit, compounded by intermittent hot water and heating.
  • The new multi-million-pound healthcare centre remaining unused for over two years, while existing healthcare units (Addison and Jones wards) are unfit for purpose and undersized.
  • The termination of the effective Remand Project, removing crucial support for remand prisoners.
  • Inadequate support for foreign nationals, who constitute almost 50% of the population, following the termination of the BEST contract.
2024 PRISON Concerns Berwyn
Published 21 Aug 2024 · 2,000 prisoners
Self-harm: 1,320 Assaults: 558 Staff assaults: 173
HMP Berwyn operates as a Category B/C resettlement and training prison, with a population settling at its operational capacity of 2000. The Board observes a generally safe environment with improving regime delivery, although significant staffing churn, particularly among band 3 officers, remains a challenge impacting various aspects of prison operations. Key concerns include persistent long waiting times for mental health transfers, a halted cell refurbishment program, and issues with missed medical appointments and key worker awareness. Despite these, the prison demonstrates positive outcomes in resettlement, with above-target employment and housing rates for prison leavers.
Key concerns identified
  • The significant proportion of inexperienced staff.
  • The time taken to address and resolve issues within the prison.
  • Persistent long waiting times for mental health transfers to secure units.
  • The increasing number of prisoners with severe mental health problems in the segregation unit.
  • The halted cell refurbishment program due to increased prison population, exacerbating the problem of peeling paint in cells.
  • High rates of missed medical appointments by prisoners.
  • Many prisoners are unaware of who their key worker is.
  • The ongoing problem with the lack of sufficient dementia training for staff.
2023 PRISON Concerns Hollesley Bay
Published 16 Aug 2024
Self-harm: 7 Assaults: 1 Staff assaults: 1
HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay generally provides a safe and humane environment, effectively handling bullying and aggression with no serious incidents in 2023. The Board commended the assimilation of PCoSO prisoners, the strong emphasis on employability, and the effective use of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) for resettlement. Key concerns include the Government's rejection of IPP re-sentencing, the negative impact of temporary transfer schemes on prisoner engagement, and the need for greater investment in the open estate, including property management and healthcare provision.
Key concerns identified
  • The Government's rejection of re-sentencing for IPP prisoners.
  • The negative impact of temporary presumptive recategorisation scheme (TPRS) on prisoner engagement and meaningful preparation for release.
  • Insufficient investment in the open estate for capital projects and maintenance, alongside the ineffective Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework.
  • Lack of a dedicated search dog for Hollesley Bay and the issue of late prisoner arrivals at prisons without 24-hour healthcare provision.
  • The absence of a key worker scheme in the open estate, which could offer valuable support to prisoners nearing release.
  • The continued need for single rooms across the establishment and the slow, cumbersome medication dispensing arrangements.
2024 PRISON Concerns Thorn Cross
Published 15 Aug 2024
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 1 Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Thorn Cross, an open prison for Category D and YOI prisoners, reported a safe environment with extremely low violence and self-harm incidents. The Board noted positive staff-prisoner relationships and good healthcare provision. Key challenges include the Government's lack of progress on IPP re-sentencing, staffing shortfalls impacting training and education, and inadequate kitchen facilities. The report highlights the need to develop mental health provision and improve outcomes in education courses.
Key concerns identified
  • Re-sentencing of IPP prisoners is not being addressed by the Government.
  • Staffing issues, including a significant number overdue for control and restraint training, and understaffing in the Offender Management Unit (OMU).
  • The kitchen is too small and equipped with broken items, affecting food quality; there are also too few opportunities for prisoners to cook for themselves.
  • Mental health provision needs development, as the official caseload is very low compared to the number of men reporting mental health issues.
  • Outcomes for English and mathematics courses are poor, exacerbated by staff sickness and lack of cover.
  • The OMU building project is well behind schedule, and there are concerns about OMU staff conduct and delays in ROTL checks.
  • There is no planned programme of decoration for residential units, leading to some looking tired.
2024 PRISON Concerns North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHF
Published 13 Aug 2024
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 1 Staff assaults: 0
The IMB report for North East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber STHFs highlights varied conditions across the region's facilities, with particular focus on Swinderby RSTHF. While Swinderby benefits from positive staff-detainee relations and improved facilities, significant concerns persist regarding physical safety during building works, inadequate risk identification processes, and non-compliance with safer detention guidelines. Across all STHFs, the Board criticizes the policy on detainee medication, the unsuitability of some holding rooms, and restricted IMB access to essential documentation.
Key concerns identified
  • Significant concerns about physical safety and fire risks at Swinderby RSTHF, exacerbated by the decision to keep the centre open during extensive floor works and the associated suspension of critical safety measures and internet access.
  • Inadequate reception interview processes at Swinderby RSTHF, which compromise the identification of vulnerable detainees, including those at risk of self-harm, torture, modern slavery, or sexual abuse.
  • Systemic failure to implement Assessment Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT) requirements locally at Swinderby, potentially leading to under-identification of individuals at risk of suicide or self-harm.
  • The inhumane and dangerous Home Office policy preventing detainees from accessing their prescribed medication across STHFs.
  • Persistent unsuitability of certain holding rooms (e.g., Leeds Bradford Airport, Port of Hull) for immigration detention, leading to concerns about extended detentions and the lack of hot food provision.
  • Restrictions on the IMB's access to full port case files, preventing adequate discharge of monitoring duties and compromising oversight of detainee welfare.
2023 PRISON Concerns Kirklevington Grange
Published 8 Aug 2024
Self-harm: 2 Assaults: 2 Staff assaults: 1
HMP Kirklevington Grange, a Category D open prison, is considered a safe environment with positive staff-prisoner relationships and effective healthcare provision. Notable improvements in resettlement and external employment opportunities were observed. However, the Board expressed concerns over an increase in use of force incidents, an ageing estate infrastructure, and diminished chaplaincy services. Further issues include the impact of TPRS transfers on prisoner progression and persistent problems with property loss during inter-establishment transfers, as well as limited accredited vocational training opportunities.
Key concerns identified
  • The increase in use of force incidents (7 in 2023 vs 2 in 2022) is a trend the Board will monitor.
  • The prison's ageing accommodation infrastructure restricts the use of electrical items and their capacity.
  • Chaplaincy services have been diminished due to recruitment issues.
  • Prisoners transferred under the Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation System (TPRS) often have insufficient time remaining to fully engage with Category D resettlement and training opportunities.
  • There are ongoing issues with prisoner property being mislaid or going missing during transfers between establishments, particularly from privately managed prisons.
  • Opportunities for prisoners to gain accredited vocational training and qualifications within the prison's industries are limited.
