Prison
Cat B local
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Liverpool
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 10 October 2023
HMP Liverpool, a Category B local adult male prison, generally provided a safe and humane environment in 2022 despite an old Victorian infrastructure and frequent regime closures due to staffing issues. The Board noted positive staff-prisoner relationships, maintained healthcare services, and satisfactory educational provision. Key concerns persist regarding long segregation periods for mentally ill prisoners, inconsistent main gate security, ongoing property issues during transfers, and insufficient investment for rehabilitation.
Positive Findings
The Board noted the positive impact of reduced prisoner association on the overall settled atmosphere. The prison is commended for a 28% reduction in violence against staff. Relationships between staff and prisoners are generally good, and healthcare needs are met with transparent leadership. Educational and vocational provisions are satisfactory, and the work of the POPs team and family contact arrangements are impressive. Resettlement targets are being met and the chaplaincy is commended for their vital service.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
Long periods of segregation for prisoners experiencing mental health difficulties, particularly those awaiting transfer to specialised facilities.
Safety
Repeated
Security arrangements at the main gate for staff/visitors are not robust and consistent, meaning contraband could enter the prison.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Prisoner property continues to go astray during transportation between establishments, causing distress to prisoners.
Staffing
Significant investment is needed to fund facilities and staffing levels to improve the job prospects and rehabilitation of prisoners.
Safety
Repeated
Improvement on the uptake and activation of body worn video cameras is a repeated concern of the board, as usage is not consistent.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
Mandatory Drug Testing within the prison has not been given sufficient attention throughout the year, with inconsistent staffing and lack of action on positive results.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing shortages were a major challenge throughout the year, leading to frequent regime closures, impacting purposeful activity, and hindering key worker sessions and violence reduction officer effectiveness. This included a lack of trained staff for the body scanner and significant staff changes in the education department, resulting in virtually no education regime for six months. Healthcare staffing was maintained through agency staff, though it remained a national challenge.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, provided by Spectrum and Mersey Care, were reorganised in April 2022 and overall prisoner health needs are met. Staffing is a challenge, but a full service was maintained using agency staff. A key concern remains for prisoners with serious mental illnesses in the CSU waiting too long for appropriate hospital beds. Safety issues regarding medicine dispensation raised by the CQC were addressed.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime experienced frequent closures and curtailment during 2022, particularly in the first half of the year, due to staffing issues and COVID-19. This impacted purposeful activity, with limited progress in fully operational workshops and education, and virtually no education regime for the final six months. Despite these challenges, prisoners had more out-of-cell time than the previous year, and daily access to the exercise yard was maintained for all.
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 | |
| C&R (Care and Rehabilitation) | 37 | 42 | |
| Custody (including staffing levels and time out of cell) | 49 | 37 | |
| Equality | 13 | 7 | |
| Healthcare | 14 | 26 | |
| Other | 16 | 21 | |
| Personal finance and employment | 16 | 12 | |
| Property | 35 | 54 | |
| Security and safety | 23 | 19 | |
| Total | 261 | 269 | |
| Visits | 13 | 13 | — |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 3
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Strengthen and enhance legislation to prevent prisoners being segregated for long periods of time, particularly those experiencing mental health difficulties.
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
The prison will need significant investment to fund facilities and staffing levels which can improve the job prospects and rehabilitation of prisoners. For the prison to develop the capacity as a model Category C prison, a comprehensive plan to engage partners and fund training will be essential.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Prisoner property continues to go astray during transportation between establishments. Better communication and clear lines of accountability need to be in place to help resolve issues quickly and efficiently and reduce the distress caused to prisoners.
HMPPS
Complaints
Recommendation 4
Develop policy to improve overall sickness and absence rates of prison officers to reduce the level of curtailed activities and programmes across the prison service in supporting better rehabilitation of offenders.
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Develop a consistent approach to security arrangements at main gate.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Continue to insist on the usage of body warn camera by all on duty officers.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 7
Deploy consistent levels of staffing to the Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) programme.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Other IMB Reports for Liverpool
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
11 Aug 2025
Unannounced
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.