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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 Gartree
Published 14 May 2024
Self-harm: 266 Assaults: 24 Staff assaults: 69
HMP Gartree maintains a calm and ordered environment with positive staff-prisoner relationships, though faces significant challenges with its ageing infrastructure and an increase in use of force incidents. While basic healthcare access is good, mental health services and purposeful activity require improvement. The Board highlights key concerns regarding building repairs, drug infiltration, fire safety, and adequate provision for vulnerable prisoners, while acknowledging efforts in staff recruitment and regime development.
Key concerns identified
  • The deteriorating fabric and infrastructure of Gartree, including inadequate facilities for older/disabled prisoners and persistent heating issues.
  • Ongoing challenges in accessing timely and adequate mental health services, and the Board's struggle to obtain meaningful healthcare data.
  • The significant increase in the use of force incidents and the continued influx of drugs and illicit items, impacting safety and order.
  • Insufficient range and equitable access to purposeful activities, with some education now self-taught in cells reducing time out of cell.
  • Lack of clear and consistent fire safety drills and information for prisoners and staff.
  • Prolonged segregation of some prisoners due to lack of alternative accommodation and the impact on their mental health.
2023 PRISON Concerns Foston Hall
Published 9 May 2024 · 284 prisoners
HMP/YOI Foston Hall has shown positive developments in regime provision and some safety initiatives, yet it continues to grapple with persistently high self-harm rates and increased use of force. Staffing shortages have impacted key work and overall experience levels, while healthcare faces challenges with recruitment, missed appointments, and inadequate facilities. The Board highlights significant concerns regarding accommodation decency, delays in parole and mental health transfers, and a lack of analytical focus on protected characteristics, affecting fair treatment and access to services.
Key concerns identified
  • High levels of self-harm.
  • Increased use of force, disproportionately affecting young adults.
  • Inadequate accommodation in CSU and D wing.
  • Staffing issues impacting key working and leading to a high proportion of inexperienced officers.
  • Delays in parole decisions and failure to meet mental health transfer targets.
  • Significant number of missed healthcare appointments and inadequate healthcare facilities (e.g., dispensing hatch, clinical space).
  • Problems with property access, unaddressed applications, and ongoing heating/hot water issues.
  • Lack of data analysis on protected characteristics and poor quality/timeliness of Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms (DIRFs).
  • Homelessness on release and lack of reliable library and accessible education for disabled prisoners.
2023 PRISON Concerns Deerbolt
Published 8 May 2024
HMP/YOI Deerbolt, a Category C training and resettlement prison, improved its regime and purposeful activity towards the end of the reporting year, with dedicated staff providing good healthcare and educational services. However, persistent staffing shortages, including the detachment of officers to other establishments, severely impacted the core regime and education delivery. Significant concerns remain regarding delayed estate maintenance, insufficient key worker sessions, and the progression pathways for IPP prisoners amidst a changing demographic.
Key concerns identified
  • The impact of staff detachment to other prisons, leading to education cancellations and an inability to maintain a full operational regime.
  • Persistent issues with drugs, violence, and debt making Deerbolt unsafe for some, exacerbated by regime limitations due to low staffing.
  • The ongoing low level of key worker sessions (30%) for the third consecutive year, limiting one-to-one engagement and causing prisoner confusion.
  • Significant delays in wing refurbishments and laundry upgrades, impacting staff resources, regime stability, and prisoner property handling, compounded by a lack of funding for new laundry equipment.
  • The limited variety of educational opportunities for the increasingly older prison population and frequent short-notice cancellations of classes.
  • Difficulties for IPP prisoners in understanding release requirements and the prison's capacity to support their progression, alongside a lack of in-house Kaizen courses.
2023 PRISON Concerns Long Lartin
Published 7 May 2024 · 584 prisoners
Self-harm: 525 Assaults: 69 Staff assaults: 90
HMP Long Lartin experienced another challenging year ending December 2023, marked by an increased prisoner population and significant staffing shortages, leading to an unpredictable regime and increased prisoner frustration, self-harm, and violence. The prison's infrastructure, particularly in-cell sanitation on four wings and outdated security systems, is severely degraded, compounded by unsatisfactory maintenance services from Amey. Despite improvements in education and library provision and commendable efforts by chaplaincy and gym staff, mental health services are stretched, and purposeful activity and key worker sessions remain limited.
Key concerns identified
  • The increased prisoner roll, including many younger prisoners with more non-associates, has adversely affected overall stability.
  • Continued uncertainty with daily regimes, due to shortage of experienced staff, has increased prisoner frustration, mental health issues and levels of self-harm.
  • Access to mobile phones and drugs, regularly delivered by illegal drones, poses a serious risk to safety and control, fuelling illicit trading, bullying, debt and increased violence.
  • Investment is urgently required to upgrade obsolete and faulty security systems and raise the standard of property services’ maintenance to an acceptable level.
  • Prisoners spent far too much time locked in their cells due to the unpredictable regime, exacerbated by the very poor state of infrastructure and inadequate maintenance.
  • Four wings lack running water and in-cell sanitation, which falls below modern standards of decency for nearly half the prisoner population.
2023 PRISON Concerns Guys Marsh
Published 10 Apr 2024 · 500 prisoners
Assaults: 211 Staff assaults: 62
The Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Guys Marsh noted positive developments including sufficient organisational support for safety, the appointment of a neurodiversity support manager, and a seamless transition to a new healthcare provider. However, significant concerns remain regarding persistent drug and alcohol use driving violence, ineffective risk management plans, and unacceptably high prisoner-on-prisoner assaults. The Board also highlighted issues with accommodation standards, a long dental waiting list, and underutilised education and work provisions.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent drug and alcohol use, driving debt, violence, and OCG influence, with prisoner-on-prisoner assaults remaining unacceptably high.
  • Ineffective implementation of Challenge, Support and Intervention Plans (CSIPs) and poorly developed ACCT documents when multiple cases are open.
  • Insufficient rigor in cell sharing risk assessments (CSRAs), exacerbated by increased operational capacity and prisoner refusal to share cells.
  • Unacceptable conditions in the estate, including mildew in cells and a multi-faith room unfit for purpose due to water ingress.
  • An unacceptably long waiting list for dental treatment.
  • Underutilisation of education provision, low attendance at work, and insufficient work placements, coupled with a lack of incentives.
  • HMPPS's inadequate response to drone incursions and the declining standards of decency, including general untidiness and hygiene concerns in servery areas.
  • Ongoing issues with lost prisoner property, particularly during cell clearances, leading to numerous complaints and compensation payments.
2023 PRISON Concerns Drake Hall
Published 9 Apr 2024 · 309 prisoners
Self-harm: 546 Assaults: 109
Drake Hall continues to provide a largely safe and humane environment, with commendable support for vulnerable women and effective management of challenging behaviours, although self-harm and violence have increased. Key concerns persist regarding the poor condition of Richmond and Plymouth houses, systemic issues with property, and healthcare resources being outstripped by the increasing complexity of the population's needs. The Board also highlights issues around staffing, regime restrictions, and the halting of planned capacity improvements.
Key concerns identified
  • The poor and dilapidated condition of Richmond and Plymouth houses, repeatedly raised since 1999, remains unresolved and requires replacement.
  • A significant increase in self-harm incidents, particularly among a small number of women, and increased levels of violence, reflecting a more complex and challenging prison population.
  • Population pressures and rapid turnover, including women serving short sentences, destabilise the prison and challenge its rehabilitative ethos.
  • Persistent and systemic problems with prisoners' property being delayed or lost on transfer, causing unnecessary distress and remaining unresolved across the prison estate.
  • The need for healthcare currently outstrips available resources, especially for complex mental health needs, and problems with roll call lead to cancelled appointments.
  • Plans for a major capital programme to increase operational capacity and develop the prison's function have been put on hold, which is seen as a retrograde step.
  • Inconsistent application of rules, inappropriate staff behaviour, and inadequate delivery of key work sessions due to operational pressures.
