IMB Annual Reports

- We were concerned that some people at Bristol and Cardiff were held for long periods in the CWA, without being transferred to the more comfortable and private STHF.
- For a second year we were concerned that detained people could not have access to prescribed medication whilst in the STHF. Also, BF officers had inadequate access to health-related support and advice.
- We were again concerned about BF failing to inform us of the use of force either within the agreed timescales or in one case not at all.
- We questioned definitions of vulnerability because of the release of one detained person, a lone woman with no money, no accommodation and limited English.
- We remain concerned that decisions about access to medication and nicotine replacement have taken over 12 months.
- Although few in number, we were concerned about the additional time in detention, waiting for MITIE Care and Custody to arrive to transfer a detained person.

bullet For the last two years, the CFMT’s reports have highlighted HOIE’s removal of people with known vulnerabilities.
bullet The CFMT observed 28 instances of UoF and noted concerns around inadequate de-escalation.
bullet Once again, as in previous years, we report that some returnees have spent excessive time on board coaches or ‘chase’ vehicles.
bullet Significant concerns were raised throughout the reporting year about inadequate interpretation.
bullet The numerous documents for each charter flight and returnee do not always make the potential vulnerabilities of individuals clear, raising concerns that escorts may not be aware that those they are looking after may have specific medical or mental health needs.

bullet Delays in the CCTV project and the continued closure of A wing impact negatively on the safety and security of prisoners and staff
bullet A rise in the number of illicit items entering the prison which causes intermittent instability
bullet An increased number of prisoners self-isolating, linked to the high number of deaths in custody, but with some improvements in supporting their needs
bullet Poor conditions in D wing – too hot in summer, damp and mould in winter
bullet Lack of permanent, suitable clinical and peer review space throughout 2025
bullet Reduced variety and choice in the provision of educational courses

bullet Levels of violence remained high linked to the prevalence of drugs, debt-related violence and gang activity.
bullet Current counter-drone measures are not fit for purpose.
bullet Education courses seem to be geared towards low-ability prisoners.
bullet Limited contact with offender managers due to high case-loads.
bullet Optician waiting times remain unacceptable.
bullet A move to half-day activity has negatively affected outcomes for the establishment.

bullet Drones: incursions continue to deliver dangerous illicit items into the prison.
bullet Security systems: much of the existing security systems technology is obsolete and unserviceable, increasing the vulnerability of prisoners and staff.
bullet Unsatisfactory management of infrastructure and maintenance: the Board remains concerned that the Minister’s department is not robustly managing the contract with Amey plc.
bullet Lack of in-cell sanitation on four wings.
bullet Officer shortages.

bullet Outcomes for men as a result of frequent plumbing and sanitation issues across the wings have been poor.
bullet Rat infestation continues to be a problem.
bullet Handling of prisoners’ property and canteen continues to generate complaints.
bullet The frequent cancellation of transfers for prisoners from HMP Grendon to their receiving prison causes considerable tension.
bullet Staff vacancies, particularly Band 4 Officers have been an issue.
bullet Healthcare does not operate a 24 hour service in Grendon.

bullet Can the minister offer reassurance that sufficient funding will be available to address the necessary requirements to offer much improved accommodation and associated services at HMP Springhill?
bullet Why has there been a 30% reduction in real terms to the education provision across Springhill as this support is a key part of prisoners’ rehabilitation and preparation for employment when released?
bullet Property related issues experienced at Springhill create unnecessary anxiety and generate numerous complaints from prisoners. What priority is the Prison Service giving to finding effective solutions for the continued issues with prisoners’ personal property and adherence to the National Policy Framework?

bullet Problems associated with drug abuse continue to be significant for the prison.
bullet Just under 18% of the expected key worker sessions were achieved.
bullet Delays in occupational health assessments were caused by delays to therapists being approved and vetted to enter the prison.
bullet The impact of the prison holding remand prisoners and having far greater ‘churn’ has detrimentally affected the delivery of prisoner employment activities.