2024 PRISON Concerns Rochester
Published 7 Aug 2024 · 758 prisoners
Assaults: 238
HMP/YOI Rochester, a Category C resettlement prison for adult and young adult men, is grappling with increasing self-harm and violence, attributed to unsuitable prisoner transfers, drug-related issues, and new gang activity. Significant concerns include a deteriorating prison estate, a critical shortage of probation officers hindering resettlement efforts, and persistent problems with property management and the inefficient escort system. Despite these challenges, the report notes positive staff-prisoner interactions, satisfactory mental health provision, and commendable purposeful activity initiatives like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
Key concerns identified
  • Increased self-harm and violence, linked to unsuitable transfers, drug debt, and new gang activity.
  • Deteriorating prison buildings, with many wings barely meeting acceptable accommodation standards.
  • Critical shortage of probation officers significantly impacting prisoner progression, offender management, and the success of early release schemes.
  • Persistent issues with property loss during transfers and CSU moves, alongside ineffective volumetric property control.
  • Delays to activities and missed healthcare appointments due to the dysfunctional escort system and absence of controlled freeflow.
  • The ongoing challenge of insufficient suitable bail accommodation and too many prisoners being released without housing.
2024 PRISON Concerns Erlestoke
Published 6 Aug 2024
Self-harm: 468 Assaults: 111 Staff assaults: 42
HMP Erlestoke, a Category C prison, experienced significant increases in self-harm (468) and violence (153 incidents, 111 prisoner-on-prisoner) during the reporting year, with no deaths in custody. Key concerns include inconsistent welfare checks, persistent illicit substances, and the inadequate delivery of key working. While positive developments like a neurodiversity support manager and improved staff-prisoner relations were noted, healthcare provision is strained, and time out of cell remains limited for a quarter of the population. The Board highlights an urgent need for improved mental health provision and clarity for IPP prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Significant increase in self-harm incidents and inconsistent welfare checks.
  • Persistent issues with illicit substances despite enhanced security.
  • Use of segregation for prisoners with complex mental health needs.
  • Key working system not delivered as planned.
  • Continued loss of prisoner property, causing stress and anxiety.
  • Poor performance of Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) impacting decent living conditions.
  • Discrimination faced by disabled prisoners in gaining work.
  • Serious decline in healthcare attendance at first ACCT reviews.
  • Time out of cell not improving for non-employed/educated prisoners.
  • Unacceptably low numbers in vocational jobs and staff shortages impacting training.
  • Lack of hope of release for IPP prisoners negatively impacting their wellbeing.
  • Lack of long-term plan for appropriate mental health provision in the secure estate.
  • Uncertainty about ancillary facilities matching needs for the increased prison population.
  • Offending behaviour programmes eligibility not assessed prior to transfer.
  • Need for a review of the allocations process for job roles.
2024 PRISON Concerns North West and Midlands STHF
Published 6 Aug 2024
This IMB report for Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) highlights an increase in both Board membership and visits, alongside a rise in the number of people detained during 2023. Key concerns include significant safety risks for female detainees at Manchester RSTHF due to co-location with male Foreign National Offenders and a general lack of essential provisions like hot food, CCTV, and prompt access to prescribed medication in other facilities. The report also notes delays in addressing maintenance issues and reliance on external emergency services for medical needs.
Key concerns identified
  • The co-location of female detainees with male Foreign National Offenders transferred from prisons at Manchester Residential STHF poses a high safety risk.
  • East Midlands Airport holding room lacks fitted and operational CCTV, hot food, and television facilities.
  • There is no secure vehicle bay at Holyhead Port for the transfer of detainees, compromising safety and dignity.
  • Significant delays in rectifying structural and equipment deficiencies across facilities.
  • Detained individuals are still being denied access to prescribed medication in holding rooms.
  • Most facilities rely on NHS ambulance services for medical advice, lacking dedicated medical professionals.
  • Detainees at Holyhead Port are visible to the public during transfers, impacting privacy and dignity.
  • The practice of holding detainees in Controlled Waiting Areas at East Midlands Airport rather than proper holding rooms.
2024 PRISON Concerns Onley
Published 2 Aug 2024 · 726 prisoners
Self-harm: 258 Assaults: 50 Staff assaults: 103
HMP Onley is a Category C training and resettlement prison that faced challenges during the reporting year ending February 2024. While staffing levels for officers improved, this did not translate into increased key work activity or a consistently full regime. Key concerns include increased illicit substance availability and drone activity, a rise in prisoner-on-prisoner violence, and persistent issues with property transfers and poor cell/yard conditions. Healthcare saw some improvements in GP/dental wait times, but mental health and drug rehabilitation were affected by staff shortages.
Key concerns identified
  • Increased availability of illicit substances and drone activity affecting safety.
  • Significant increase in prisoner-on-prisoner violence.
  • Poor condition of cell windows and outside exercise yards, impacting living conditions, security, and dignity.
  • Persistent concerns over food quantity and quality and menu choices.
  • Delays in property reaching prisoners on transfer, a long-standing and unaddressed issue.
  • Inadequate number of workspaces and instructors, leading to poor prisoner engagement in purposeful activity and resettlement challenges.
  • Difficulties in facilitating hospital appointments and limited drug/alcohol rehabilitation.
2024 PRISON Concerns The Mount
Published 1 Aug 2024 · 1,022 prisoners
Self-harm: 330 Assaults: 142 Staff assaults: 53
HMP The Mount has demonstrated significant progress over the last year, particularly in staffing, regime improvement, and the management of safety for vulnerable prisoners. However, profound systemic issues persist, notably the inhumane and unsupported detention of IPP prisoners, and chronic overcrowding due to cell doubling. The prison continues to struggle with pervasive drug availability and inadequate external support for resettlement, leading to high rates of homelessness upon release.
Key concerns identified
  • The continued detention of IPP prisoners long after they have served the punitive part of their sentences is inhumane, with no courses, programmes or psychological support to help them progress towards release.
  • The congestion and delays in the criminal justice system are straining prison resources by causing an influx of short-sentence prisoners and reducing the availability of low-risk orderlies.
  • The prison is overcrowded, with 9.3% of prisoners held in single cells doubled-up for two, lacking adequate privacy and personal space.
  • Drugs remain rife due to inadequate physical barriers (netting, windows) and insufficient support for prisoners to give up substance misuse.
  • The housing crisis and shortage of approved premises mean approximately half of released prisoners face homelessness and rough sleeping.
  • There are not enough training and education places available, with only about 400 places for over 1,000 prisoners.
  • The prison has few facilities for disabled prisoners, poor wheelchair access, and long distances between wings and facilities.