  • The persistent problem of prisoners trading prescription medications, despite previous recommendations for better control, posing safety risks.
2023 PRISON Concerns Forest Bank
Published 4 Apr 2024
Self-harm: 1,090 Assaults: 647
HMP Forest Bank, a Category B reception and resettlement prison, reported a 13% increase in self-harm but a 5% reduction in violence and 14% reduction in use of force. The Board raised concerns about illicit items, the use of segregation for mental health cases, and low out-of-cell time. Healthcare services saw a new provider and improved access via kiosks, while purposeful activity hours remained low. Six deaths in custody were reported during the period.
Key concerns identified
  • Illicit items and contraband remain a significant issue.
  • The segregation unit is sometimes used for long periods to house prisoners with severe mental health issues due to long waits for NHS transfers.
  • Meaningful out of cell time remains a concern.
  • Property issues, including items going missing during transfers within the prison, are ongoing.
  • Low completion rate (30%) of key worker sessions.
  • Challenges in managing onward movement of prisoners who disrupt transfers.
2023 PRISON Concerns Haverigg
Published 20 Mar 2024 · 496 prisoners
Self-harm: 14 Assaults: 9
HMP Haverigg, an open category D prison for PCoSO prisoners, effectively managed a 50% population increase while maintaining low levels of self-harm and violence. The Board noted high standards of humane treatment, robust healthcare provision, and strong focus on education and resettlement. Key concerns remain the inhumane nature of IPP sentences, persistent property loss during transfers, and inconsistencies in sentence management.
Key concerns identified
  • IPP sentences causing psychological distress and being inhumane.
  • Persistent loss of prisoners' property, particularly during transfers between prisons.
  • Inconsistencies and confusion among prisoners regarding sentence management.
  • Limited community support adversely affecting prisoners on discharge.
  • Inadequate prior treatment of prisoners in other establishments before transfer to Haverigg.
  • Reluctance of some employers to hire ex-PCoSO prisoners.
2023 PRISON Concerns Wormwood Scrubs
Published 19 Mar 2024 · 1,190 prisoners
Self-harm: 498 Assaults: 228 Staff assaults: 141
HMP Wormwood Scrubs faced significant challenges during the reporting year, including overcrowding and acute staffing shortages, which adversely impacted safety, regime delivery, and healthcare provision. Many prisoners spent extended periods locked in their cells with limited purposeful activity. Concerns persist regarding mental health transfer delays, an antiquated estate unsuitable for disabled prisoners, and poor food quality, though positive efforts in induction, reading support, and some service improvements were noted.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding and increased population pressures are stretching prison resources and impacting safety.
  • Acute and chronic staffing shortages severely affect all prison services, including regime, healthcare, and probation.
  • Many prisoners spend 22 or more hours per day locked in their cells with limited access to purposeful activity, education, and socialisation.
  • Unacceptable delays persist for mental health transfers to secure hospitals, and waiting times for routine assessments have increased significantly.
  • The antiquated prison infrastructure, including broken lifts and an unreliable cell bell system, is unsuitable for an increasing number of elderly and mobility-impaired prisoners, particularly wheelchair users.
  • Food provision is consistently of poor quality, quantity, and nutritional value, leading to much food being thrown away.
  • A disproportionate number of black prisoners are segregated and involved in use of force incidents.
  • Through-the-gate support and probation services are patchy and delayed, impacting resettlement and property management.
2023 PRISON Concerns Wakefield
Published 15 Mar 2024 · 740 prisoners
Self-harm: 429 Assaults: 106 Staff assaults: 61
HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison, is generally considered safe and humane, with observed improvements in healthcare provision. However, the Board noted a significant increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and ongoing concerns regarding staffing experience levels, which impact prisoner safety and support quality. Delays in mental health transfers to secure hospitals remain a major issue, alongside an insufficient purposeful activity regime and challenges with prisoner property management.
Key concerns identified
  • Increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and concerns regarding the physical security infrastructure to prevent drone use.
  • Significant delays in accessing transfers to secure hospitals for prisoners in urgent need of mental health treatment.
  • The staffing profile raises concern due to a reduction in experienced prison officers, impacting quality of support and prisoner safety.
  • Too many prisoners are not meaningfully engaged in education or work opportunities, and the astroturf sports pitch has been unavailable for several years.
  • The Board is concerned about prisoners substantially over tariff on IPP sentences.
  • Challenges persist with the timely receipt of prisoner property and managing prisoners in segregation who refuse to leave.
2023 PRISON Concerns Eastwood Park
Published 14 Mar 2024 · 387 prisoners
HMP/YOI Eastwood Park, a closed local prison for women, faced significant challenges in staffing, self-harm, and the management of complex mental health needs during the reporting year. Despite positive recruitment efforts and a new regime increasing time out of cell, the Board highlighted concerns regarding delays in mental health transfers, a substantial rise in use of force, and the under-utilisation of new facilities. The report also commended improvements in social visits and property management, while calling for better support for remand and short-sentence prisoners and more reliable resettlement data.
Key concerns identified
  • Continued delays in transferring women with complex mental health needs to secure hospitals due to national bed shortages.
  • Fluctuating staffing levels consistently impacted prisoner wellbeing, rehabilitation, and regime delivery.
  • The significant increase in the use of force incidents (517 this year) and the need for clear HMPPS guidance on its criteria.
  • Under-utilisation of the new activities centre despite its completion.
  • Challenges in securing adequate accommodation for prisoners upon release and the lack of reliable data to track progress.
  • The cessation of funding for the One Women’s Centre, an initiative with great potential for resettlement support.
  • A 128% rise in self-harm incidents compared to the previous year, with a small number of women contributing to a large proportion of these.
  • Shortages of larger underwear sizes and poor availability of chest binders.
  • Outstanding maintenance jobs (181) and critical safety concerns regarding Personal Evacuation and Emergency Plans (PEEP) not matching records.
  • Restrictions on library and some chaplaincy services due to staffing levels and escort availability.
2023 PRISON Concerns Durham
Published 13 Mar 2024 · 981 prisoners
Self-harm: 596 Assaults: 263 Staff assaults: 77
HMP Durham, a Reception and Resettlement Prison for adult and young adult men, holds a significant population of unsentenced prisoners (75.6%). The past year has seen a notable increase in self-harm incidents (596) and total assaults (340), including those on staff (77), alongside 8 deaths in custody. Despite these challenges, 92% of prisoners report feeling safe, and the Board commends staff de-escalation techniques and efforts to reduce illicit item supply.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding and its impact on prisoner dignity, exacerbated by the necessity of mixing vulnerable and Mains prisoners on the same wing.
  • Lack of tangible and rapid improvements in accommodation availability for both planned and unplanned releases.
  • Late arrivals to reception posing major risks due to missed healthcare assessments.
  • Slow progress on A wing refurbishment and general accommodation improvements.
  • Insufficient accessible cells for ageing or disabled prisoners.
  • Significant delays in vetting processes for healthcare staff, leading to candidates taking other posts.
  • Lack of accountability for contractors failing to provide sufficient staff for education, healthcare, mental health, and drug treatment services.
  • Incomplete and administratively erroneous ACCT documents, indicating a lack of improvement despite Board feedback.
  • Insufficient staff to maintain the regime, leading to wings being placed in 'patrol state.'
  • Decline in the delivery of secondary health screening within seven days of reception.
  • Continued issue of wing staff allocating work to prisoners before final approval.
2023 PRISON Concerns Feltham
Published 12 Mar 2024 · 569 prisoners
Feltham, comprising a YOI (A side) and a Cat C prison (B side), faced significant challenges in the reporting year ending August 2023, primarily due to severe staff shortages impacting regime delivery, time out of cell, and purposeful activity. While staff were commended for their dedication, these shortages led to increased incidents on A side and curtailed essential services and rehabilitative programs across both sides. Key concerns also included the inadequate education provision for separated young people, safety in communal showers on B side, and the ongoing issue of lost prisoner property.