- The Board continues to be concerned about the size of the accommodation, especially at Luton Airport. Every month the Board observes people sleeping on the floor, restricting the movement of others.
- The Board is very concerned about the lack of urgency to resolve problems in a timely manner, especially when it involves the potential for self-harm.
- For the fourth year in succession, the Board draws the Home Office’s attention to the capacity issues at Luton and Stansted airports’ STHFs and the fact that the needs of those with mobility, hearing or sight impairment issues are still not being adequately addressed across all facilities.
- In the opinion of the Board, the STHF at the Port of Felixstowe does not provide a humane place for holding people.
- The Board continues to be very concerned about the lack of privacy afforded to detained persons during the initial induction at some of the STHFs or while being examined by an Aeromed health professional.
- The Board is concerned that that there were inadequate processes to cater for uncovered food.

bullet Toxicology tests have yet to be finalised thus delaying the investigation by the prisons and Probation Ombudsman, preventing progress towards an inquest.
- Staffing levels at Kirklevington are good, without many peaks of sickness but the Board is concerned at the amount of time it takes to start a new member on site between their initial interview and acceptance.
- Misplaced property is a continuing issue.
- The rapid development cell programme again failed to come to fruition during the reporting year.

bullet The Board is seriously concerned about the cuts to the education budget, particularly in a prison serving 18-27-year-old young men, for whom access to education is critical to improving their long-term life chances.
bullet In 2025, the prison started to receive life-sentenced prisoners. The Board observed that there was little appropriate provision for education and training for prisoners starting a life sentence.
bullet Why is force used disproportionately against black prisoners and why are the numbers of black prisoners affected by Pava disproportionately high?
bullet We have continued to report that there are still serious problems with the loss of prisoner property or delays in its receipt on transfer, as shown by the number of applications we received on the issue during 2025.
bullet Prisoners frequently raise the issue that they are unable to see their family because of the distance families have to travel, and are unable to get transfers to prisons closer to home.
bullet Levels of violence on the Growth spur were consistently high throughout 2025 - the highest of any spur - and accounted for 20% of violent incidents.

bullet rising incidences of prisoners under the influence of suspected illicit substances and reduced drugs testing activity
- bullet lack of dedicated mental health provision for the segregation unit
- bullet disproportionate number of evening lockdowns that the CSC and STEP units have endured

bullet The increased number of assaults on both prisoners and staff.
bullet Drugs, mobile devices and weapons continuing to be readily available.
bullet The lack of security and searching at the main gate.
bullet Insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation.
bullet The introduction of early release schemes to manage the national capacity crisis in prisons at relatively short notice meant that many men left Hindley unprepared for their release.

bullet Self-harm, ACCT plans, constant supervision and deaths in custody have remained at similar levels to the previous year.
- Violence between prisoners and against officers has remained high.
- Incursion of illicit items via drones continues to be high.
- More prisoners are testing positive for drugs.
- Staffing remains a concern.
- Accommodation and facilities are continuing to deteriorate due to lack of funding.

bullet TO THE MINISTER
bullet TO THE PRISON SERVICE
bullet TO THE GOVERNOR

bullet The IMB continues to be very concerned about the service provided by the maintenance contractors (AMEY) at HMP Risley.
bullet The IMB shares the concern of prison management about the shortfall in activity places for the men.
bullet The IMB is concerned that property remains an issue.

bullet Illicit items (drugs, phones, etc) remained a serious threat.
bullet There were high levels of prisoners under the influence (UTI) of psychoactive substances, particularly in August.
bullet The physical environment remained unsuitable.
bullet Missed healthcare appointments and long waiting times.
bullet Delays in dental care.

bullet In relation to Richmond and Plymouth, the Board asks what the plan is for these buildings – keep them going at any cost, some form of replacement programme or is there no plan in place?
bullet Across the female estate an increasing number of women are experiencing crisis associated with serious mental illness. They need treatment in a specialist hospital setting.
bullet An increasingly complex group of women with more serious risk profiles are being transferred to a prison with no cellular accommodation.
bullet The staffing establishment was set at a time when the prison was very different than today. This situation needs to be addressed at a strategic level.
bullet Property is a systemic problem across the prison services: digital solutions have proved effective in improving this situation.
bullet The Board is interested in the plan to increase the number and quality of keywork sessions.

