Prison
Cat B, local, resettlement
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Wormwood Scrubs
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 19 March 2024
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.
Positive Findings
The prison has continued to implement positive changes to reception and induction procedures, risk assessments and documentation, making induction supportive and more accessible. Listeners and Samaritans are well-supported and valued. The prison's small group management policy contributes to lower self-harm and violence than comparator prisons. Investment in grounds and a prisoner-carer scheme for wheelchair users are positive. Ramadan provision was well-received. Segregation staff show exceptional patience and care. The chaplaincy is a respected resource, and a revised incentive scheme has led to fewer complaints. The Shannon Trust has significantly expanded its reading support, and the library is a welcoming space. The refurbished visits hall is also noted.
Key Concerns
Overcrowding
Overcrowding and increased population pressures are stretching prison resources and impacting safety.
Staffing
Acute and chronic staffing shortages severely affect all prison services, including regime, healthcare, and probation.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Many prisoners spend 22 or more hours per day locked in their cells with limited access to purposeful activity, education, and socialisation.
Mental Health
Repeated
Unacceptable delays persist for mental health transfers to secure hospitals, and waiting times for routine assessments have increased significantly.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
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/Catering
Repeated
Food provision is consistently of poor quality, quantity, and nutritional value, leading to much food being thrown away.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
A disproportionate number of black prisoners are segregated and involved in use of force incidents.
Resettlement/Release
Through-the-gate support and probation services are patchy and delayed, impacting resettlement and property management.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Acute and chronic staffing shortages significantly impacted most areas of the prison, including healthcare, mental health, and probation services, leading to appointment cancellations and service disruptions. Staff who started during the pandemic lack experience in running a full regime, contributing to stretched staff and less confident relationships with prisoners. Recruitment difficulties and high turnover rates persist, particularly in mental health and drug/alcohol services. The key worker scheme remains inconsistent due to pressures on staff time.
Healthcare
Healthcare services are provided by Practice Plus Group, with mental health services subcontracted to Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and substance-use support by Forward Trust. Staffing shortages among medical staff and prison officers are a key concern, causing appointment cancellations and hindering the New Model of Care implementation. Waiting times for routine mental health assessments have increased to nearly three weeks, and delays for transfers to secure secure hospitals remain unacceptable. The prison is fundamentally unsuited for the growing number of elderly and mobility-impaired prisoners, though some mitigation measures are in place.
Regime & Daily Life
A significant number of prisoners, particularly those not employed, spend 22 or more hours locked in their cells daily, leading to concerns about safety, mental health, and wellbeing. Although initiatives are underway to improve work and education opportunities, progress is slow and inconsistent. Face-to-face education is largely wing-based, and communal worship access is limited. The prison's food delivery system, involving single portions of reheated hot food in cells, is considered appalling by prisoners, with poor quality and variety.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 14 | 22 | |
| Diversity and equality | 17 | 15 | |
| Drugs | 22 | 18 | |
| Education, training and work | 30 | 29 | |
| Faith | 23 | 25 | |
| Finance | 75 | 56 | |
| Health and wellbeing | 96 | 77 | |
| Legal | 62 | 65 | |
| Meals and canteen | 56 | 39 | |
| Other | 12 | 10 | |
| Property | 102 | 108 | |
| Regime | 25 | 29 | |
| Release and resettlement | 54 | 43 | |
| Security | 15 | 13 | |
| Segregation | 12 | 11 | |
| Sentences and recall | 28 | 36 | |
| Staff and prisoner concerns | 258 | 321 | |
| Transfers (including hospital transfers) | 162 | 196 | |
| Welfare (including families and visits) | 59 | 50 |
Recommendations (14)
Ministry of Justice: 4
HMPPS: 6
Governor / Director: 4
6 repeated
Recommendation 1
The Minister should make immediate resources available to HMP Wormwood Scrubs to mitigate the impacts of the increase in population.
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Recommendation 2
The Minister should make immediate resources available to HMP Wormwood Scrubs to improve the fabric of the prison.
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Minister should provide confirmation that adequate funding for Citizens Advice will be provided in future years.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Response
Citizens Advice resumed service last summer for one day a week. External funding Funding has been secured for Citizens Advice to provide a service three days a week from April 2023.
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Minister should outline plans in coordination with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure adequate provision for prisoners with acute mental health needs.
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Response
In June 2022, the Government published the draft Mental Health Bill which includes a statutory 28-day time limit for the transfer of patients from prison to mental health hospital. A data input portal implemented from April 2021 enables providers to submit transfer and admission data.
Recommendation 5
HMPPS should outline actions to improve recruitment, turnover, and retention of staff.
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
HMPPS should improve the management of prisoners’ property and the accountability of the prison service and its suppliers for lost property.
HMPPS
Fair Treatment
Response
The newly published Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework came into effect on 5 September 2022. The introduction of digitally recorded Person Escort Records, including property tags, will assist with investigation for property that is lost in transit with Prisoner Escort and Custody Services’ suppliers. Digital handling of property continues to be explored but it was not possible to include this in the new framework.
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
HMPPS should ensure that more stringent guidance on cell clearance is given.
HMPPS
Fair Treatment
Response
Local arrangements are in place to ensure cell clearances are carried out effectively.
Recommendation 8
HMPPS should provide permanent funding to secure a co-ordinator for foreign national prisoners.
HMPPS
Equality
Recommendation 9
HMPPS should ensure there are sufficient suitably accessible places for wheelchair users within the London prison estate.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 10
HMPPS should refurbish the antiquated cell bell system.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Governor should take action to address the disproportionate number of black prisoners being segregated and involved in use of force incidents.
Governor / Director
Equality
Response
A safety information meeting reviews and considers the data.
Recommendation 12
The Governor should take action to address the disproportionately high number of recorded violent incidents involving younger prisoners.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 13
The Governor should take action to address ‘on the day’ staff shortages more effectively to prevent cancellation of out of cell activities.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 14
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Governor should outline plans for improving the daily regime, including time out of cell and access to activities.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
Most prisoners should be spending a minimum of one hour and 15 minutes out of cell a day unless the regime is curtailed. Wings hold records of times out of cell.
Other IMB Reports for Wormwood Scrubs
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
16 Mar 2026
IRP
9 Jun 2025
Unannounced
7 Jun 2021
Unannounced
16 Sep 2019
Announced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.