Key concerns identified
  • Severe staff shortages across both Feltham A and B sides, leading to severely curtailed time out of room and cancellation of education, activities, and key worker sessions.
  • Inadequate provision for children with complex mental health needs on A side and for separated young people, including ineffective education and lack of suitable private spaces for wellbeing services.
  • Significant safety concerns on B side, particularly assaults in communal showers, which deterred prisoners from attending education and workshops.
  • The persistent and poorly managed issue of lost prisoner property, causing significant distress and wasted staff resources.
  • Understaffing in the Probation Service, coupled with the national policy against single transfers, severely hampers sentence planning and resettlement for prisoners.
  • Ongoing issues with the fabric of the estate, including long-standing leaking roofs and generally desolate exercise yards.
2023 PRISON Concerns Dovegate
Published 7 Mar 2024
HMP Dovegate, a Category B training prison managed by Serco, reported a generally calm and settled environment with good staff-prisoner relationships. Key challenges include persistent long waiting times for mental health transfers and dental appointments, along with concerns about lost prisoner property during transfers and staffing shortages affecting healthcare and education. The Board highlighted the need for improved strategies for IPP prisoners and more secure mental health spaces.
Key concerns identified
  • A clear strategy is needed for the progression to release of IPP prisoners.
  • The number of secure mental health spaces available is inadequate.
  • The backlog of court appearances for remand prisoners, some held for over 12 months, needs addressing.
  • Prisoners’ property continues to be lost in transit on a regular basis.
  • Population pressures are increasing incidents, highlighting a need for more community-based sentences.
  • Insufficient staff to ensure all healthcare appointments are attended.
  • Lack of continuity and stability of staff in the CSU impacts Rule 45 reviews and prisoner support.
  • Absence of a medical prescriber in Reception for out-of-standard-hours arrivals, affecting timely medication.
  • Education and workshop activities require improvement for all prisoners.
  • Continued training and development of inexperienced staff is essential for a safe environment.
2023 PRISON Concerns Werrington
Published 28 Feb 2024 · 72 prisoners
Self-harm: 36 Assaults: 121 Staff assaults: 113
HMYOI Werrington's report ending August 2023 highlights mixed progress. While self-harm and prisoner-on-prisoner assaults decreased, overall violence remained unstable, and serious incidents at height were a significant concern. The Board praised healthcare and resettlement efforts, but educational provision continued to be inadequate, exacerbated by a long-closed library and limited curriculum for higher qualifications. Inadequate time out of room, particularly at weekends, and staffing shortages in social care were also key issues, alongside concerns about the safe co-location of young adults and under-18s.
Key concerns identified
  • Serious incidents at height, including young people climbing on netting, bars, or roofs, necessitating escalation to the Youth Custody Service Executive Director.
  • The total number of violent incidents, although slightly reduced, remains unstable, with an increase in fights.
  • Inadequate time out of room, especially at weekends, which the Board deems neither fair nor humane for young people.
  • Educational provision is still inadequate due to curriculum limitations, restricted regime, violence, and 'keep aparts,' further exacerbated by the closure of the main library for over a year.
  • Safety concerns regarding housing over-18-year-olds with under-18s, a question directly posed to the Minister.
  • Lack of adequate social work cover, particularly for maternity and sick leave, impacting oversight of child-protection paperwork.
  • The need to enhance safety measures to reduce the making of protective weapons by young people.
  • Challenges in developing positive relationships between young people and staff, with limited meaningful communication observed.
2023 PRISON Concerns Cardiff
Published 27 Feb 2024 · 779 prisoners
Self-harm: 374 Assaults: 180
HMP Cardiff, a Category B local training prison, maintained a relatively safe environment with one death in custody and 374 self-harm incidents, matching the previous year. However, it faced increasing population pressures and a rise in illicit substance use. The Board noted positive developments in healthcare staffing, family services, and education provision, alongside the opening of a Neurodiversity Hub and an Incentivised Substance-Free Living unit. Key concerns include ongoing staffing shortages in offender management, the impact of old infrastructure on living conditions, and significant delays in visits booking and mental health transfers.
Key concerns identified
  • Self-harm is an ongoing concern.
  • A significant increase in illicit substance use and related incidents.
  • Increasing pressure on the prison population.
  • Persistent accommodation issues due to the prison's age, including lack of hot water and vermin.
  • Lost property remains a continuing and significant problem.
  • Inconsistent adherence to the key worker scheme due to staffing shortages.
  • Insufficient support for accommodation on release, with many prisoners lacking arrangements.
  • OMU and resettlement teams continue to be understaffed, exacerbated by vetting delays.
  • Poor telephone service for visits booking since centralisation.
  • Lack of out-of-cell dining space, forcing shared cells to eat near toilets.
  • A long-overdue health needs analysis.
  • Impact of medication changes on prisoners upon reception.
  • Need for improved officer awareness and practice regarding transgender prisoners.
  • An old Georgian infrastructure is unsuitable for prisoners with disabilities or mobility issues.
  • A 23-week waiting list for Adult ADHD assessments.
2023 PRISON Concerns Cookham Wood
Published 15 Feb 2024 · 80 prisoners
HMYOI Cookham Wood faced significant challenges, including an inhumane regime with consistently low time out of cell, severe staffing shortages, and poor education provision, leading to an 'Urgent Notification' by HMIP. Despite these issues, the healthcare services were commended, and the resettlement team achieved national recognition for their work. Key concerns persist regarding the length of time boys spend on remand, the regime for older young adults, and the impact of staff attrition on overall conditions.
Key concerns identified
  • The inhumane regime, with boys held in cells for excessively long periods and inconsistent time out of cell.
  • Long periods boys spend on remand due to court backlogs, leading to unjust and inhumane detention.
  • The inadequate regime for 18-year-olds retained at Cookham Wood due to adult estate pressures.
  • Challenges in securing timely accommodation for boys returning to local authority care on release.
  • High officer attrition and inadequate staffing levels severely impacting regime delivery and relationships with boys.
  • Poor education provision, lacking in quantity of teachers and range of subjects, including vocational options.
  • Slow progress on essential landing refurbishment, including the Cedar resettlement unit.
2023 PRISON Concerns Ford
Published 13 Feb 2024 · 387 prisoners
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 0 Staff assaults: 0
HMP Ford, a Category D open prison, achieved positive recognition from HMIP for its safe and humane environment, with commendable healthcare and a strong focus on rehabilitation. While the prison effectively supports resettlement and purposeful activity, the IMB raises significant concerns regarding the severe under-maintenance of the estate, slow progress on a planned expansion, and persistent issues with external Probation Service support. Additionally, challenges with external contractors for education and the ongoing problem of inter-prison property transfers continue to hinder prisoner progression.
Key concerns identified
  • The continuing deterioration and failure to adequately maintain the prison estate, particularly A, R and Q wings, raising health and safety concerns and questioning the slow pace of refurbishment.
  • Ongoing lack of external Probation Service support, which negatively impacts prisoners' access to ROTL, particularly for those returning to London.
  • Significant delays and lack of planning for the new build expansion project (to 779 men) and its impact on existing prison facilities, coupled with the cramped reception area lacking electronic security scanners.
  • Persistently high number of complaints regarding the failure to safely transfer prisoners' personal property between prisons, with little national movement on the property framework.
  • Underuse of outdoor facilities and the negative impact on purposeful activity due to staff resourcing issues and inflexibility in workshops.
  • The external supplier, CXK, did not provide the contracted level of resource for over six months to deliver Personal Learning Plans for prisoners, and the contractor was not held accountable.
  • The continued use of IPP sentences is inhumane and should be removed from existing prisoners.