bullet The continuing rise in prisoners who are on short-fixed term recalls, and subject to short sentences has a significant limiting impact on rehabilitation and resettlement.
- bullet It is still the case that prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs are frequently received, or remain too long, at HMP Foston Hall, rather than being accommodated and cared for in hospital or in the community in line with the ambitions of the female offender strategy.
- bullet There is still no evidence that the decision to identify pregnancy as a specific mitigating factor in sentencing decisions has had any impact on the number of pregnant prisoners passing through Foston Hall, including prisoners on short-term recall.
- bullet There are increasing problems with the quality and decency of accommodation, including the longstanding inadequacy of the CSU and D wing and the ongoing health and safety and decency issues on F wing caused by water damage from leaking showers.
- bullet There continues to be a lack of adequate mental health provision for prisoners experiencing less severe but still impactful conditions, including anxiety and depression.
- bullet There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level.

bullet Discharge planning, particularly for prisoners with health and social care needs and those serving indeterminate or long sentences, is complex, especially when the majority of prisoners are from beyond Cumbria.
bullet The introduction of the Prisoner’s Property Policy Framework (PPPF) appears to have had a limited impact on the loss of prisoners’ property, particularly on transfer between establishments.
bullet There remains a reluctance by some, especially those approaching parole or release, to raise concerns or support needed, as evidenced by conversations with prisoners and applications to the IMB.
bullet As the use of force is rarely required, what action is taken to ensure that staff do not become deskilled.

bullet Substantial investment is required to bring existing accommodation up to an acceptable standard, including access to clean working showers with sufficient hot water.
bullet Vocational work-based and educational opportunities for prisoners to support effective transition back into legitimate paid employment upon release is of critical importance.
bullet The removal of contaminated waste is allowed to build up on site.
bullet The washing machines on all houseblocks are in a very poor state of repair.
bullet The amount of allocated time for key working fluctuates greatly from day to day and week to week.

bullet Insufficiency of staff, attributed to recruitment and retention difficulties
bullet High levels of deliberate self-harm (DSH) compared with comparable prisons
bullet Violence levels remained consistently high
bullet Use of force continued to rise, disproportionately affecting ethnic minority prisoners.
bullet Food provision across the adult estate, with limited choice and inconsistent portions
bullet Complaints procedure and property-handling systems lacked transparency and effectiveness

- Uncertainty regarding the permanence of the visa exemption for prison officers creates workforce uncertainty.
- The lack of 24-hour on-site clinical cover leads to reliance on emergency services and staff shortages for escorts.
- Severe, ongoing problems with clothes dryers on D wing are resulting in damp laundry for elderly and infirm prisoners.
- The capacity of the new Building Choices sex offence programme is insufficient to meet the rehabilitative needs of the prisoner population.
- Significant budget cuts and tendering uncertainty are impacting the provision and number of education and vocational training programmes.
- There is no formal pathway for medical assessment of neurodiversity, and support for neurodiverse prisoners is under-resourced.

- Persistent overcrowding and unhygienic living conditions, with 90% of cells designed for single occupancy now double-occupied.
- Widespread administrative issues with 90.9% of ACCT documents, indicating a deterioration in their completion.
- Staffing shortages led to a significant reduction in key working delivery, impacting prisoner support and rehabilitation.
- Failure to sustainably deliver the core day, resulting in prisoners spending 21.5 hours a day in cells, restricting access to purposeful activity and healthcare.
- Increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and use of force incidents, with a significant proportion of prisoners involved in use of force not seen by healthcare professionals.
- Non-compliance with minimum kit entitlement for newly admitted prisoners, a concern first raised in the previous report.
- Significant education budget cuts and loss of specialist staff, limiting class provision.