2024 PRISON Concerns Moorland
Published 31 Jul 2024 · 1,080 prisoners
Self-harm: 528 Assaults: 76 Staff assaults: 39
HMP/YOI Moorland is a Category C training and resettlement prison facing challenges including a substantial increase in self-harm incidents and prisoner assaults on staff. Overcrowding has led to dignity concerns with single cells being doubled, and the regime remains restrictive for many, despite efforts to expand activities. The Board continues to highlight issues with purposeful activity, IPP progression, and the need for consistency in monitoring and educational offerings.
Key concerns identified
  • The substantial increase in self-harm incidents and ACCTs opened, alongside a significant rise in prisoner assaults on staff.
  • Overcrowding issues, leading to the conversion of single cells into doubles, raising concerns about dignity and wellbeing.
  • Limited purposeful activity and time out of cell, with many prisoners restricted to half-time work and a minimum of two hours out of cell for some.
  • Continuing concerns for IPP prisoners, with work interruptions due to early release schemes and some remaining "stuck" without their needs being met.
  • Lack of consistency in monitoring meetings for use of force, equalities, and health, and a need to expand the range of recognised education qualifications.
2023 PRISON Concerns Kent Coast Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Published 30 Jul 2024
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
The IMB's report for Kent Coast STHF (WJF, KIU, Manston) for 2023 highlights commendable staff empathy and improved medical provisions. However, it raises significant concerns regarding the lack of clear information for detainees about their processing and length of stay, inadequate privacy for interviews, and substandard conditions in isolation units and sleeping arrangements. The Board also noted issues with facility maintenance and the inconsistent receipt of vital monitoring reports.
Key concerns identified
  • Detained people are often confused during processing at WJF and lack information about their 'process journey' and length of stay.
  • Interviews at KIU and Manston lack privacy, making it difficult for detainees to disclose vulnerabilities or sensitive information.
  • Isolation units at WJF are deemed inadequate, inappropriate, and unsatisfactory, despite UKHSA deeming them satisfactory.
  • Cleaning standards for portaloos at WJF were often unacceptable, and showers at KIU were prone to flooding with slow repairs.
  • Detainees at Manston still sleep on floor mats, and RHR recreational rooms are inadequate for the number of men they serve.
  • The Board does not consistently receive 'Safer Detention & Security Reports', hindering its monitoring capabilities.
2023 PRISON Concerns Garth
Published 26 Jul 2024 · 820 prisoners
Assaults: 270
HMP Garth, a Category B training prison, generally provides a safe environment, though self-harm and violence incidents increased. The Board's key concerns include persistent staff shortages impacting regime stability, key worker schemes, and offender management. The prison's physical estate is in poor condition, and delays in mental health transfers for complex cases remain critical. The IMB highlights the ongoing challenges of the IPP sentence and issues with prisoner progression and property transport.
Key concerns identified
  • Self-harm continues to be a major concern, with an increased number of ACCT documents opened.
  • Constant changes to the regime, primarily due to staff shortages, cause unrest amongst prisoners and reduce time out of cell.
  • The Segregation Unit is frequently full, holding many men with serious and complex mental health needs for excessively long periods due to lack of suitable placements.
  • The prison estate is in grave disrepair, with significant leaks in roofs, broken flooring, and inadequate heating/ventilation systems, requiring urgent capital investment.
  • Staffing shortages persist across the prison, impacting key worker effectiveness, OMU performance, and leading to an inexperienced workforce.
  • The ongoing injustice of the indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) seriously damages prisoners and needs to be resolved.
  • Major concerns continue regarding the transport of prisoners’ property between establishments, causing losses and compensation claims.
  • Long backlogs in searching and distributing prisoner post and packages result in significant delays.
2024 PRISON Concerns Lindholme
Published 25 Jul 2024 · 926 prisoners
Self-harm: 474 Assaults: 161 Staff assaults: 105
HMP Lindholme, a Category C training prison, generally meets prisoners' health and wellbeing needs and is supported by a responsive senior management team. However, the Board highlights significant concerns including the detrimental impact of prolonged segregation waits for mental health transfers, a rising IPP population without an implemented HMPPS strategy, and persistent issues with internal property and kitchen maintenance. The report also notes the continued use of double occupancy in single cells and calls for external scrutiny of discrimination incident report forms.
Key concerns identified
  • Prolonged waits for secure mental health beds for segregated prisoners.
  • Lack of implementation of HMPPS strategy for IPP prisoners, whose numbers are rising.
  • Continuing issues with internal property going missing, particularly during cell moves.
  • Slow progress on kitchen infrastructure repairs and maintenance/replacement of food trollies.
  • External audit of Discrimination Incident Report Forms (DIRFs) has not yet taken place.
  • Continued double occupancy of cells designed for single use.
2023 PRISON Concerns Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT)
Published 25 Jul 2024
Self-harm: 3
The Independent Monitoring Board's Charter Flight Monitoring Team observed nine charter operations to Albania, primarily involving individuals transferred from prisons to immigration detention before removal. The report highlights significant concerns regarding the humane treatment of returnees, particularly excessive in-vehicle confinement during night operations, and issues with interpretation provision and the handling of vulnerable individuals. While positive engagement from escorts was noted, the Board raised concerns about medical confidentiality, increasing use of restraint, and some coach safety incidents.
Key concerns identified
  • Unfair and inhumane treatment of returnees due to night operations and excessively long periods of confinement in vehicles, sometimes for over nine hours, to reach departure airports selected by HOIE.
  • Inadequate and unreliable provision of interpreting services, with continued instances of English-speaking returnees being asked to interpret for others, despite HOIE and C&C policy.
  • An increase in the use of restraint compared to the previous year, with concerns about whether its application was for the minimum time possible and inconsistencies in documentation and filming.
  • Significant concerns regarding the removal of vulnerable individuals, including those with mental health issues or at risk of self-harm, and the process of their transfer and care during removal.
  • Potential breaches of medical confidentiality, as medication and medical notes were handed over to Albanian authorities rather than directly to returnees.
  • Safety issues with coach drivers, including erratic driving, ignoring diversion signs, and suspected fatigue.
2024 PRISON Concerns Leicester
Published 23 Jul 2024
Self-harm: 563
HMP Leicester, a busy local prison, continues to be well led despite the challenges of old buildings needing investment and high prisoner churn. While staff-prisoner interactions are positive and resettlement planning is a strength, the Board remains concerned by rising self-harm incidents, delays in mental health transfers, prisoners leaving without accommodation, and deteriorating cell conditions. Key working remains insufficient, and the substance misuse unit is not delivering its full therapeutic regime.