2023 PRISON Concerns Chelmsford
Published 8 Feb 2024
Self-harm: 980 Assaults: 227 Staff assaults: 169
HMP Chelmsford is a Category B local prison that faces significant challenges, particularly with overcrowding where 49% of prisoners share single cells, and an increasing use of force attributed to inexperienced staff. While positive developments include improved staff-prisoner interactions and an increase in key worker sessions, persistent issues like inadequate property safeguarding, frequent missed healthcare appointments due to officer shortages, and difficulties in transferring mentally ill prisoners require urgent attention. The IMB highlights these concerns and makes recommendations to the Minister, Prison Service, and Governor to address systemic failings.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding, with 49% of prisoners sharing single cells, contravening decency standards.
  • Inadequate safeguarding processes for prisoners’ property, especially during internal transfers.
  • A high level of use of force, attributed to inexperienced staff and rigid-bar handcuffs.
  • Significant difficulty transferring prisoners with serious mental health issues to appropriate community facilities due to a lack of beds.
  • Frequent missed healthcare appointments due to a shortage of movement officers.
  • Patchy availability of complaint forms, with officers sometimes showing little interest in replenishing them.
  • Challenges in maintaining separation between vulnerable and non-vulnerable prisoners on B wing.
  • A library photocopier remaining broken for a year, impacting services.
  • The unsatisfactory handling of Prisoner P's release by the Home Office, leaving him with no support.
2023 PRISON Concerns Hatfield
Published 7 Feb 2024
Self-harm: 0 Assaults: 1 Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Hatfield is recognised as a very safe and effective Category D open prison, excelling in resettlement with a high percentage of prisoners securing and maintaining employment post-release. The Board commends the positive staff-prisoner relationships and well-managed healthcare, while noting improvements in facilities. Key concerns include the negative impact of prison population pressures on open prisons, the unsuitability of the Lakes site, and delays in completing perimeter fencing to mitigate illicit item drops.
Key concerns identified
  • Negative impact of wider prison population pressures on Category D prison ethos and resettlement.
  • The Lakes building is unsuitable for its current use of assessing new prisoners.
  • Persistent vulnerability to illicit items entering the prison due to incomplete perimeter fencing.
  • Delays in hospital outpatient referrals and follow-up appointments.
2023 PRISON Concerns The Verne
Published 6 Feb 2024 · 606 prisoners
Self-harm: 58 Assaults: 16 Staff assaults: 6
HMP The Verne maintains a generally safe and respectful environment, successfully implementing a new self-harm monitoring system and demonstrating strong staff-prisoner relationships. The Board commends the high-quality physical healthcare provision, including excellent vaccination rates, and welcomes the establishment of a new 16-room social care unit aimed at addressing the long-standing concern for elderly and frail prisoners. However, significant challenges persist, particularly in resettlement provision, severe understaffing in the Offender Management Unit leading to backlogs, and long waiting times for mental health services and external healthcare appointments due to staff shortages.
Key concerns identified
  • The lack of 24-hour dedicated social care provision for frail, elderly prisoners.
  • Inadequate funding and provision for resettlement, which is increasingly critical given the high number of direct releases from this training prison.
  • Significant understaffing in the Offender Management Unit (OMU), leading to substantial backlogs in OASys assessments and reviews.
  • Frequent cancellation of external healthcare appointments (approximately one-third) due to insufficient prison staff for escorts, or lack of appropriate transport/trained staff.
  • Long waiting times for mental health services, with waiting lists of approximately 10 weeks for a psychologist and 15 weeks for a psychiatrist.
  • The Board regrets the lack of a 'community hospital' facility, which would alleviate strain on staff and reduce external hospital visits for minor procedures.
2023 PRISON Concerns Wetherby
Published 30 Jan 2024 · 168 prisoners
HMYOI Wetherby experienced a challenging reporting year ending August 2023, marked by periods of severe instability, high violent behaviour, and increasing contraband finds. While the Board commended improvements in the estate, healthcare provision, and some excellent resettlement initiatives, significant concerns persist regarding the unpredictable regime, insufficient time out of cell, and the inadequate conditions on B wing. Staffing issues, including high turnover and an imbalance in officer demographics, continue to impact regime delivery, alongside national policy impacts such as Operation Safeguard and the high number of young people on remand with limited support.
Key concerns identified
  • The stability of Wetherby was severely compromised in March and April 2023 due to multiple factors, including high levels of violent behaviour among young people and against staff.
  • Increasing finds of drugs, phones, and improvised weapons highlight ongoing security challenges and the ease with which contraband enters the establishment.
  • The lack of a predictable regime and frequent cancellations of educational classes or activities cause significant frustration and uncertainty for young people, leading to excessive time in rooms.
  • Conditions on B wing, which houses both newly arrived (FNIC) and separated young people, are unsatisfactory, with mouldy showers, dirty cells, and poor repair.
  • Too many young people are held on remand due to court delays, receiving limited support or interventions, which is a national priority concern.
  • Operation Safeguard, which keeps 18-year-olds at Wetherby until 19, creates frustration among these young people and impacts the establishment's stability.
  • Significant staffing issues persist, including high officer turnover (8% within six months, 12% within a year), and concerns about the experience of new, predominantly female officers.
  • Local authorities frequently financially disadvantage "looked after" young people through late or absent payments, and suitable accommodation on release remains a challenge.
  • The Board remains concerned about the suitability of placing girls at Wetherby in their current accommodation and the lack of progress on this long-term issue.
2023 PRISON Concerns Channings Wood
Published 23 Jan 2024 · 740 prisoners
Self-harm: 509 Assaults: 123 Staff assaults: 3
HMP Channings Wood, a Category C prison, faces significant challenges due to overcrowding, impacting safety, regime stability, and the delivery of purposeful activity. Self-harm and assaults have risen, and the Board remains concerned about drug availability and the inappropriate use of segregation for mental health cases. Persistent issues with property loss on transfer and delays in estate repairs further exacerbate prisoner conditions, alongside ongoing staffing shortages that hinder key work and offender management.
Key concerns identified
  • The adverse consequences of overcrowding, impacting safety, purposeful activity, and regime stability.
  • Increasing levels of self-harm and assaults, especially serious assaults, linked to the availability of illicit items, particularly drugs.
  • The unacceptable use of the segregation unit as a place of safety for prisoners with acute mental health problems awaiting specialist transfers.
  • Persistent issues with property loss during transfers, causing significant frustration and an avoidable expense despite new policies.
  • Substandard and delayed repairs to the ageing prison estate and equipment, negatively affecting decency standards and access to purposeful activity.
  • Insufficient provision for the increasingly ageing prisoner population, including a lack of suitable accommodation and tailored regimes.
2023 PRISON Concerns Hewell
Published 19 Jan 2024 · 1,060 prisoners
Self-harm: 664
HMP Hewell, a Category B reception prison, faced severe overcrowding in the reporting year, with its population increasing to 1,060 and many prisoners sharing cells designed for one. This contributed to a significant rise in self-harm incidents and a persistent, restricted regime where most men are locked in cells for 22 hours daily. The report highlights ongoing challenges with staff shortages, inadequate key worker training, and delays in mental health transfers, alongside concerns about resettlement provision and the unmet needs of neurodiverse prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding and cell sharing, with many men locked up 22 hours a day in cells designed for one, impacting health and wellbeing.
  • Significant increase in self-harm incidents, compounded by staff shortages affecting key work schemes.
  • Persistent lack of purposeful activity and education for prisoners, with underuse of available opportunities.
  • Delays in transfers to secure mental health establishments and inadequate provision for complex mental health needs.
  • Shortcomings in resettlement support, including inter-agency collaboration failures leading to homelessness for many upon release.
  • Inadequate staff training for key work, high churn of inexperienced staff, and insufficient out-of-hours healthcare cover.
2023 PRISON Concerns Bure
Published 16 Jan 2024 · 643 prisoners
Self-harm: 304 Assaults: 52 Staff assaults: 28
HMP Bure, a Category C prison primarily for older prisoners, maintains a calm and safe environment with good staff-prisoner relationships and effective healthcare, including a fully staffed mental health team. Key concerns include insufficient purposeful activity, inconsistent key worker engagement, and the significant impact of not having formal medical care on-site at night. Persistent estate maintenance issues and a call for the re-sentencing of IPP prisoners highlight areas requiring urgent attention from both the prison and the Ministry of Justice.