- Too many very mentally unwell women are in prison due to lack of community services and places in secure mental health hospitals, leading to delayed transfers.
- The rate of self-harm remains extremely high, with a small number of women self-harming repeatedly, contributing to many assaults on staff during restraint.
- Prisoners face unnecessarily restricted time out of cell because the general population is locked down while segregated women are unlocked individually.
- Officer recruitment and retention are problematic, exacerbated by an inordinate backlog in vetting for new staff, impacting operational delivery and leading to increased prisoner lockdowns.
- Numerous essential works projects, including bathroom refurbishments and the video conferencing centre, are significantly delayed or cancelled due to poor planning and oversight.
- There is insufficient resettlement support for remand and recalled women, alongside a lack of suitable approved premises with disabled facilities for vulnerable prisoners upon release.

- Failing infrastructure and unacceptable accommodation conditions across the prison estate.
- Continued delays in the planned expansion of HMP Ford's capacity.
- Inadequate phone access for prisoners, hindering family contact and contributing to illicit mobile phone use.
- Significant budget cuts affecting education, vocational training, and purposeful activity provision.
- Systemic delays in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) assessments due to Probation Service resourcing issues.
- The changing risk profile of prisoners and high population churn impacting engagement and motivation.
- Loss of funding for the vital transfer and discharge co-ordinator role in healthcare.
- The Prisoner Earning Act deduction (levy) acting as a disincentive for external work.
- Absence of an effective system to monitor prisoners' reoffending rates post-release.

- Measures to relieve prison population pressures across the estate can and do have a negative impact on the ethos and performance of category D prisons.
- Maintenance at the Lakes is managed by the adjoining prison and is not connected to Hatfield, and their maintenance work is often prioritised over the Lakes.
- Increase in complaints, which could be due to men entering HMP Hatfield when they are not prepared for an open prison regime in taking responsibility for personal problem solving.
- Lack of resettlement preparation.
- Prisoners placed in open prison conditions following the change from two years to five years left in a sentence could possibly account for the increase in illicit mobile phone and drug use, due to a lack of incentives and compliance as there may be more time left to serve.

- Persistent issues with property transfers from other prisons causing frustration for prisoners.
- Inconsistent and sometimes delayed responses to prisoner-on-prisoner bullying and low-level negative behaviour.
- Delays and lack of clarity in ROTL risk assessments and progression, exacerbated by external input and new procedures.
- Challenges for prisoners with physical disabilities and mobility issues due to the old building's lack of accessibility features and limited suitable internal jobs.
- Healthcare facility's lack of space, leading to capacity restrictions and confidentiality risks.
- Prisoners' fear of raising issues or complaints due to concerns about being returned to closed conditions, occasionally exacerbated by reported staff threats.

- Lengthy waits for mental health inpatient transfers, often in segregated conditions.
- Overcrowded Victorian estate, particularly double occupancy of single cells.
- High prisoner turnover and short custody periods, impacting reoffending and resettlement efforts.
- Lack of IMB access to health partnership forum agendas and minutes, and outcomes of healthcare-related complaints.
- Persistent issues with missing or delayed property, both within the prison and during transfers.
- Inconsistent quality of key working sessions and records.
- Low uptake and inconsistent use of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs) and their pre-record function by staff.
- Staff awareness of the impact of limited English language ability and underutilisation of official translation tools like 'The Big Word'.
- Disparity in the availability of faith-related items on the canteen supply contract.
- Long gap between evening meal and breakfast, and portion inconsistencies.
- The long-overdue upgrade of the fire alarm system.
- Inability for prisoners to make applications online, relying on paper systems.
- Lack of access to exercise.

- The prison continues to be 'less safe', compounded by increasing safety concerns from vulnerable prisoners due to the population mix, and serious threats from drone incursions.
- Significant, longstanding delays persist in assessing and transferring prisoners with serious mental health and personality disorders to secure hospitals, a concern repeated since 2015-2016.
- The physical condition of residential accommodation and overall infrastructure requires upgrading, affecting regime access for prisoners with mobility issues and leading to frustration and regime curtailment.
- Too many prisoners are not meaningfully engaged in education or work opportunities, and there are limited IT and higher-level course provisions, a repeated concern.
- Prisoners do not receive 'in possession' property from reception in a timely manner, which is a repeat issue causing frustration.
- The segregation unit is deemed unsuitable for prisoners with extreme forms of neurodiversity, and staff on the Mulberry unit lack training for co-occurring personality disorders.