Key concerns identified
  • Transfer of seriously mentally ill prisoners
  • Men leaving prison without accommodation
  • Short-sentence prisoners transferred to prisons some distance away
  • Need for significant capital investment
  • Provision of meaningful work in workshops
  • Induction of vulnerable prisoners and those with additional needs
  • More systematic key working
  • My Recovery Unit
2024 PRISON Concerns South and East 2023-24 Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Published 18 Jul 2024
The IMB's annual report for South and East STHFs highlights critical concerns about capacity, detainee welfare, and facility conditions. It notes that STHFs, designed for short-term holding, regularly detain individuals for over 24 hours in overcrowded, undignified environments lacking adequate sleeping facilities, privacy, and fresh air. Key issues include the slow progress on disability access, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient privacy during inductions and healthcare assessments, with several recommendations made to the Minister and Home Office.
Key concerns identified
  • The size of accommodation, especially at Luton Airport, and potential fire safety implications.
  • Capacity issues at many airports' STHFs and inadequate support for mobility, hearing or sight impaired detainees.
  • The STHF at the Port of Felixstowe does not provide a humane place for holding people.
  • Limited sleeping mattresses, forcing detainees to sleep on floors or chairs, which is considered inhumane.
  • Detainees are regularly held for long periods, sometimes over 24 hours, in facilities designed for very short stays.
  • Lack of adequate facilities in STHFs, including sleeping, exercise, privacy, and showers (except Gatwick South).
  • Lack of progress on the Disability Access Review committed to in previous Ministerial Responses.
  • Lack of privacy during initial inductions and healthcare assessments.
  • Delays in resolving maintenance and repair problems at airport facilities.
  • Issues with contractual support from Clearsprings and delays in transferring detainees to asylum accommodation.
  • Body worn cameras are not automatically given to all C&C officers.
  • Border Force Officers are unable to serve hot food or drinks at BF-managed STHFs due to food safety requirements.
  • Inadequate and insecure storage for detainees' property across STHFs.
  • Insufficient staffing at STHFs during escort duties, potentially impacting care.
  • Faulty coin-operated payphones and lack of access to internet calling services like WhatsApp.
  • The use of handcuffs at Luton Airport when residents are moved through public areas, deemed non-compliant with STHF Rule 11.
2023 PRISON Concerns Morton Hall
Published 18 Jul 2024 · 333 prisoners
Self-harm: 52 Assaults: 62 Staff assaults: 17
HMP Morton Hall, a Category C prison for foreign national males, completed its transition from an IRC in early 2023 and operated with an average population of 333, below its 353 capacity. The Board found the prison safe and humane, with good officer-prisoner relationships and improved work ethic. Key concerns persist regarding delayed Early Removal Scheme (ERS) deportations, a high number of prisoners leaving on immigration bail, ongoing property transfer issues, and a significant number of unemployed prisoners. The Board raised recommendations concerning these areas to the Minister, Prison Service, and Governor.
Key concerns identified
  • Many prisoners eligible for the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) do not leave at the earliest opportunity, delaying deportations and increasing costs.
  • HMP Morton Hall routinely operates below its 353 roll capacity, despite reported prison overcrowding elsewhere.
  • More than one in ten prisoners leave on immigration bail without their cases being decided, rather than being deported.
  • Systems for inter-prison property transfer have not improved, leading to high prisoner frustration and complaints.
  • The daily food cost allowance of £2.72 is challenging given inflation, resulting in reliance on carbohydrates and persistent issues with canteen delivery quality and refunds.
  • There is a consistently high percentage of prisoners who are unemployed or seeking work, and insufficient meaningful content in some available jobs.
  • The library frequently closes due to staff absence, and there is a lack of purposeful activity for prisoners in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
  • The absence of a managing chaplain for the entire year adversely impacted chaplaincy support.
2023 IRC Concerns Derwentside IRC
Published 17 Jul 2024 · 40 prisoners
Self-harm: 13 Assaults: 1 Staff assaults: 2
Derwentside IRC, for women, operated at reduced capacity during 2023. The Board found it to be generally safe, with positive staff interactions and improved healthcare provision, especially mental health cover. However, significant concerns remain regarding the centre's remote location, inadequate facilities (Block 4), poor communications infrastructure, and the impact of long-term detention and frequent transfers on vulnerable women.
Key concerns identified
  • A high proportion of vulnerable 'adults at risk' with mental health issues remain in detention for long periods, even after release is authorised or after Rule 35(3) reports indicating torture concerns.
  • The remote location of Derwentside and its inadequate communications infrastructure lead to inhumane, unequal treatment, including frequent and disruptive night-time transfers. This is a repeated concern.
  • Important facilities in Block 4, such as induction and care suites and a cultural kitchen, remain unopened over two years after the centre opened.
  • The quality, variety, and portion sizes of food are a frequent source of dissatisfaction, and processes for managing food allergies are not failsafe.
  • Provision for education and purposeful activities has significantly reduced and is insufficient, impacting women's wellbeing.
  • Deficiencies in the availability and effective use of translation services contribute to social isolation for non-English speakers. This is a repeated concern.
2023 PRISON Concerns Full Sutton
Published 17 Jul 2024 · 584 prisoners
Self-harm: 371 Assaults: 52 Staff assaults: 67
HMP Full Sutton, a Category A and B high-security prison, operated with a population of 584 against an operational capacity of 594 at the end of 2023. The Board found it generally calm and well-managed, but tight staffing levels led to widespread rotational lockdowns, impacting purposeful activity and time out of cell. Key concerns include increased self-harm and violence, reduced drug testing capacity, and insufficient work opportunities, alongside delays in property distribution and a psychologist shortfall.
Key concerns identified
  • Tight staffing levels led to continued rotational lockdowns and prisoners spending more time in cells, affecting education and work attendance.
  • There was an increase in incidents of violence between prisoners and assaults on staff, particularly in the segregation unit.
  • The number of self-harm incidents rose significantly, involving complex prisoners.
  • Drug testing capacity remained reduced, and higher levels of testing could be achieved.
  • Insufficient work opportunities led to 23% of eligible prisoners being unemployed, and long-planned woodworking workshops failed to open.
  • Delays in searching and distributing new prisoners' property caused waits of up to seven weeks.
  • There was a shortfall in qualified psychologists, restricting consultancy time in discrete units.
  • Some cell and shower recess areas remained in poor condition.
2024 PRISON Concerns Lowdham Grange
Published 12 Jul 2024 · 808 prisoners
Self-harm: 844 Assaults: 466 Staff assaults: 198
HMP Lowdham Grange was deemed not safe enough during the reporting period, with significant increases in violence, self-harm incidents, and drug availability. The operational transition and subsequent HMPPS 'step-in' contributed to an unstable and restrictive regime, compounded by staff shortages and insufficient oversight of use of force. Key concerns include inadequate healthcare provision, poor living conditions, and a lack of purposeful activity and effective resettlement support.
