Prison
Cat Category C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Aylesbury
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 7 December 2023
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.
Positive Findings
The Board noted a more systematic approach to safety from mid-year, with improved analysis of violent incidents. Key working was reintroduced in January 2023, with approximately 40 weekly sessions by year-end, which was welcomed. The segregation unit is clean, orderly, and well-run, with professional staff and good relationships. The 2023 Ramadan provision was particularly well received. Chaplaincy is an active team, well-integrated and providing diverse support. The partnership with Wycombe Wanderers Foundation for leadership and coaching qualifications is successful, benefiting participants. Support for advanced distance learning is exceptionally strong, and cooperation with Hackney Music Development Trust added valuable creative opportunities. The library is well-stocked, clean, and welcoming.
Key Concerns
Safety
Prisoners often report feeling unsafe, particularly in their early days in Aylesbury. Some have heard negative reports about Aylesbury or have ‘non-associates’ (other prisoners they have to avoid for safety reasons, including gang affiliations or previous incidents) at Aylesbury.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Lack of clarity about next steps after induction causes anxiety.
Substance Misuse
There was an increase in drugs and trading of prescription medicines. This led to some prisoners being in debt and threatened.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
But the prison did not develop a more open and fair regime quickly enough, which would support strong staff-prisoner relationships. The older, category C population, needed a new culture to be embedded fast. Staff took time to adapt their approach to prisoners.
Resettlement/Release
Many prisoners in Aylesbury are a long way from their families. Many of these prisoners have young children or relatives who are unwell. We have had many complaints about this throughout the year.
Healthcare
For three months health services were patchy and sometimes chaotic.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There is not enough out-of-cell activity, and much of the activity is of poor quality and undemanding. This means that prisoners are not gaining practical, social or intellectual skills to aid their progression and resettlement.
Staffing
The Offender Management Unit (OMU) ran with only 50% of prison offender managers against plan during much of the year. OMU staff were overstretched.
Resettlement/Release
Aylesbury is not a resettlement prison. It is not staffed or resourced to support prisoners leaving custody. Despite this, 65 prisoners were released from Aylesbury in this period. This is unacceptable.
Staffing
Throughout the year the shortage of officers in all bands impacted negatively on the regime in the prison and as a consequence on the lives of all the prisoners.
Other
The preparation for the prison to change from a youth offenders institution (YOI) to a category C prison was seriously inadequate.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The senior management team remained stable, but staffing levels at other bands were concerningly low, averaging 60%, severely impacting daily activity and regime delivery. The transition to a Category C prison was challenging due to staff shortages, and 47% of staff joined within the last two years, leading to a lack of experience. While key working was reintroduced, its frequency was irregular due to staffing issues, and no training was provided for keyworkers.
Healthcare
Healthcare experienced a difficult and chaotic year following the handover to Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWLFT) on 1 October 2022. The new provider was unprepared for the changed prisoner demographic (from YOI to Category C), leading to significant staff shortages, reliance on agency staff, and IT problems. This impacted service delivery, making it unsafe at times and leaving complaints unresolved. By year-end, a new head of healthcare was in place, implementing initiatives to improve communication and direct engagement with prisoners.
Regime & Daily Life
The lack of purposeful activity was a significant concern, with prisoners often spending up to 23 hours a day in cells during the first half of the year. The day-to-day regime did not meet Category C standards, leading to numerous complaints. In January 2023, a split regime was introduced to improve out-of-cell time, but this often reduced activity for those previously full-time. Structured on-wing activity (SOWA) was poorly implemented, becoming indistinguishable from old association and failing to meet prisoner expectations.
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 7
Governor / Director: 3
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Courageously champion sentencing reform, establishing more appropriate penalties for law breakers. Prisons are under-resourced and over-capacity, thus cannot deliver their own stated objectives. Reducing the number of people sent to prison, and reducing term lengths, is necessary to deliver a prison system that can achieve its own aims within current resourcing constraints.
Ministry of Justice
overcrowding
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Deliver a robust, imaginative and flexible new recruitment strategy across the prison estate, backed by the resources needed to increase and sustain higher staffing levels.
HMPPS
staffing
Response
The minister reports on a strong national recruitment drive, but suggests that retention is possibly a greater issue for the prison service than recruitment. He also mentions the benefit to Aylesbury of the First Deployment Scheme.
Recommendation 3
Look at the regime in prisons through a 21st century lens. There is a widening gap between normal life and prison life. Modernise ambitiously. Prioritise post-release welfare and employment planning through greater use of technology for prisoners and by building stronger links between prisons, external agencies and employers in the community.
HMPPS
regime
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Improve forward planning, consultation and support to senior staff when prisons are required to house new categories of prisoner.
HMPPS
other
Response
HMPPS comment that the decision to increase the age limit at HMP Aylesbury was taken in accordance with their governance principles. No mention is made of proper consultation with the senior staff at Aylesbury.
Recommendation 5
Change the established prioritisation of access to Programmes. Currently Programmes are only open to those within 2 years, or less, of release or parole. Include those within six months of potential re-categorisation. This would capitalise on, and reward, the strong motivation of many prisoners to keep the rules and make progress to achieve a D categorisation.
HMPPS
regime
Recommendation 6
Aim to locate prisoners near family or those with whom they have supportive emotional and practical ties. Prioritise locating prisoners close to their children.
HMPPS
resettlement
Recommendation 7
Speed up approved compassionate moves to allow prisoners to be closer to sick relatives.
HMPPS
welfare
Recommendation 8
All prisons releasing prisoners should focus on resettlement and reintegration as their priority. Prisons that are not designated for release, or resourced to support release, such as training establishments, should not be expected to release prisoners. It is both unsafe and counterproductive if they do.
HMPPS
resettlement
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Maintain the recent improvements in the regime capitalising on the forthcoming improvements in workshop provision and innovate further through wider engagement with third sector partners.
Governor / Director
regime
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Make consistent and visible celebration of prisoner successes a core part of the Aylesbury culture.
Governor / Director
welfare
Recommendation 11
Actively monitor and hold accountable third-party contractors to ensure value for money and the best service delivery for Aylesbury, particularly in relation to health and education contracts which are so vital to positive outcomes.
Governor / Director
other
Other IMB Reports for Aylesbury
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Feb 2026
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.