- Inadequate provision and significant delays for acutely mentally unwell prisoners to access appropriate mental health services and secure transfers.
- Persistent issues with prison maintenance, including slow repairs of essential equipment and furnishings.
- Concerns regarding potential national policy cuts to education funding which may reduce access to learning opportunities.
- An increase in healthcare complaints, particularly concerning medication delays and poor treatment.
- Regime limitations, including a lack of sufficient time out of cells, early lockups, inadequate temperature control on some wings, and unproductive time due to intermittent work contracts.
- Challenges in resettlement due to staff cuts, high turnover affecting community service cohesion, some prisoners lacking confirmed accommodation on release, and unclear Prison Offender Manager roles.

- The significant increase in deaths in custody (seven this year, up from one) raises concerns about the ageing prisoner population and delays in processing Early Release on Compassionate Grounds (ERCG).
- Persistent problems with lost or damaged prisoner property continue to be the largest source of complaints and IMB applications, having worsened despite previous HMPPS attention.
- Critical infrastructure repairs, including leaking roofs in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) and a living block, remain unresolved and will not be addressed until a long-term expansion project is completed.
- The lack of 24-hour out-of-hours healthcare provision is a serious concern, particularly for the increasing number of elderly and disabled prisoners.
- Inadequate access to purposeful activity, with long waits for courses and a lack of accredited qualifications, hinders prisoner progression and resettlement.
- Staffing reductions, due to detached duty and sickness, have negatively impacted the delivery of core services, including key worker sessions and mandatory drug testing.

- Overcrowding and cell sharing, leading to discomfort, conflict, and difficulties in cell maintenance.
- Persistent court backlogs causing high numbers of long-term remand prisoners and population churn.
- High levels of mental ill health and prolonged waits for appropriate services, with frequent use of segregation for unwell individuals and Governors overriding healthcare assessments.
- Inconsistent and low-level delivery of formal key working.
- Insufficient purposeful activity and employment opportunities, compounded by population churn affecting education completion.
- Inadequate social visits, lack of a child contact room, and no refreshments for visitors.
- Risk to the continuation of the 'Here to Help' peer mentorship programme due to insecure funding.
- Lack of IT access for prisoners, hindering skills development and prison efficiency.
- Staffing issues including inexperience, distraction, and restrictions on local recruitment for Band 3 staff.
- A significant proportion of men leaving the prison without arranged accommodation.

- The lack of recategorisation and level of recalls for IPP prisoners remains a concern, with an increase from 10 to 11 across both prisons.
- Rising number of prisoners with limited mobility and other disabilities face worries about access to personal social care from HMPPS, particularly for those who are frail or have cognitive challenges.
- The early release scheme risks becoming standard practice, leading to constant turnover and insufficient time for meaningful rehabilitation through ROTL in Category D open prisons.
- An increase in the average time required to achieve Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) at HMP Prescoed, involving several external agencies.
- The ageing population at HMP Usk presents significant challenges for both general and palliative healthcare, requiring additional resources and funding, and the current infrastructure is not well-suited for older individuals.
- The changed profile of prisoners at HMP Prescoed, due to overcrowding strategies, means some prisoners lack sufficient time for ROTL and require an expanded offering of purposeful activities.
- Insufficient phones at HMP Prescoed and a lack of privacy for prisoners using them.

- 505 individuals self-harmed during the reporting period, with 1018 total incidents, an increase from the previous year.
- Use of force has increased, partly due to a policy on rigid bar handcuffs for non-compliant transfers.
- There is a need for more specialist resources to manage prisoners with personality disorders, as CSU staff lack expertise and exit plans for these prisoners are often non-existent.
- Changing policies on sentence calculations and release dates have placed significant pressure on the Offender Management Unit (OMU) resource and impacted sentence plans.
- Increased numbers of recalls significantly impact OMU workload, and the short timeframes for recalls (14/28 days) are deemed insufficient for effective resettlement support.
- A significant backlog exists in formalising Oasys sentence plans, hindering progression and resettlement.
- The demand for specialised mental health and personality disorder provision remains higher than available, lacking a structured plan for increased spaces and staff.
- Therapeutic Community stability has been disrupted by policy changes, leading men to leave therapy early, increasing churn and drug availability.
- Late arrivals of prisoners at HMP Dovegate, sometimes after midnight, cause issues for both reception staff and prisoners.
- A lack of suitable long-term accommodation near work placements hinders successful employment upon release.