Key concerns identified
  • The prison is not safe enough, with increasing prisoner-on-prisoner and prisoner-on-staff assaults, a rise in self-harm, in-cell fires, and significant weapons finds, influenced by readily available illegal drugs and inexperienced staff.
  • Insufficient oversight and accountability for custody officers, particularly concerning the use of force, with a culture not focused on prisoner needs and support.
  • The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is overused, with too many prisoners segregated for long or very long periods without effective reintegration plans or meaningful regimes, including vulnerable ACCT prisoners.
  • A lack of meaningful education programmes, full-time work, and structured on-wing activity has led to prisoners spending long periods in their cells.
  • The prison complaints system was not fully effective, with significant delays or failures to respond to prisoners' written submissions and Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms (DIRFs).
  • Poor living conditions persisted for the majority of the year, with the prison often filthy, strewn with rubbish, and lacking access to cleaning materials for prisoners.
  • Healthcare services are under great pressure, with provision delivered to a lower standard than in the community, exacerbated by staff shortages for escorts and a lack of support for prisoners in crisis and at risk of self-harm.
  • There is no dedicated resettlement staff or provision for housing support, and a failure to provide sufficient offender behaviour programmes and drug treatment courses compromises prisoner progression and risk reduction.
2023 PRISON Concerns High Down
Published 11 Jul 2024 · 1,148 prisoners
Self-harm: 651 Assaults: 247 Staff assaults: 98
HMP High Down, a Category C training and resettlement prison, experienced significant increases in assaults and illicit item finds during 2023, raising serious safety concerns. Staffing shortages in key work and the Offender Management Unit severely impacted regime delivery and prisoner progression. While improvements were noted in mental health transfer times and family contact, persistent issues with property loss, poor shower conditions, and limited purposeful activity for prisoners, particularly vulnerable ones, remained key challenges.
Key concerns identified
  • Significant increases in assaults and illicit item finds.
  • Prisoners failing medical algorithm still held in segregation (CSRU), with an increase in long stays.
  • Lack of key work and too few key workers impacting prisoner support.
  • Ongoing issues with property loss, especially during transfers.
  • Unacceptable conditions of old showers and deterioration of new ones due to poor ventilation.
  • Major concerns about accessibility for prisoners with mobility issues due to broken lifts.
  • Insufficient prison probation workers in OMU leading to huge caseloads and lack of face-to-face contact.
  • Poor education attendance rates and insufficient education/employment opportunities, particularly for vulnerable prisoners.
  • Overcrowding leading to transfers of prisoners unable to cope with Category C regime, increasing violence.
  • Poor cleanliness and lack of portion control in houseblock serveries.
2024 PRISON Concerns Lewes
Published 10 Jul 2024 · 602 prisoners
Self-harm: 620 Assaults: 209 Staff assaults: 73
HMP Lewes is a Category B local prison facing significant challenges in safety, healthcare, and infrastructure, despite some positive developments. Self-harm incidents and prisoner-on-prisoner violence have increased substantially, while time out of cell remains limited. Persistent issues with the estate, healthcare staffing, and disproportionality in treatment continue to impact prisoner welfare, necessitating ongoing Board scrutiny and recommendations to the Minister, Prison Service, and Governor.
Key concerns identified
  • The inappropriate use of F wing, which houses vulnerable prisoners, as an overflow for newly arrived prisoners, and the use of CSU for constant supervision or prisoners on open ACCTs.
  • Significant increases in self-harm incidents (27%) and prisoner-on-prisoner violence (67%).
  • Persistent poor infrastructure, including heating and hot water supply issues, and inadequate repair and maintenance services, especially in older parts of the prison.
  • Lengthy waiting times for mental health assessments and psychiatry provision, coupled with medication safety breaches through unobserved hatches and ligature risks.
  • Limited time out of cell for prisoners, particularly at weekends, and insufficient purposeful activity places for the entire population.
  • Disproportionality in segregation unit placements and incentives scheme for Asian, Muslim, and Black/Black British prisoners.
2024 PRISON Concerns Lancaster Farms
Published 9 Jul 2024 · 560 prisoners
Assaults: 158 Staff assaults: 28
HMP Lancaster Farms, a Category C prison for up to 560 men, maintained a largely safe and humane environment despite operating at maximum capacity. The report highlights successes in healthcare provision and purposeful activity, alongside ongoing issues with staffing shortages that curtail the regime. Key concerns include high self-harm rates, increased violence, estate maintenance, ineffective key worker schemes, and significant waiting times for healthcare and mental health transfers.
Key concerns identified
  • The continuation of high levels of self-harm among prisoners with complex mental health needs, who often remain in the establishment rather than being transferred to specialist facilities.
  • Spikes in violence, prisoner debt, substance misuse, and a doubling of use of force incidents.
  • Inadequate privacy in double cells, lack of toilet seats, and prisoners forced to eat next to toilets during lockdowns.
  • Persistent estate maintenance issues, including poor cell ventilation, broken equipment in exercise yards, and poor drainage.
  • Delayed and inconsistent responses to prisoner complaints, with a lack of updates provided to prisoners.
  • The ongoing issue of lost or delayed prisoner property during transfers between prisons, causing significant anxiety.
  • Half-empty classrooms and underutilisation of workshops, indicating a need for increased purposeful activity and association time.
  • Constraints and costs associated with social video calls, impacting family contact for prisoners from distant areas.
  • The frequent curtailment of the prison regime, particularly evening and weekend activities, due to limited staff availability and the deployment of Lancaster Farms staff to other prisons.
  • The ineffective key worker scheme, with prisoners often unaware of their key worker or not receiving regular contact.
  • The under-resourced chaplaincy team, with several faith groups lacking designated chaplains.
  • Extended waiting times for healthcare, with GP appointments up to three weeks and dental appointments up to 17 weeks.
  • A high proportion (43%) of neurodivergent prisoners requiring additional assessment and support, with concerns about staff awareness and impact on incentive schemes.
  • Staffing pressures due to vacancies and sickness, resulting in the prison running on only 60% of relevant staffing for offender management.
2024 PRISON Concerns Leyhill
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 449 prisoners
Self-harm: 13 Assaults: 6
HMP Leyhill is a Category D open prison that demonstrated humane treatment, effective healthcare, and improved ROTL processes during the reporting year. The prison's population was 449 against an operational capacity of 460. Key challenges include a persistent lack of Approved Premises delaying releases, an inadequate food budget, and the impact of a changing prisoner demographic on safety and increased drug finds. Staffing pressures also affected healthcare, education, and social video calling provision.
Key concerns identified
  • A persistent lack of spaces in Approved Premises delays prisoner release.
  • The food budget has not kept pace with inflation, impacting meal provision.
  • Delays in the release and resettlement of IPP prisoners are a significant injustice.