Key concerns identified
  • The Board calls on the Minister to once again consider the re-sentencing of IPP prisoners, many of whom are held far beyond their original tariff.
  • There is a need for a national minimum wage for prisoners due to pay disparities and fixed canteen costs.
  • Insufficient work opportunities and activity places are available, with fewer than 66% of working-age prisoners engaged, leading to boredom.
  • The potential for increased prisoner numbers without proportional increases in work, recreational space, or improved regimes for older prisoners is a concern.
  • The Board has noted an increase in self-harm incidents that requires investigation by the prison.
  • The lack of formal medical care on-site at night leads to significant, costly escorts to A&E, impacting staff and the daily regime.
  • Longstanding estate issues persist, including unaddressed heating problems in Residential Unit 7 and non-functioning solar panels, both repeated from previous reports.
2023 PRISON Concerns Bronzefield
Published 10 Jan 2024 · 471 prisoners
Self-harm: 2,460 Assaults: 240
HMP/YOI Bronzefield is a privately run local prison for female remand and sentenced prisoners, with an average population of 471 and Certified Normal Accommodation of 542. The reporting year saw concerns over staffing shortages impacting regime, increased healthcare complaints following a contract change, and a significant number of prisoners released without safe accommodation. Positive developments included the implementation of PPO recommendations, a new Employment Hub, and re-established gardening team.
Key concerns identified
  • Lack of a physically present GP at weekends and only a substance misuse doctor on Mondays, particularly for vulnerable new arrivals.
  • Late arrival of SERCO vans, impacting reception processes and prisoner care.
  • High incidence of self-harm, largely attributable to a few prolific individuals.
  • Increase in violent incidents, driven by canteen trading, vapes, and poor mental health.
  • Staffing shortages (especially experienced officers) adversely affecting regime, leading to property complaints and increased prisoner-on-staff violence.
  • Lengthy delays in prisoner complaints, leading to scepticism in the system.
  • Continued use of the healthcare in-patient facility to house acutely mentally unwell prisoners awaiting transfer, straining capacity.
  • Severe and sustained shortage of substance misuse staff, resulting in reduced therapeutic sessions and alcohol services.
  • Significant number of prisoners being released without safe and sustainable accommodation, a persistent concern.
  • Lack of alternative vocational training opportunities following the closure of the call centre facility.
2022 PRISON Concerns Swansea
Published 4 Jan 2024 · 400 prisoners
HMP Swansea is generally considered a safe and humane prison by the Board, with notable improvements in education, purposeful activity, and resettlement support. However, significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate mental health provision and the challenge of securing accommodation for prisoners on release. Other key issues include delays in cell refurbishment, poor disability access, and inconsistent reporting of segregation decisions to the Board.
Key concerns identified
  • Mental health provision remains a high concern with insufficient manpower.
  • Prisoners are leaving custody without suitable accommodation, undermining resettlement efforts.
  • The number of out-of-area prisoners being received into HMP Swansea is consistently high.
  • Inconsistent informing of the Board regarding CSU admissions and Good Order or Discipline reviews.
  • Cell refurbishment has effectively halted due to external project management delays.
  • There is poor disability access throughout the prison, with only one compliant cell for over 400 prisoners.
2023 PRISON Concerns Dartmoor
Published 21 Dec 2023 · 682 prisoners
HMP Dartmoor, a Category C training prison, experienced significant overcrowding during the reporting year, with 682 prisoners held against a capacity of 640. This led to serious concerns about humane treatment, purposeful activity, and stretched resources. Critical staffing shortages across healthcare, education, and general duties, exacerbated by recruitment freezes and lack of investment, impacted regime delivery and prisoner welfare. The Board also highlighted ongoing issues with infrastructure, support for vulnerable prisoners, and a lack of confidence in the complaints system, many of which are repeated from previous reports.
Key concerns identified
  • Overcrowding in small, single cells, deemed inhumane and unsafe.
  • Lack of matching increase in staff and support services for the increased population.
  • Insufficient purposeful activity, leading to prolonged unlock times on wings.
  • Severe lack of capital investment, impacting infrastructure, in-cell telephony, and basic amenities.
  • Critical staffing issues in healthcare, leading to reduced services and increased complaints.
  • Continued inadequacy of support for older, infirm, and vulnerable prisoners.
  • Lack of prisoner confidence in the DIRF and complaints processes.
  • Poor support provision for Foreign National Prisoners.
2023 PRISON Concerns Wayland
Published 19 Dec 2023
This report on HMP Wayland, based on a prisoner attitudes survey ending March 2023, highlights significant concerns across various aspects of prison life. Key issues include ineffective induction, poor staff-prisoner trust and communication, and a failure of the key worker scheme. Prisoners report feeling unsafe, lacking support for resettlement, and facing challenges with property, healthcare access, and the complaints system, alongside issues in education provision. The Board emphasizes a general lack of curiosity from management regarding these persistent problems, underscoring the need for fundamental improvements.
Key concerns identified
  • The ineffectiveness and lack of positive impact of the induction experience for new prisoners.
  • Persistent poor communication from the prison regarding the regime and future plans.
  • Inadequate cell conditions, including cleanliness, furniture, and sanitary ware, affecting basic decency.
  • A significant lack of trust in staff (57% negative) and a perception that staff are unable to help with personal problems or loneliness (82% not helped).
  • The failure of the key working scheme to provide consistent support or meaningful contact.
  • High numbers of prisoners feeling unsafe and a profound lack of trust among fellow prisoners (68% trust none or very few).
  • Minimal support for resettlement planning and life chances after release, with 96% feeling unhelped.
  • Systemic problems with property handling, leading to delays and missing items.
  • Low satisfaction with healthcare access and complaint responses.
  • General unfairness and inadequacy in the formal complaints system (75% view Comp 1/1A as unfair).
  • Deterioration in education provision, including access to materials, feedback, and library services.
2023 PRISON Concerns Bullingdon
Published 14 Dec 2023
Self-harm: 634
HMP Bullingdon continues to grapple with chronic overcrowding and persistent staff shortages, impacting regime delivery, purposeful activity, and key worker provision. While self-harm, violence, and use of force incidents remain high, the prison has made some progress in healthcare provision and reducing outstanding OASys plans. Education and resettlement efforts are hampered by prisoner churn and staffing, but new initiatives like the Employment Hub show potential for improvement.
Key concerns identified
  • High number of self-harm incidents.
  • High level of violence.
  • High number of use of force incidents.
  • High level of availability of illegal substances.
  • Chronic overcrowding.
  • Poor state of most showers in residential wings.
  • Continuing staff shortages and high proportion of inexperienced staff, leading to a significant shortfall in key working hours.
  • Shortcomings in the strategic management of education, learning skills, and work, resulting in limited engagement and low attendance rates.
  • Increasing prisoner churn is preventing prisoners from achieving education outcomes, eroding distance learning, and hindering progression in work and training.
2023 PRISON Concerns Portland
Published 13 Dec 2023 · 530 prisoners
Self-harm: 416 Assaults: 187
HMP/YOI Portland demonstrated a well-controlled environment with positive staff-prisoner relations and good physical facilities during the reporting year ending March 2023. However, the Board highlighted significant challenges in mental health provision due to staffing shortages, a fragmented resettlement program, and persistent issues with property delays. Recommendations focused on better funding for resettlement, improved communication regarding property, and prioritising key work to support prisoner wellbeing and progression.
Key concerns identified
  • The resettlement programme is fragmented, underfunded, and needs a return to a properly funded service within establishments.
  • The Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 is on hold, leaving a gap for prisoners released with no fixed abode.
  • The Prison Council's effectiveness is hampered by lack of awareness among prisoners regarding its role and representatives.