- Prolonged delays transferring mentally ill patients to secure hospitals.
- The continued high number of prisoners doubled up in single-cell accommodation.
- Prisoner violence has seen an increase, largely due to overcrowding, an increase in out-of-area prisoners and gang-related issues.
- Significant backlog in the vetting system causing lengthy delays for new officers and staff.
- The national Probation Service is critically understaffed and poorly managed, impacting support for prisoners pre- and post-release.
- The continued high number of cell bells unanswered within the required timeframe.
- Internal property issues remain a concern for the Board and cause great frustration for prisoners.

- The general level of violence, its severity, and the number of fights and assaults remain very concerning.
- A further increase in young people self-isolating, often driven by fear of others, is a significant worry.
- Time out of room continues to be poor, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, despite some improvements.
- The Board is concerned about the increase in the use of force incidents during the reporting year.
- The ingress and circulation of illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, remains a problematic issue.
- Delays in the vetting process for staff and IMB members are significantly impacting operations.

- Recruitment and retention of Probation Service staff, significantly impacting resettlement.
- Impact of visa changes on foreign national prison officers, potentially leading to deportations and hindering recruitment.
- Lack of sufficient meaningful activity and time out of rooms for boys on Feltham A, especially weekends/bank holidays.
- The education contract for Feltham A (Shaw Trust) is not fit for purpose.
- Shortage of workshop places and timely delivery of building/renovation projects (e.g., bricks workshop, recycling workshop) on Feltham B.
- Ongoing underinvestment in the structural fabric of the estate, leading to persistent leaks and units taken out of use due to damp/mould.
- Continued prevalence of weapons finds and ongoing issue of drones delivering drugs, with concerns around staff competency and corruption related to weapons.
- Release plans for boys on Feltham A are often finalised very close to release dates, causing distress and anxiety.
- Inconsistent cleanliness in serveries, with vermin issues and poor PPE adherence.

- Short sentences can negatively impact women's resettlement outcomes, and there's a need to assess if sentencing reforms are reducing these.
- Lack of progress in enhancing access to sexual and domestic violence support services, a concern raised in the previous annual report.
- Prisoners with very short sentences struggle to fully benefit from resettlement and work/educational opportunities due to limited time.
- Challenges in securing consistent external support for neurodiversity, which varies significantly by geographical area.
- Employment on release rates (42.47% after six weeks) are below the delivery requirement of 48.71%.

- Significant delays in vetting processes are hindering the recruitment of both prison staff and IMB members.
- There are unresolved issues concerning the right-to-work status of some prison staff.
- Parts of the prison estate remain in poor condition, with persistent problems in heating, hot water, and telephones, alongside ongoing closures of buildings marked for demolition.
- The impact of hospital escorts on prison staffing and the daily regime is a growing concern.
- Delays in accessing mental health services, including a reduction in psychiatric sessions and slow transfers to appropriate placements, persist.
- There is a lack of secure storage for 'in possession' medication, increasing the risk of misuse by other prisoners.
- The prison currently lacks a formal and robust social care process, as highlighted by the Health and Social Care Needs Analysis.
- The key worker scheme continues to underperform, and the resolution of discussions around a revised staffing profile to support it has been delayed.
- The prison is largely unsuitable for prisoners with disabilities or limited mobility, contributing to dignity issues like out-of-cell dining in shared cell spaces.
- Concerns about lost prisoner property have increased, particularly during transfers to and from the segregation unit.