  • Inefficiency and staff shortages in the external probation service (COMs) hinder progression.
  • The absence of in-cell telephony negatively impacts family contact and privacy.
  • Facilities and staffing levels need to increase in proportion to the planned rise in operational capacity.
  • A changing population demographic (younger, fewer sexual offenders) is linked to increased bullying, intimidation, and drug/alcohol finds.
  • Property transfer and storage issues continue to cause frustration and misplaced items.
  • Long waiting lists persist for some healthcare services, despite overall positive feedback.
  • Concerns from HMIP regarding the quality and suitability of education, skills, and work provision for employment on release.
  • Staff shortages limit the availability of vocational training courses and secure social video calling.
2024 PRISON Concerns London STHF
Published 5 Jul 2024
The London STHF IMB report highlights significant concerns regarding the treatment and conditions of detainees for the reporting year ending January 2024. Despite some positive observations in staff conduct and minor amenity improvements, critical issues persist with data provision for vulnerable adults and use of force, extended detainee waits in unsuitable facilities, and systemic failures in interpretation services and access to medication. The Board urges resolution of these long-standing problems.
Key concerns identified
  • Lack of essential data for monitoring vulnerable adults, self-harm, and use of force since July 2023.
  • Extended waits for detainees in CWAs and holding rooms due to insufficient Border Force officers and Clearsprings delays, with 4.4% of adults held over 24 hours.
  • Persistent issues with interpretation services, including delays, unavailability of languages, and DCOs failing to offer translation or remind detainees of their rights.
  • Inadequate holding room conditions for extended stays, including insufficient mattresses/blankets, uncontrolled low temperatures, lack of natural light, poor shower/toilet seat maintenance, and no internet access.
  • Detainees at London City Airport and Eaton House continue to lack access to their own prescribed medication.
  • Unaccompanied children in CWAs often lack a responsible adult and suitable facilities.
2024 PRISON Concerns Ranby
Published 5 Jul 2024
Self-harm: 747 Assaults: 250 Staff assaults: 97
HMP Ranby, a Category C training prison, faces persistent challenges including high levels of violence and illicit substance use. The Board noted overcrowding, significant staffing shortages, and a high proportion of inexperienced officers, impacting regime delivery and prisoner services like healthcare applications and escorts. Concerns were also raised about lost property during transfers and the difficulty in moving prisoners with complex mental health needs to external facilities.
Key concerns identified
  • High levels of violence and illicit substances persist, despite increased security measures.
  • Ongoing issue of overcrowding, with the prison receiving many short-sentence prisoners not suited for its training designation, hindering progression.
  • Significant delays in transferring prisoners with complex mental health needs from the CSU to appropriate external facilities.
  • Persistent problems with lost property during transfers and difficulties with compensation claims.
  • Acute shortage of experienced operational staff, leading to issues with key worker duties and escorts, impacting regime.
  • Healthcare applications are not processed in a timely manner, and there are long waits for mental health transfers.
  • Prisoners' canteen orders are often incorrect, and refunds are delayed, negatively affecting morale.
2023 PRISON Concerns Exeter
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 309 prisoners
Self-harm: 384 Assaults: 252
HMP Exeter faced another challenging year, operating under an Urgent Notification due to high levels of violence and self-harm, alongside significant staffing instability, particularly in healthcare. Major refurbishment projects continued, impacting operational capacity and regimes, compounded by persistent overcrowding and unsuitable conditions in the temporary Care and Separation Unit. While improvements were noted in induction processes and use of force governance, critical issues like security vulnerabilities, challenges in purposeful activity due to high turnover, and deficiencies in property management remained key concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding and the poor condition of the Victorian buildings, impacting humane living conditions and purposeful activity.
  • Persistent high levels of violence and self-harm compared to similar prisons, despite efforts to improve safety.
  • Unsuitable and deteriorating conditions in the temporary Care and Separation Unit (CSU), causing concern for the humane treatment and wellbeing of segregated prisoners.
  • The CCTV system remains unfit for purpose, creating safety and security vulnerabilities and hindering effective incident management.
  • Major challenges in delivering purposeful activity and expanding regime opportunities due to rapid prisoner turnover.
  • Continuing deficiencies in the systems for managing prisoners’ property, leading to a high volume of complaints and resentment over perceived unfairness.
  • A significant lack of suitable accommodation available for some prisoners on their release, identified as a key factor in post-release deaths by the PPO.
2023 PRISON Concerns Highpoint
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 1,300 prisoners
Self-harm: 585 Assaults: 195 Staff assaults: 128
HMP Highpoint, a large Category C training and resettlement prison, reported around 1,300 prisoners during a year marked by significant increases in self-harm, violence, and assaults on staff. Key concerns included persistent issues with prisoner property management, inadequate maintenance services, and the ongoing challenge of contraband entry. Despite these, the report highlighted positive areas such as effective induction, a strong segregation unit, and robust neurodiversity support, alongside commendations for healthcare provision.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent issues with the loss and delay of prisoners' property, both during transfer between establishments and within HMP Highpoint.
  • The maintenance service provided by Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL) continues to be a major concern, with significant backlogs and untimely completion of works.
  • The prison remains vulnerable to illicit 'throw-overs' due to unrepaired netting, leading to contraband entry and a negative impact on prisoner health.
  • A significant increase was observed in self-harm incidents, violent incidents, and assaults on staff, with drug debt identified as a major driver.
  • The bereavement counselling service is frequently oversubscribed, with a shortage of counsellors to meet demand.
  • Difficulties with social care referrals are noted due to an officer's redeployment and an 'user unfriendly' online portal.
2023 PRISON Concerns Hindley
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 599 prisoners
Self-harm: 54 Staff assaults: 72
HMP/YOI Hindley, a Category C training and resettlement prison for adult males and young adults, operated near its 600 operational capacity during the reporting period. The Board noted positive developments in leadership presence, communication, and some healthcare provision, which was rated good by HMIP. However, significant concerns persist, particularly regarding escalating violence, high self-harm rates (up 87%), and widespread drug availability. Persistent staff shortages lead to redeployment, impacting purposeful activity, key worker sessions, and overall regime delivery. The Board also highlights issues with outdated accommodation, delays in adjudications, and the need for improved support for complex mental health needs and disabled prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Increase in violence affecting prisoners and staff.
  • Continuing availability of drugs and high positive MDT results.
  • High rates of self-harm, an 87% increase this year.
  • Overcrowding, with the prison operating at near or full capacity.
  • Rising staff sickness/absence and high staff turnover.
  • Insufficient purposeful activity places, exacerbated by staff shortages and prisoner non-attendance.
  • Concerns about the emerging three-tier accommodation standard due to expansion plans and lack of funding for older wings.
