Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Coldingley
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 5 October 2023
HMP Coldingley, a Category C training prison, maintains a relatively open regime and positive staff-prisoner relationships, contributing to low self-harm levels. However, the Board notes a concerning rise in violence, use of force, and illicit substances, often linked to population pressures and insufficient new arrival checks. Significant challenges remain, including dilapidated older wings lacking in-cell sanitation, a struggling kitchen, and persistent issues with lost property and perceived disproportionality in treatment for some ethnic minority groups.
Positive Findings
The Board continues to observe a strong community ethos and positive staff-prisoner relationships, contributing to low self-harm levels. Healthcare services remained largely stable despite new contracts, and mental health waiting times saw reductions due to additional therapy groups and clinics. The regime offers good time out of cell compared to similar prisons. Initiatives such as the local Support Plan procedure and Restorative Justice work by Belong have been positive. Staff in the CSU are commended for their care, and efforts to reduce segregation durations have been successful. The re-boot of key work and the active Prisoner Council are also positive developments.
Key Concerns
Safety
Coldingley usually has low levels of self-harm and use of force, however, there has been an increase in violence and a significantly upward trend in use of force incidents in the past year.
Safety
Repeated
There has been a concerning number of debt and gang related incidents particularly on the main induction (A) wing, often because population pressures have led to less checking on potentially dangerous connections of new arrivals.
Safety
Repeated
There is little co-ordinated and effective CCTV around the site.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
There has been a huge increase in the volume of ‘hooch’ found.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The much-needed refurbishment of the original old residential units is underway, but some of the existing call-bell sanitation facilities will remain in use for years and where appalling and inhumane conditions have recently been witnessed.
Food/Catering
This year the Board heard considerably more on issues around food, diet and the functioning of the kitchen than in previous reporting years.
Safety
The lack of a dedicated vulnerable prisoner area and only very limited enhanced safety facilities have meant the small separation unit (CSU) is increasingly used as a place of shelter for vulnerable prisoners, those on open assessment, care in custody and teamwork documents (ACCTs) or others with mental health needs.
Mental Health
Demand for mental health services is high and increasing with more resources required.
Substance Misuse
The Substance Misuse Services are well regarded but the Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) wing no longer operates in the way it was intended with overcrowded conditions and much evidence of substance misuse.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
There has been no increase in the number of prisoners engaging in education or the main workshops over the year, despite the overall population increase.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Many of the high proportion of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences have been impacted by Parole Board changes and regrettably the number of prisoners still serving an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence has risen for the third year in a row.
Resettlement/Release
Family contact has suffered as the local, largely manual system of visits booking and notification has not functioned well.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Property lost during transfer between prisons continues to be widespread, complaints are increasing year on year at a cost to the Prison Service in terms of both staff resources and financial compensation.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Muslim prisoners continue to be over-represented in use of force incidents in Coldingley.
Equality/Diversity
Certain preferred residential areas and jobs in Coldingley are predominantly and very noticeably allocated to white prisoners. Prisoners from ethnic minorities are well-aware of this.
Staffing
The numbers of key work sessions recorded have greatly increased in the past year, but the lack of quality checking of reports, feedback and the patchy service given to new arrivals mean that the system still has a long way to go.
Resettlement/Release
Since the start of 2023 there has been a near doubling of prisoners without sentence plans – it now amounts to around 10% of all Coldingley prisoners. How is this sudden deterioration to be addressed?
Complaints/Property
Complaints from prisoners provide a vital insight into aspects of prison life which are not working well. There is evidence that there are has been a deterioration in quality of response to complaints, with many prisoners stating 'there is no point'.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Frontline staffing levels are currently at 84% effective availability, though there are concerns about detached duties to other prisons. Over half of Band 3 officers and 40% of all operational staff have less than two years' experience, with an attrition rate of 22% for this group. The high proportion of inexperienced staff, coupled with a 30% turnover of Band 2 OSGs, raises disquiet among prisoners. While key work sessions have increased, quality checking, feedback, and consistency for new arrivals remain areas for improvement.
Healthcare
Healthcare is provided by CNWL NHS Trust, with primary care waiting times generally good, but significant waits persist for mental health services due to increased demand and recruitment challenges. There was controversy over the withdrawal of individual special diets without recent test results. The mental health caseload is increasing, with over half of segregated prisoners having mental health needs, though additional clinics have helped reduce waiting times. Substance Misuse Services by Forward Trust are well-regarded and support a significant portion of the population.
Regime & Daily Life
Coldingley maintains a relatively open regime, allowing prisoners significant time out of cell, averaging around 56 hours per week. While this is positive and contributes to lower self-harm rates, the increased prisoner interaction is also linked to a rise in debt, gang-related issues, and illicit economy activity. The gym is a well-regarded and rehabilitative aspect of the regime.