- Low levels of personal safety and a significant decline in interpersonal trust among prisoners, with 50% trusting no other prisoner.
- Persistent and widespread issues with basic decency standards in cells, including cleanliness on arrival, availability of cleaning materials, condition of furniture, and weekly bedding changes.
- Poor and inconsistent staff-prisoner relationships, marked by dismissive behaviour, a 'them vs us' culture, lack of respect, and limited time for meaningful interaction.
- Deterioration in healthcare access, with appointment ease returning to previous low levels, and issues with the quality of responses to healthcare complaints.
- A restrictive and depressing regime with limited time out of cell, frequent cancellation of association due to staff shortages, and infrastructure failures impacting food provision.
- High levels of loneliness among prisoners (61%), with only a quarter of those confiding in staff receiving help.
- A significant drop in family and friend visits (to 43%), primarily due to distance, highlighting challenges in maintaining external relationships.

- The persistent welfare and mental stress of IPP prisoners who struggle to see a future.
- Inadequate resourcing for catering, building repairs, and development, impacting the maintenance of health and safety standards.
- Unreliable access to chaplaincy facilities for prisoners with mobility issues due to a persistent stair lift problem.
- Ongoing issues with follow-on property going missing on transfer, causing stress for prisoners and additional work for staff.
- Outdated healthcare facilities and lengthy queues for medication impacting efficiency and causing delays for purposeful activity.
- The limited availability of category D prison spaces, delaying transfer opportunities for eligible prisoners.
- Uncertainty that prisoners always receive their entitled time out of cell, particularly the unemployed.

- Overcrowding: The root cause of many issues, with prisoners sharing cells designed for one.
- Mental Health Care: Lack of secure specialist unit beds leads to severely unwell prisoners remaining in local healthcare units, impacting staff and the general population.
- Property Safeguarding: Serious concerns about processes for safeguarding prisoners' property, particularly during internal moves, often leading to items being misplaced or lost.
- Staff Conduct: A high number of complaints about staff, mainly concerning verbal abuse, poor attitude, harassment, bullying, and inappropriate language, including potentially racist language.
- Use of Force: HMP Chelmsford has one of the highest national rates for use of force incidents when prisoners fail to follow instructions, with an increase in incidents not involving full control and restraint.
- Regime and Activity Access: Inconsistent access to purposeful activity, including education and gym, due to staff shortages, roll-call issues, and the need for training participants to sacrifice gym time, contradicting the focus on positive outcomes.
- Estate and Maintenance: Persistent issues with the old Victorian wings, damp cells, and chronic unreliability of the central laundry boiler, leading to unhygienic conditions and operational disruptions.
- Transfer Disruptions: The practice of forcibly transferring prisoners to other establishments just days before release, to create space for new arrivals, is highly disruptive and distressing.
- Internal Complaints System: Anomalies in the Comp 1 complaints system mean prisoners often don't know if their complaint has been received, and healthcare complaint forms are not consistently available.

- The ready availability of drugs had increasing impact through the year, resulting in men found under the influence, emergency call-outs, and a strain on healthcare and uniformed staff.
- The delayed re-role of Brixton from a Category C resettlement prison to a Category B reception prison impeded work to reduce reoffending within the nine pathways, particularly mental health, substance misuse, education, and vocational training.
- The decision to send men with as little as 28 days left to serve impeded or negated a range of resettlement actions.
- Persistent issues with property being mislaid during transfer to Brixton, coupled with unacceptable delays in recovery or compensation, continued to cause distress to prisoners and waste staff resources.
- A total of 11 men were unlawfully detained (held after their release date), with HMPPS not defaulting to compensation payment, which the Board considered unjust.
- The prison's accommodation remained manifestly overcrowded, with cells as small as 6.4m2 often shared, and toilets located uncomfortably close to sleeping areas.
- Shortages of space for single cells, interview rooms, and appropriately located classrooms continued to affect education and treatment programmes.