  • Significant delays and poor communication regarding internal property cause frustration for prisoners.
  • Key work is not prioritised sufficiently, hindering early identification of deteriorating mental health and engagement with learning.
  • Persistent mental health staffing shortages mean prisoners wait longer for professional support.
  • There is overlap, confusion, and a lack of communication between Offender Management Unit and Community Offender Managers, leading to service gaps.
2023 PRISON Concerns Ashfield
Published 12 Dec 2023
Self-harm: 159 Assaults: 24 Staff assaults: 6
HMP Ashfield, a Category C training prison for sex offenders, maintained a largely safe and secure environment with low violence and drug incidents, and an improved healthcare staffing situation during the reporting year. The Board observed positive staff-prisoner relationships and robust keywork. However, key concerns persist regarding lengthy delays in ministerial decisions on parole for IPP prisoners, the recurring problem of prisoner property loss during transfers, and the inability of the prison to provide accurate accounts for the Prisoner Trust Fund. The Board also noted that recent changes to prisoner movements have caused dismay, making the prison feel more restrictive.
Key concerns identified
  • Lengthy delays in Minister's decision-making for parole board recommendations for IPP/life-sentenced prisoners.
  • Persistent issue of prisoner property loss during inter-prison transfers, despite numerous assurances.
  • Lack of plans for specialist custodial centres for elderly prisoners with dementia or terminal illness.
  • Inability to produce accurate income and expenditure accounts for the Prisoner Trust Fund (PTF) for several years, despite repeated requests.
  • Local Incentives Policy implementation is perceived as disciplinary rather than incentivising and lacks consistent application.
  • Recent tightening of prisoner movements makes the prison feel more like a Category B, causing dismay among long-stay prisoners.
  • Ongoing problems with unhygienic in-cell wash basins and some showers.
  • Long waiting list for optician services and lack of an in-patient care facility for seriously ill prisoners.
  • Concerns about the number of cancelled education and training sessions.
  • Lack of practical support for the Equalities PCO and insufficient analysis of diversity and equality data.
2023 PRISON Concerns Bedford
Published 12 Dec 2023
HMP Bedford, a Category B reception and resettlement prison, continues to face significant challenges, particularly high levels of violence and self-harm, overcrowding, and an inconsistent regime with prisoners spending excessive time locked in cells. While education and family visits have seen improvements, the mental health team remains under-resourced, and staffing issues impede purposeful activity and the full implementation of the key worker scheme. The IMB raises concerns about the dilapidated infrastructure, poor property management, and calls for HMPPS and the Governor to address these long-standing issues.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistently high levels of self-harm and violence, particularly assaults on staff and incidents involving young adults.
  • Severe overcrowding, with two prisoners sharing cells designed for one, coupled with ancient, dilapidated infrastructure, vermin infestations, and frequent plumbing failures.
  • Prisoners spend excessive amounts of time locked in their cells (over 20 hours daily), detrimentally affecting mental health, and contributing to violence and self-harm.
  • The mental health team operates with very limited resources, group activities are absent, and a vital mental health steering group has become inactive, leading to poor prisoner satisfaction.
  • The key worker scheme has not been fully reintroduced, and the induction process for new prisoners remains inconsistent.
  • Significant ongoing problems with inter-prison property transfers, stemming from a lack of clear protocols and an unfit card-based system.
  • Limited provision of purposeful activity, with workshops often inoperative and the gym frequently closed due to staffing shortages.
2023 PRISON Concerns Aylesbury
Published 7 Dec 2023 · 386 prisoners
Assaults: 152 Staff assaults: 57
HMP Aylesbury underwent a challenging transition from a Young Offender Institution to a Category C prison, which significantly impacted the regime, staffing, and healthcare provision. Staffing levels remained critically low, leading to limited purposeful activity and complaints about time spent in cells. Healthcare services experienced a chaotic start with a new, unprepared provider, though improvements were initiated by year-end. Despite a reduction in violence, concerns persisted regarding prisoner safety, drug use, and the prison's capacity to support resettlement for the 65 prisoners released directly from Aylesbury.
Key concerns identified
  • Prisoners often report feeling unsafe, particularly new arrivals, due to Aylesbury's reputation and gang affiliations.
  • There is an increase in drugs and trading of prescription medicines, leading to debt and threats among prisoners.
  • The prison failed to quickly adapt its regime and culture for the older Category C population, affecting staff-prisoner relationships.
  • Many prisoners are located far from their families, causing anxiety, especially regarding sick relatives.
  • Healthcare services had a chaotic start under a new provider, with significant staff shortages and impact on delivery.
  • There is insufficient high-quality purposeful activity, hindering prisoners' progression and resettlement skills.
  • The Offender Management Unit (OMU) ran with only 50% staffing, affecting sentence planning and release preparation.
  • Aylesbury, not being a designated resettlement prison, released 65 prisoners without proper resources or preparation, which is deemed unsafe and counterproductive.
  • Staffing levels remained critically low (average 60%), impacting all daily activity and experience in managing confrontational situations.
  • The transition from YOI to Category C was severely under-planned and HMPPS did not provide adequate support or resources until after the HMIP report.
2023 PRISON Concerns Buckley Hall
Published 6 Dec 2023 · 465 prisoners
HMP Buckley Hall, a Category C prison, reported a population of 465 against an operational capacity of 469 for the year ending July 2023. The Board observed positive staff-prisoner relationships, new mental health initiatives like 'The Hive', and an employment hub aiding resettlement. Key concerns included low establishment stability, delays in prison maintenance and transfers, the negative impact of the IPP resentencing decision, and persistent regime disruptions due to staffing shortages and roll call errors.
Key concerns identified
  • The stability at Buckley Hall is low throughout the establishment.
  • CCTV has still not been installed in the healthcare building, requiring additional staff.
  • The decision to reject IPP resentencing recommendations has had a very negative impact.
  • There are significant delays in recategorisation and ministerial sign-off for Cat D transfers.
  • Slow progress continues in prison maintenance (showers, repairs) and transfers due to overcrowding.
  • Issues persist with medication dosages being reduced without thorough explanation to patients.
  • Prisoners with severe mental health issues are kept in segregation for too long due to lack of secure hospital places.
  • Frequent errors in roll call lead to disruptions, and wings are regularly locked down due to staffing.
2023 PRISON Concerns Nottingham
Published 5 Dec 2023 · 950 prisoners
Self-harm: 712 Assaults: 269 Staff assaults: 108
HMP/YOI Nottingham experienced a reduction in self-harm and use of force, but assaults on both prisoners and staff increased. Key challenges included inadequate provision for prisoners with severe mental health issues and disabilities, significant healthcare staff shortages, and concerns over the complaints system and property loss. The report also highlighted regime curtailments due to staff training and uncertainty for IPP prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Lack of appropriate accommodation in the prison system for prisoners with serious mental health problems, leading to long periods in segregation.
  • Prisoners in dirty conditions in segregation for lengthy periods, impacting others.
  • Inadequate provision and poor coordination for prisoners with disabilities.
  • Lack of prisoner confidence in the complaints system.
  • Ongoing loss of property on transfer and shortages of essential clothing/kit.
  • Dissatisfaction with food quality/quantity and canteen supply issues.
  • Shortages of NHS healthcare staff and inadequate access to health/mental health services.
  • Health care complaints not being dealt with adequately.
  • Staff training curtailing the regime once a month.
  • Slow take-up of education post-Covid.
  • Long periods on remand or awaiting transfer/sentencing preventing sentence progression.
  • Uncertainty for IPP prisoners regarding Parole Board hearings and release.
2022 IRC Concerns Dungavel House IRC
Published 1 Dec 2023 · 37 prisoners
Self-harm: 5 Assaults: 7 Staff assaults: 4
Dungavel House IRC maintained a safe and humane environment in 2022, with sufficient staffing and a positive staff-detainee relationship fostering a relaxed regime. While healthcare provision was good and significant efforts were made for purposeful activity, concerns persist regarding the uncertainty of detainees' futures and the need for improved roof access prevention. Repeated recommendations, such as staff negotiation training and CSU temperature control, remain ongoing issues.