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 | |
| Canteen/Money/Wages | 5 | 2 | |
| Discipline/Adjudications/Segregation | 12 | 17 | |
| Discrimination/Equality | 1 | 0 | |
| Education/Work/Learning | 2 | 2 | — |
| Food | 8 | 3 | |
| Health / Dental | 20 | 5 | |
| Legal/Confidential Access | 1 | 0 | |
| Other | 1 | 1 | — |
| Property | 24 | 25 | |
| Regime | 5 | 5 | — |
| Security/Risk Assessment/Public Protection | 2 | 0 | |
| Staff conduct/Attitude | 3 | 3 | — |
| Visits | 0 | 1 | |
| Welfare/Social Care | 4 | 3 |
Recommendations (16)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 8
7 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Does the minister consider it fair and humane that any men should be living in unhygienic conditions and with no in-cell sanitation while they wait for the refurbishment to be completed?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Response
Awareness of the start of the wider Main refurbishment programme to be completed by November 2026; this includes in-cell sanitation.
Recommendation 2
Prison estate population pressure means more than just over-crowding. It affects prisoner personal safety and welfare. Can a new policy be drafted urgently to guide prisons on how to deal with the deepening accommodation crisis?
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The number and situation of those given IPP sentences has only grown worse at Coldingley. What plans does the minister have to reconsider the Government’s response to the Justice Select Committee’s recommendation to establish a process to review how such prisoners could be re-sentenced?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Response
Reporting that Justice Select Committee enquiry into the IPP sentence had been published and that the evidence and recommendations would be reviewed and publicised.
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The refurbishment of the old wings won’t be complete until late 2026, at the earliest. Their exceptionally low ceilings mean no CCTV cameras survive very long. Without effective CCTV this will continue to be an unsafe environment for prisoners and staff alike. What can the Prison Service do as a matter of urgency to help the Governor address this dangerous situation?
HMPPS
Safety
Response
No improvements in the CCTV situation despite senior management team (SMT) concern. Temporary Governor has made a bid for significant new funding.
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Group arrivals of prisoners are happening without the necessary checks for connections. This has become noticeably worse over the past year. What can be done to improve the quality of pre-transfer checking being undertaken and ensure all prisoners are housed safely and kept apart from known connections?
HMPPS
Safety
Response
Creating a Security in Prisons Investment Programme, an expanded Serious & Organised Crime unit, creating a crime in prisons taskforce, body scanners, biometric screening.
Recommendation 6
Incentivised Substance Free Living is a safe and humane way in which to treat those with substance and related issues. Coldingley’s ISFL wing has become overcrowded with a complex mix of prisoners. It is rife with illicit substances. With the associated debts and bullying, it no longer functions as a specialist place for recovery. What can be done to restore it to its original purpose?
HMPPS
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 7
The CSU is dilapidated and small with a high proportion of its residents during the past year being vulnerable and on open ACCT documents. What can be done to provide alternative accommodation for those whose need is primarily a place of shelter from threat and assault or a place for close medical oversight?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Property lost during transfer between prisons continues to be widespread, complaints are increasing year on year at a cost to the Prison Service in terms of both staff resources and financial compensation. Losing one's personal belongings has a detrimental effect on prisoners and is not fair. Last year’s Policy Framework has not solved the problem. What does the Prison Service plan to do about it now?
HMPPS
Complaints
Response
Policy framework aimed to provide consistency and fairness between sites and enhance prisoner outcomes. Digital transformation was a longer-term project.
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
In order to keep prisoners safe and the wings more orderly, what plans does the Governor have to deal with the alarmingly high increase in the use and manufacture of illegally brewed alcohol and psychoactive substances?
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 10
In view of the high levels of contraband and potential effects to both safety and good order in the establishment, what plans does the Governor have to change the levels of staffing and random cell searches that take place in Coldingley?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 11
Changes which affect prisoners have not always been well communicated within Coldingley. This creates an atmosphere of confusion and at times hostility. What can the Governor do to improve the methods of communication to ensure all prisoners understand the changes and why they are considered necessary?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Muslim prisoners continue to be over-represented in use of force incidents in Coldingley. What does the Governor plan to do to further investigate why this issue has been so persistent?
Governor / Director
Equality
Response
Use of force governance is continually being reviewed and Governor reviews all incidents.
Recommendation 13
Certain preferred residential areas and jobs in Coldingley are predominantly and very noticeably allocated to white prisoners. Prisoners from ethnic minorities are well-aware of this. What does the Governor plan to do to address this and ensure that every prisoner is treated equally and fairly?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 14
Key work is central to offender management in custody (OMiC) and the relationship between key worker, offender manager and prisoner is crucial to OMiC’s success. The numbers of key work sessions recorded have greatly increased in the past year, but the lack of quality checking of reports, feedback and the patchy service given to new arrivals mean that the system still has a long way to go. What does the Governor plan to do to improve this?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 15
Since the start of 2023 there has been a near doubling of prisoners without sentence plans – it now amounts to around 10% of all Coldingley prisoners. How is this sudden deterioration to be addressed?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 16
Complaints from prisoners provide a vital insight into aspects of prison life which are not working well. There is evidence that there are has been a deterioration in quality of response to complaints, with many prisoners stating 'there is no point'. What plans does the Governor have to improve the system and restore trust in the prisoners that they will be listened to when something has gone wrong?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Other IMB Reports for Coldingley
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.