- The late arrival of out-of-area prisoners at HMP Cardiff, delaying the reception process (repeated concern).
- Ongoing issues with prison conditions, including lack of out-of-cell space for eating, heating and hot water problems, and inadequate accessibility for prisoners with mobility issues (repeated concern).
- The critical need to prioritise a well-functioning key worker scheme.
- Long waiting lists for mental health services, including a reduction from seven to six psychiatric sessions a week.
- Lengthy delays for some prisoners to be transferred to suitable mental health placements.
- Low mental health staffing levels compared to similar prisons, as highlighted by the H&SCNA.
- Staffing shortages, particularly in nursing and pharmacy, exacerbated by vetting delays and recruitment issues.
- The inability of prescribing pharmacists to prescribe due to job-sharing arrangements that prevent in-prison checks.
- Lack of lockable storage for prisoners with ‘in possession’ medication.
- Absence of a formal and robust social care process between the prison and local authority.
- The poor condition of parts of the prison estate, continued closure of buildings marked for demolition, and ongoing problems with basic infrastructure such as heating, hot water, and phones.
- The impact of prisoner hospital escorts on prison staffing and the regime.
- Continued problematic levels of drug use and finds within the prison.

- Violent assaults and the carrying of improvised weapons remain a significant problem, with young people feeling unsafe.
- The separation wing, Benbow, is considered unfit for purpose, offering a minimal regime with young people spending up to 23 hours in their rooms.
- CAMHS service delivery is severely constrained by a lack of dedicated, private rooms for therapeutic work and systemic operational barriers.
- Education provision required significant improvement due to challenges in recruiting and retaining teaching staff, and a curriculum that disengaged young people.
- There are unacceptable delays in local authorities securing suitable accommodation and providing financial support for looked-after children upon release, sometimes up to the day of release.
- Delays in staff vetting contribute to high vacancies, and the recent retirement of 19% of experienced officers represents a significant loss of expertise.

- The Victorian prison fabric, including the reception area, gatehouse, and OMU prefabricated structure, is not fit for purpose and remains unaddressed despite repeated concerns.
- Lack of space in the first night centre and reception area hinders confidential conversations about risk and property management.
- High levels of violence, particularly involving 18-25 year olds, remain a concern for the Board.
- Cells are in a poor state, with mould, condensation, broken plaster, and inadequate ventilation, failing to meet modern accommodation standards.
- Significant delays exist in transferring prisoners to secure mental health beds, often exceeding the 28-day guideline, and issues with community mental health team handovers persist.
- Issues with prisoners' PINs, property management (cell clearances, pilfering), and the complaints system require constant monitoring and improvement.

- The prison is in a dilapidated state, with old and dated kitchen equipment, and significant investment is needed.
- Mental health issues are serious, and prisoners with high needs are inappropriately housed in segregation with untrained staff, requiring speedy transfer to suitable accommodation.
- Low healthcare staffing causes regime disruption due to medication delays, an issue needing a systemic solution.
- A cultural problem persists among a small group of staff, requiring continued vigilance from senior management.
- Property management remains a significant issue, with items often missing during transfers and within the prison.
- Rodent infestation was a problem throughout the reporting year.
- Food quality and portion sizes continue to be an issue for prisoners, a concern also raised in the previous year.
- Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs) are often not turned on or are non-functional, hindering safety monitoring.

- The Board's dismay at the refusal to extend a member’s tenure, leading to critically low board membership in 2026, making it impossible to deliver statutory requirements and risking board closure.
- Continued inadequacy of the IMB recruitment process, which remains inappropriate and untimely, hindering recruitment of suitable candidates.
- Persistent high number of property complaints on transfer, causing anguish for prisoners, and the lack of a system to record these as a specific metric.
- Lack of clarity and timeline for funding to bring the heating and hot water systems for Woodlands up to standard, leading to continuous disruption for prisoners.
- Staggering 35% reduction in the training budget at a training prison, leading to loss of activity places and poor provision for work and training.
- Inadequate arrangements for the provision of social care for prisoners after-hours.
- High number of internal complaints (Comp 1s and 1As), with many issues stemming from poor communication that could be resolved by staff or key workers.
- Unreliable and frequently broken lifts in the in-patient healthcare buildings, causing inefficiencies and delays for staff and prisoners.
- Leakage in the workshops' building roof for the entire reporting period, without a clear plan to repair or replace it.
- Impact of national offender behaviour programme changes and a gap in staff training, leading to parole delays for some prisoners.
- Mismatch in prioritising prisoners for offender behaviour programmes between national policy and OMU/parole boards, leading to further delays.