Key concerns identified
  • Residents' main concerns relate to the uncertainty of their futures.
  • The temperature in the care and separation unit was found on occasion to have been too high.
  • Literature in the multifaith area has been questionable, being more political than religious.
  • Preventative measures are needed to ensure roofs are not accessible to detained persons, a repeated concern.
  • Some staff should be trained in negotiation techniques, as per a previous recommendation.
  • Admissions often arrive very late at night only to be taken back to Edinburgh airport early in the morning, which seems unnecessarily inconvenient.
  • Plans to expand the parking area, a previous recommendation, are still in the planning phase and have not yet broken ground.
2023 PRISON Concerns Altcourse
Published 24 Nov 2023 · 1,164 prisoners
Self-harm: 762 Assaults: 360 Staff assaults: 36
HMP Altcourse experienced significant challenges this year, primarily due to the transition to Sodexo management and severe staff shortages affecting all areas from safety to regime. While there were positive developments in food quality, GP waiting times, and some purposeful activity, persistent concerns remain regarding mental health transfers, the daily regime for meals, and the effectiveness of resettlement provision. The Board emphasizes the critical need for improved staff recruitment and retention to ensure stability and safety.
Key concerns identified
  • Staffing shortages across key areas, including admissions, MDT, healthcare, and education, detrimentally impacting safety, regime, and service delivery.
  • Persistent delays in the transfer of mentally unwell prisoners to secure hospital facilities.
  • The failure to reinstate the pre-pandemic regime for prisoners eating out of cell.
  • Ongoing issues with prisoners' lost property.
  • The failure of Seetec to deliver on their resettlement contract.
  • The interruption and under-resourcing of substance misuse programmes.
  • The inadequacy of the daily allowance for prisoners’ food.
  • The increase in use of force incidents and violence against staff.
  • The late arrival of prisoners from courts causes prisoners and staff additional stress and frustration.
2023 PRISON Concerns Bristol
Published 23 Nov 2023 · 550 prisoners
HMP Bristol faced significant challenges in the reporting year, marked by an increase in deaths in custody (9), self-harm, and violence, alongside persistent overcrowding at over 50% capacity in single cells. Staffing shortages severely impacted regime delivery, leading to increased time in cell and reduced access to purposeful activity. The Board expressed concern that the HMIP Urgent Notification Action Plan did not adequately address systemic issues such as occupancy levels or substantive staff numbers, hindering effective prisoner care and safety improvements.
Key concerns identified
  • Increase in deaths in custody (9), self-harm (40% increase), and violence (40% increase), with high ACCT and constant supervision numbers.
  • Persistent overcrowding (over 50%) in cells designed for one.
  • Staffing levels consistently below required, affecting regime delivery, activities, and key working.
  • Long waits for specialist mental health transfers, often in segregation, and lack of physical disability access to healthcare.
  • Low prisoner access to education and workshops due to staff shortages.
  • Insufficient support for the increasing number of remand prisoners and lack of housing/medication support for recall prisoners.
  • Significant property issues, frequent drug availability, and poor cell bell response times.
  • The Board is concerned the recent Urgent Notification Action Plan does not address systemic issues like occupancy or staff numbers.
2023 PRISON Concerns Thameside
Published 22 Nov 2023 · 1,232 prisoners
Self-harm: 470 Assaults: 374 Staff assaults: 166
HMP Thameside, a local Category B/C prison, maintained a safe environment despite a high remand population and gang-related challenges, though prisoner-on-prisoner assaults increased. The transition to a new healthcare provider was problematic, negatively affecting prisoner access to care, and issues with property management and resettlement support persist. The Board also noted ongoing concerns regarding the effectiveness of the key worker scheme, in-cell computer systems, and delays in mental health transfers.
Key concerns identified
  • Persistent issues with healthcare provision, including problematic transfers of mentally ill prisoners and a poor handover from the previous provider.
  • Ongoing problems with prisoner property management, both during transfer and within the establishment, leading to high complaint levels.
  • Inadequacy of resettlement support, including probation provision and housing/employment guidance for released prisoners.
  • Underperformance of the education contract and insufficient purposeful activity for prisoners.
  • Deficiencies in the cell bell response system and in-cell CMS, affecting prisoners' access to services and communication.
  • Concerns regarding potential disproportionality in the treatment of ethnic groups in areas like CSU, adjudications, and use of force.
2023 PRISON Concerns Usk and Prescoed
Published 21 Nov 2023
Self-harm: 54 Assaults: 26 Staff assaults: 2
HMP Usk and Prescoed maintained good relationships between staff and prisoners and effectively restored regime activities following Covid-19 restrictions. While safety levels were low for assaults and self-harm, concerns persist regarding understaffing in mental health and probation services, and issues with prisoner property transfers. The prisons continue to demonstrate success in purposeful activity and resettlement, including high rates of first-night housing on release.
Key concerns identified
  • Access to specialist mental health facilities remains a problem due to low staff numbers.
  • IPP prisoners find last-minute adjournments to their parole hearings distressing.
  • The number of probation officers is inadequate, with only one available where four are needed.
  • The loss of prisoners’ property during transfers from other prisons continues to be an unresolved problem.
2022 PRISON Concerns Doncaster
Published 21 Nov 2023
HMP Doncaster has shown overall improvements in calmness, cleanliness, and staff-prisoner engagement despite challenges. Key strengths include support for transgender prisoners and multiple faiths, appropriate segregation use, and positive resettlement initiatives like the 'departure lounge'. However, concerns remain regarding persistent restricted regimes due to staffing levels, the experience mix of officers, and prisoners' lack of confidence in complaint systems for equality issues and effective engagement with healthcare processes.
Key concerns identified
  • Continued restricted regime due to staffing shortages
  • The mix of experienced vs. less experienced officers
  • Prisoners' lack of confidence in the equality/discrimination (DIRF) investigation system
  • Prisoners' difficulty in engaging effectively with healthcare processes
  • Loss of prisoners' property, particularly affecting those with limited funds or sentimental items
  • Decency concerns around mandatory cell-sharing with limited space and screened toilets
  • Potential erosion of prisoners' spending power due to inflation and rising canteen prices for prison work earnings
2023 PRISON Concerns Stocken
Published 16 Nov 2023
Self-harm: 407
HMP Stocken, a Category C male training prison, generally provides a safe and humane environment with commendable out-of-cell time and good physical healthcare. However, the Board remains concerned about the high number of prisoners with mental health issues and significant delays in transfers to secure facilities. Staffing levels, particularly in key work and education management, continue to be a challenge, impacting regime delivery and offender management. The report also highlights issues with inappropriate transfers, long waiting times for programmes, and the need to improve the education provision and increase food allowance.
Key concerns identified
  • Inappropriate transfers, including those on open ACCTs or with short stays, are increasing, indicating that prisoner flow is not working as it should.
  • Transfers of prisoners to Category B establishments take too long, and the Population Management Unit (PMU) is ineffective.
  • Waiting times for mandatory programmes are excessively long, causing frustration for prisoners.
  • Wing-based electronic kiosks are not available, which is seen as a backward step by transferees from other prisons.
  • The food allowance for prisoners is insufficient given the rising cost of living and needs to be increased.
  • The education provider is consistently failing to provide a good service, and the contract requires review.
  • Despite a reduced attrition rate, continued effort is needed to address staffing and recruitment levels.
2023 PRISON Concerns Hull
Published 15 Nov 2023
Self-harm: 434 Assaults: 190 Staff assaults: 43
HMP Hull, a Category B local prison, reported generally safe conditions with violence rates below benchmarks and commendable staff-prisoner relationships. However, significant concerns persist regarding systemic overcrowding, inadequate double-cell accommodation, and insufficient catering budgets impacting food quality. Healthcare provision has improved following a change in contractors, but challenges remain with GP availability and access to specialist mental health care, alongside staffing shortages in other key areas.