  • Specialist activities and key work sessions are frequently cancelled or staff redeployed due to shortages.
  • Delays in holding inquests for deaths in custody remain a concern.
  • Lack of meaningful data on disabilities and very poor physical facilities for disabled prisoners.
  • Complex mental health needs of prisoners in CSU, questioning the suitability of placement.
  • Adjudications are often poorly prepared, leading to delays and cases collapsing.
2023 PRISON Concerns Holme House
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 1,100 prisoners
Self-harm: 600 Assaults: 240 Staff assaults: 40
HMP Holme House, a Category C prison, experienced a challenging year ending December 2023, marked by increased violence, use of force, and significant issues with building disrepair and illicit items. While healthcare services notably improved and purposeful activity places expanded, staffing shortages impacted resettlement and Ofsted rated all five inspection areas as 'requires improvement'. The Board highlights the need for urgent attention to infrastructure, safety, and addressing the impact of a growing young adult population.
Key concerns identified
  • The continued deterioration of the prison's buildings and slow progress on essential repairs are negatively impacting the daily life and wellbeing of prisoners.
  • An increase in disorder, violence, and use of force is directly linked to the growing young offender population and the high volume of illicit items entering the prison.
  • Persistent staffing shortages, especially in the Offender Management Unit, hinder prisoner progression and reduce employment outcomes upon release.
  • The quality of food remains poor, exacerbated by non-working kitchen equipment and an inflexible single-supplier catering contract.
  • Overcrowding in cells designed for single occupancy and the lack of proper WC screening violate Government guidelines for cell-sharing.
  • Ofsted assessed all five main areas of the prison as 'requires improvement', highlighting deficiencies in educational and vocational provision.
2023 PRISON Concerns Humber
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 1,007 prisoners
Self-harm: 725 Assaults: 129 Staff assaults: 79
HMP Humber, a Category C resettlement prison, experienced significant prisoner 'churn' in 2023. While safety remains generally good and offender management is a strength, the Board raised serious concerns about overcrowding, with 30% of prisoners sharing single cells. Delays in mental health transfers and insufficient purposeful activity also posed challenges. The IMB noted issues with property loss and the need to improve the key worker scheme, despite positive work in reception and reducing OASys backlogs.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding: 30% of prisoners share cells designed for single use, an increase from the previous year, causing cramped conditions and lack of privacy.
  • Prisoner 'churn': The high turnover of short-stay prisoners due to the resettlement designation negatively impacts meaningful education, employment, and resettlement planning.
  • Mental Health Transfers: Significant delays in transferring prisoners with serious mental health issues or those sectioned under the Mental Health Act to secure hospitals.
  • Purposeful Activity: Insufficient education, skills, and work places, contributing to high unemployment and low attendance, with tasks often lacking challenge.
  • Property Issues: Persistent problems with prisoner property loss and complaints, especially during transfers, which has worsened despite proactive approaches.
  • Key Worker Scheme: The need to improve the quality and effectiveness of the key worker scheme, which is vital for a safe and effective establishment.
2023 PRISON Concerns Huntercombe
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 470 prisoners
HMP Huntercombe, a Category C prison for foreign national men, largely maintained a full regime during 2023, with positive staff-prisoner relationships and a reduction in ACCTs. However, the Board remains significantly concerned about the influx of illicit items, persistent issues with heating, hot water, and cell window repairs, and an unsuitable healthcare building. Delays in transferring mentally unwell prisoners and ongoing property problems for those being deported are also highlighted, alongside staffing pressures in the Offender Management Unit.
Key concerns identified
  • The persistent influx of illicit items and drugs, and their associated debt problems, undermining safety within the prison.
  • Significant, long-standing issues with the antiquated heating, hot water systems, and irreparable cell windows, which create unacceptable living conditions for prisoners.
  • The dilapidated healthcare building (with water ingress) and critical delays in transferring mentally unwell prisoners to appropriate NHS facilities, compromising their well-being.
  • Ongoing problems with lost or missing prisoner property during transfers and a high number of prisoners arriving close to their Early Release Scheme date, hindering effective resettlement and deportation processes.
  • Operational inefficiencies, such as inaccurate roll calls, which frequently prevent prisoners from accessing purposeful activities, education, and healthcare appointments, further compounded by staffing pressures in key departments.
  • Limited exercise opportunities for prisoners in the segregation unit due to the main yard being out of bounds.
2023 PRISON Concerns Isle of Wight
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 1,089 prisoners
Self-harm: 853 Assaults: 113 Staff assaults: 78
HMP Isle of Wight's population rose to 1,089 in 2023, operating at near capacity. The prison experienced a rise in deaths in custody (13) and violent incidents (191), although self-harm decreased. Key challenges included aging infrastructure, high staffing vacancies in OMU and healthcare, and inconsistent regime delivery for older prisoners, while positive developments were noted in education and integrated mental health services.
Key concerns identified
  • Significant increase in violent incidents and deaths in custody.
  • Aging and poorly maintained infrastructure (laundry, heating, workshops, double cells).
  • Chronic staffing shortages impacting key worker schemes, OMU, healthcare, and education.
  • Inconsistent and restrictive regime for older prisoners.
  • Issues with food distribution and quality control in the servery.
  • Delays in complaint resolution and property management issues.
2023 PRISON Concerns Northumberland
Published 5 Jul 2024 · 1,339 prisoners
Self-harm: 463 Assaults: 189
HMP Northumberland, a category C prison, is generally assessed as safe, despite a slight increase in violent incidents and self-harm. Significant progress has been made in primary healthcare provision, staff-prisoner relationships, and a revised regime aims to boost purposeful activity. However, the Board holds severe and repeated concerns regarding the profound lack of appropriate mental health provision, leading to the inappropriate use of segregation for acutely unwell prisoners, alongside challenges with education attendance and property management.
Key concerns identified
  • The persistent lack of mental health provision for prisoners, including delays in appropriate placements, is a repeated concern.
  • The inappropriate use of the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) to house severe mental health cases, with some remaining beyond 42 days, significantly impacts their well-being and staff.
  • Recruitment challenges within the mental health team and for key healthcare positions persist.
  • Education suffers from very low attendance rates (often 50%) and early session closures, leading to substantial lost learning time.
  • There are limited opportunities for engagement in arts (drama, music) within the curriculum.
  • Issues with prisoner property going missing during cell clearances or transfers remain a problem.
  • The single Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) struggles with an overwhelming caseload for the growing prison population.
