Prison
Cat B local training
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Cardiff
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 27 February 2024
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.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomed the opening of the Neurodiversity and Additional Learning Needs Hub and the Incentivised Substance-Free Living (ISFL) unit, which are making solid contributions to prisoner progress. Healthcare staffing significantly improved, leading to reduced GP waiting times and no optician wait. Reception staff professionalism and good induction practices are noted. The prison performed well in accommodation on release compared to peers, with 'Invisible Walls Family Services' bringing positive changes to family contact. Education provision was rated highly, particularly for ESOL, and links with external employers are improving, with good employment outcomes for those completing vocational courses.
Key Concerns
Safety
Self-harm continued to be a concern throughout the year
Substance Misuse
Toward the end of the year there was a significant increase in the use of illicit substances and related health and violence incidents.
Overcrowding
the increasing pressure on the prison population during the reporting period was of serious concern.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Due to the age of the prison, accommodation issues (such as lack of hot water, wing temperatures being either too hot or cold depending on the weather, vermin) continue to be a notable problem during 2022-23.
Other
Repeated
Lost property has been a frequently reported problem during the year, due both to internal moves within HMP Cardiff and between prisons.
Staffing
Despite the prison’s commitment to the key worker scheme, adherence has fluctuated due to the wider demand on staffing i.e., shortages, sickness, and detached duty. Key work therefore remains an issue of concern for the Board.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Accommodation on release remains an issue, prisoners are not receiving support at an early enough stage and support can be perfunctory at times, resulting in some prisoners not having accommodation arranged on release.
Staffing
Repeated
The offender management unit (OMU) continues to be understaffed; a problem since 2021 to 2022 at least. Similar issues apply to the resettlement team.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Visits booking has been problematic for most of the year, mainly for bookings made by telephone.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
prisoners having no access to out of cell space to eat food, which currently means in shared cells both men must eat with a shared toilet in the space
Equality/Diversity
officer awareness and practice of the needs of transgender prisoners as the transgender population in prisons across the estate grows
Healthcare
The last health needs analysis in HMP Cardiff took place in 2017.
Healthcare
Given the frequent applications received by the Board regarding prescription medication, can consideration be given to how the impact of a change to, or ending of, prisoners’ usual medication can be minimised, and prisoners better supported and informed through this?
Staffing
The delay in obtaining vetting clearance has had a major impact on the ability to recruit and appoint staff, particularly in healthcare, OMU and resettlement, as well as in supporting agencies working in the prison.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
an old, Georgian prison is not a suitable or practical environment for prisoners with disabilities or who are older and may have mobility issues.
Mental Health
Assessment of Adult ADHD is the longest waiting list, currently at 23 weeks which is a concern in view of the vulnerability of prisoners dealing with the prison environment.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Ongoing staffing shortages continue to impact the Offender Management Unit (OMU) and resettlement teams, a problem since at least 2021-2022, compounded by delays in vetting clearance for new recruits. While healthcare staffing has improved, adherence to the key worker scheme fluctuates due to wider staffing demands including shortages, sickness, and detached duty. Although HMP Cardiff is high performing for staff retention, there is an issue with new, inexperienced officers leaving the service.
Healthcare
Healthcare staffing has improved significantly, with the mental health team and pharmacy now fully staffed, although nursing still has vacancies. GP waiting times have reduced to 10-13 days, and there is no optician waiting time, with dental waiting times around three weeks. However, concerns persist regarding changes to prisoners' usual medication upon entry, and a health needs analysis is long overdue. The mental health team noted a 23-week waiting list for Adult ADHD assessments, highlighting vulnerabilities.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime has largely returned to normal following Covid-19 restrictions, with non-workers typically out of cell for 2.5 hours daily and those in activity for 6.5 hours, plus evening association for enhanced prisoners. However, out-of-cell time can be constrained by staff shortages. A significant concern is that prisoners in shared cells must eat with a shared toilet in the space due to no access to out-of-cell dining, which the Board finds unacceptable in the old Georgian prison.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| Dental/Optical | 10 | 12 | |
| Discrimination | 7 | 4 | |
| Family/visits | 20 | 15 | |
| Finance | 12 | 10 | |
| Food | 25 | 19 | |
| General welfare | 28 | 31 | |
| Healthcare | 62 | 50 | |
| Key worker | 15 | 8 | |
| Legal | 21 | 28 | |
| Lost property | 60 | 35 | |
| Medication | 28 | 24 | |
| Other | 31 | 32 | |
| Segregation | 4 | 6 | |
| Sentence management | 46 | 26 | |
| Staff | 30 | 16 |
Recommendations (9)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 4
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 2
Governor / Director: 1
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Given the issues associated with the Georgian infrastructure of the prison, what action will be taken to improve basic conditions such as the consistent provision of hot water and the ability to control temperature fluctuations?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
The delay in obtaining vetting clearance has had a major impact on the ability to recruit and appoint staff, particularly in healthcare, OMU and resettlement, as well as in supporting agencies working in the prison. What can the Government do to hasten this process to ensure the necessary staffing complement can be achieved and maintained whilst security is not compromised?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Ongoing staff vacancies in OMU and resettlement and the resulting pressures on staff and prisoners continue to be a concern. What efforts is the prison service/probation making to recruit to these posts?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Since the centralisation of visit bookings, the telephone service has been consistently poor, causing ongoing problems for prisoners’ families. What action could be taken nationally to resolve these issues?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 5
Whilst appreciating the fabric of the HMP Cardiff site plays a large part in this, what can be done to address prisoners having no access to out of cell space to eat food, which currently means in shared cells both men must eat with a shared toilet in the space?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 6
What consideration could be given to improving officer awareness and practice of the needs of transgender prisoners as the transgender population in prisons across the estate grows?
HMPPS
Equality
Recommendation 7
The last health needs analysis in HMP Cardiff took place in 2017. Will the Health Board now address this issue urgently?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
Recommendation 8
Given the frequent applications received by the Board regarding prescription medication, can consideration be given to how the impact of a change to, or ending of, prisoners’ usual medication can be minimised, and prisoners better supported and informed through this?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
Recommendation 9
Repeated
It is disappointing to see lost property both between and within prisons remains a continuing and significant problem. What further practical measures can be put in place to address this?
Governor / Director
Other
Other IMB Reports for Cardiff
2022
Published 17 Jul 2025
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
29 Jan 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 3
Release: 3
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.