Key concerns identified
  • Insufficient capacity within the prison estate leading to inadequate double cell accommodation.
  • Persistent issues with prisoners' property, particularly during transfer.
  • Inadequate catering budget affecting food quality and requiring prisoners to subsidise their diets.
  • Significant resourcing challenges within the outside Probation Team impacting resettlement support.
  • Need for improved key worker performance and support for young adults.
  • IMB members lacking full access to required IT systems within the establishment.
2023 PRISON Concerns Brinsford
Published 14 Nov 2023 · 556 prisoners
Self-harm: 333 Assaults: 430 Staff assaults: 46
HMP/YOI Brinsford, a resettlement prison, maintained low levels of self-harm and overall violence compared to similar establishments, with good provision of healthcare and fair treatment for prisoners. However, the report highlights significant ongoing challenges including an inadequate education contract, persistent delays in mental health transfers, and limited, unfulfilling purposeful activity. Infrastructure issues like heating problems and a long-standing leak in reception also remain key concerns.
Key concerns identified
  • The education contract remains inadequate, with poor curriculum and teaching standards, making it difficult to hold the provider accountable.
  • Long delays in transferring prisoners with severe mental illness to suitable treatment centres persist due to bed capacity issues.
  • An inadequate contract for new boilers led to units without heating in winter and further public expense, alongside ongoing issues with lack of individual thermostats.
  • There is a long-standing, unresolved leak in the reception area, leading to unsanitary conditions and repeated, costly temporary fixes.
  • Activity places are limited and often lack purpose, failing to adequately prepare prisoners for release, exemplified by insufficient vocational training opportunities.
  • The length of time prisoners remain on remand is excessive, often resulting in release without completing offending behaviour programmes.
  • Gang culture continues to cause friction and premeditated violence, challenging safe placement and requiring better staff training for intervention plans.
2023 PRISON Concerns New Hall
Published 3 Nov 2023 · 335 prisoners
Self-harm: 609 Assaults: 53 Staff assaults: 82
HMP/YOI New Hall reported a population of 335 and an operational capacity of 381 for the year ending February 2023. The prison saw a significant reduction in self-harm incidents (609, down from 965) and use of force, alongside a good HMIP report and positive staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns include underfunded trainee officer allocations, slow recruitment checks, the need to address OFSTED recommendations, and frustrating waiting lists for prisoner jobs.
Key concerns identified
  • Funding for a 'drop down' spends allowance for prisoners, reflecting the rising cost of living.
  • The number of new trainee officers allocated is unfunded and exceeds staffing requirements, leading to detached duty.
  • The speed of security and background checks for new recruits needs improvement.
  • A strategy is required to address the disappointing OFSTED inspection recommendations.
  • Significant waiting lists for jobs within the prison cause frustration for prisoners seeking work.
2023 PRISON Concerns Warren Hill
Published 1 Nov 2023 · 240 prisoners
Self-harm: 11 Assaults: 1
HMP Warren Hill, a Category C adult male prison with an operational capacity of 267, maintained a safe environment despite some low-level bullying. The Board noted improved use of safety interventions (CSIPs, ACCTs) and zero deaths in custody. Key challenges included persistent issues with food provision, the suspension of the ROTL pilot, and delays in progression caused by Secretary of State interventions. The IMB made recommendations regarding food quality, estate investment, digital skills for resettlement, and urges review of the ROTL suspension.
Key concerns identified
  • Ongoing concerns about the provision and quality of food from HMP Hollesley Bay.
  • The decision to suspend the ROTL pilot, impacting prisoner progression and preparation for release.
  • Transfer of prisoners’ property remains a major concern, despite local solutions.
  • Need for further investment in the prison estate, with outstanding work beyond current shower block renovations.
  • Development of resettlement support, including better access to digital technologies, to reduce recall rates.
  • Staffing shortages at the education provider, People Plus, and restrictive contract processes impacting learners.
  • Secretary of State’s intervention delaying movement to Category D or release after parole, negatively affecting prisoner mental health.
  • Discrepancies between local authorities regarding social care funding and equipment provision.
  • Prisoner dissatisfaction with pay levels and the impact of increasing costs on purchasing power.
2023 PRISON Concerns Sudbury
Published 31 Oct 2023 · 621 prisoners
Self-harm: 3 Assaults: 6 Staff assaults: 1
HMP/YOI Sudbury is an open Category D resettlement prison. The Board noted positive developments including reduced assaults, improved staff-prisoner relationships, and successful external work placements, despite a rising population. Key concerns include the persistent issue of illicit items, significant delays in ROTL applications often due to external probation services, the poor state of accommodation, and the inefficient transfer of prisoner property. The report highlights the need for better IT infrastructure and more consistent complaint processing.
Key concerns identified
  • The medication tracker unit is still not in use despite over a year of waiting.
  • Ongoing challenges in preventing the entry of illicit items due to a lack of human and technological resources.
  • Significant delays in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) applications, exacerbated by uncooperative probation services and perceived inconsistencies among OMU staff.
  • The general poor state of dormitory accommodation, which remains a significant live issue despite some improvements.
  • Prisoner property is not efficiently transferred, leading to numerous complaints and difficulties for the IMB.
  • Lack of quiet spaces for prisoners to read, study, or find respite from noisy, shared dormitory environments.
  • A substantial number of prisoner complaints are not processed within the required timescales.
  • Low levels of functional skills attainment among prisoners on arrival, hindering their readiness for external work opportunities.
  • Lack of Wi-Fi connectivity on site hindering resettlement activities and up-to-date IT facilities.
2023 PRISON Concerns Preston
Published 26 Oct 2023 · 670 prisoners
HMP Preston, a Category B reception prison, continues to face challenges common to Victorian establishments, including chronic overcrowding (670 population vs. 433 CNA). Staffing levels are effectively low due to sickness and training, impacting key worker provision and regime. While some areas like self-harm incidents have reduced and in-cell phones installed, significant concerns remain regarding reception facilities, prisoner property management, and adequate budget for essential equipment. The Board made several recommendations to address these and other issues related to regime, family engagement, and staffing.
Key concerns identified
  • The inadequacies of reception, with the purchase of the adjacent museum being the only viable long-term solution, also to relocate the Offender Management Unit.
  • Property of prisoners is not always treated with respect, leading to distress and loss, and requires more investment in transport facilities.
  • The prison's budget structure means minor capital items are hired at costs exceeding purchase, which is illogical and needs adjustment.
  • Time out of cell for prisoners not in work or education is insufficient and should be increased.
  • There is a need for more family engagement in preparation for prisoner's release.
  • The key worker programme has been drastically reduced and should be increased to operate at its designed level.
2023 PRISON Concerns Belmarsh
Published 25 Oct 2023 · 650 prisoners
Self-harm: 337
HMP Belmarsh operates as a Category A men's prison, holding approximately 650 prisoners with an operational capacity of 814. The report highlights both positive developments, such as improved induction processes, a new employment hub, and dedicated staff supporting vulnerable prisoners, alongside significant concerns. Key issues include persistent property loss, prolonged waits for mental health transfers, a restricted regime limiting purposeful activity for many, and staffing challenges impacting key worker provision and educational opportunities. The IMB urges HMPPS and the Governor to address these long-standing issues and improve the daily life and progression pathways for prisoners.
Key concerns identified
  • Lack of opportunity for a full and purposeful regime due to safety concerns over gang violence and conflicts.
  • The kitchen facilities are tired and in need of refurbishment or more proactive repair.
  • Missing property continues to cause frustration, particularly during inter-prison transfers.
  • Assessment and provision of appropriate accommodation for prisoners with mental ill-health takes far too long.
  • A new mental health team has not yet been established under the new healthcare provider.
  • Up to a quarter of prisoners lack purposeful activity and spend the majority of their day locked in their cells.
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