2023 PRISON Concerns Grendon
Published 22 May 2024 · 160 prisoners
Self-harm: 34 Assaults: 6 Staff assaults: 2
HMP Grendon, a Category B therapeutic prison, maintained its core function and safety despite an increase in self-harm and violence intelligence reports. However, the Board raised significant concerns including persistent staff shortages impacting therapy and education, an ongoing rat infestation, and an inadequate night sanitation system. Patient satisfaction with healthcare significantly declined, exacerbated by a critical lack of data, while delays in a fire safety project and the issue of men unable to move out of therapy caused further disruption.
Key concerns identified
  • Delays in Ministerial responses to Parole Board recommendations.
  • Lack of capital funding for upgrading old buildings and facilities, and repairing outdoor sports surfaces.
  • The growing problem of men who are Out Of Therapy (OOT) unable to move out of Grendon.
  • Ongoing delays in the fire and safety project delivery schedule.
  • The night sanitation system failing to meet minimum decency and hygiene standards, suffering operational problems and unreliability.
  • An inadequate budget to fund a fairer wage for prisoners, not keeping pace with inflation.
  • A major rat infestation impacting the living and working environment.
  • Serious cell call bell faults, including a non-working intercom and a nearly 3-hour response time to an in-cell call.
  • A marked drop in patient satisfaction with healthcare services.
  • Limited access to aggregate and time-series healthcare data, hindering effective monitoring.
  • Persistent vacancies and shortages of professional therapy staff.
  • Education delivery constrained by staff shortages and men being pulled from sessions.
  • Key lock compromises almost doubled compared to the previous year.
  • The cessation of external scrutiny for discrimination incident report forms (DIRFs).
2023 PRISON Concerns Springhill
Published 22 May 2024 · 330 prisoners
Self-harm: 2 Assaults: 9 Staff assaults: 2
HMP Springhill, an open Category D prison, faced significant challenges in 2023, primarily driven by a substantial increase in its population to 330. The Board highlighted deteriorating infrastructure, a persistent rat infestation, and widespread staff shortages impacting healthcare, education, and resettlement efforts. While some safety metrics like self-harm remained low, assaults rose, and concerns persist regarding accommodation quality, prisoner pay, and the effectiveness of the complaints system, hindering the prison's core resettlement purpose.
Key concerns identified
  • The quality of accommodation in older huts remains very poor, and the decaying infrastructure hampers the prison's functioning and preparation for release.
  • A major rat infestation persisted for much of the year, leading to inhumane living conditions and distress among men.
  • Ongoing staff shortages, particularly in OMU and Activities, delay prisoner boarding, limit job opportunities, and affect healthcare and education provision.
  • The paucity of data continues to hamper the Board's ability to effectively assess healthcare provision and the health complaints system.
  • Prisoner pay levels have fallen well behind price increases, with no pay award this year, contributing to an erosion of morale.
  • Issues with outside probation continue to delay men's access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL), and the problems have worsened.
2023 PRISON Concerns Askham Grange
Published 21 May 2024 · 95 prisoners
Self-harm: 2 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Askham Grange, a women's open prison focused on resettlement, maintains a safe environment with rare incidents of violence or self-harm and positive staff-prisoner relationships. While offering robust education, work, and resettlement opportunities, challenges persist, including the impact of short sentences on prisoner progression and delays in ROTL access due to external staffing issues. Concerns also relate to shared accommodation, low in-house prisoner pay, and transport problems due to a lack of prisoner drivers. Healthcare services received positive CQC feedback, but dental provision and medication locker malfunctions require attention.
Key concerns identified
  • The increasing number of prisoners arriving with short sentences, preventing them from fully benefiting from resettlement and ROTL opportunities.
  • Delays in accessing Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and overall release planning due to staffing pressures within community offender manager (COM) teams.
  • The prison not being at full capacity, indicating closed prisons may not be effectively identifying suitable women for transfer.
  • The continued use of shared-cell accommodation, which is often disliked by women transitioning from single cells in closed prisons.
  • Problems with the availability of the prisoner driver, exacerbating travel costs and limiting work options for some prisoners.
  • Concerns regarding the level of in-house prisoner pay, exacerbated by inflation, affecting prisoners' ability to afford essentials and home leave.
  • Prisoners' fear of return to closed conditions if they make complaints, and an increase in reported verbal abuse from staff.
2024 PRISON Concerns South and West Short Term Holding Facilities
Published 15 May 2024
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
The South and West Short-Term Holding Facilities IMB, newly formed, reported significant challenges in monitoring conditions due to a lack of direct access to detainees during visits. Key concerns include prolonged detentions for minors and families in unsuitable areas, insufficient staffing affecting both detainee welfare and IMB access, and widespread poor record-keeping impacting the "chain of safety" and tracking of detention times. The Board also highlighted issues with the provision of hot food and delays in transfers by external agencies.
Key concerns identified
  • The inability of the IMB to conduct first-hand monitoring of detained individuals due to a lack of notification about detentions.
  • Prolonged detention of minors due to delays in social services transfers and insufficient staffing.
  • Inadequate record-keeping practices across most sites, leading to an unclear "chain of safety" and difficulties in tracking risk management and total detention times.
  • The withdrawal and delayed restoration of hot food and beverages, and the presence of out-of-date food items.
  • Detainees, including families, being held for excessive periods in unsuitable Controlled Waiting Areas (CWAs) due to staff shortages and limited holding room capacity.
  • Delays in transfers or releases caused by external organisations like MITIE, Clearsprings, and social services.
  • Limitations on IMB access and monitoring effectiveness due to Border Force staff shortages and issues with accessing digital records.
2023 PRISON Concerns Isis
Published 15 May 2024 · 600 prisoners
Self-harm: 252 Assaults: 319 Staff assaults: 161
HMP/YOI Isis, a YOI and Category C training prison, experienced a marked increase in violence and self-harm during 2023, attributed partly to a younger demographic and increased prisoner mixing. Staffing shortages and a high number of 'ineffective' staff consistently impacted regime delivery, education, and healthcare access. The Board highlighted persistent concerns with property management, cell cleanliness, and the limited range of rehabilitation programmes.
Key concerns identified
  • Marked increases in violence (prisoner-on-prisoner assaults +31%, prisoner-on-staff assaults +66%) and self-harm incidents (+40%) compared to the previous year.
  • Persistent issues with cleanliness, particularly in serveries and first-night cells, and unaddressed cell bells.
  • A notable increase in Segregation Unit placements, alongside a critical lack of data on protected characteristics and difficulty for the Board to attend GOoD reviews.
  • Loss of prisoner property remains a significant and repeated problem, exacerbated by an unreliable manual, paper-based system.
  • Staffing levels, particularly the high number of 'ineffective' staff, continue to negatively impact regime delivery, including access to education, healthcare, and faith services.
  • The limited range of accredited rehabilitation programmes at HMP/YOI Isis necessitates transfers for prisoners requiring other courses, while broken cell windows remain largely unfixed.
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