Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Littlehey
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 9 October 2022
HMP Littlehey, a Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offenses, held 1,158 prisoners against an operational capacity of 1,180. The reporting year was dominated by pandemic restrictions, severely impacting regime and access to purposeful activity. While the prison maintained safety and saw reductions in self-harm and staff assaults, significant concerns persist regarding overcrowding, delays in estate improvements, and adequate provision of resettlement and diversity initiatives.
Positive Findings
HMP Littlehey continued to be a safe and secure prison with a relatively low rate of prisoner-on-prisoner violence. Prisoners were generally treated with respect and decency, and the prison received a High Sheriff award for managing the pandemic. The Board noted good progress on the heating and hot water infrastructure, proactive work with older prisoners, and successful rollout of the vaccination programme. Self-harm incidents decreased, and the Samaritans’ Listener scheme continued to be invaluable. The food quality remained high despite staffing issues, and healthcare services worked cooperatively, reducing mental health waiting times to five days. The Integrated Substance Misuse Team met their targets, and the prison celebrated prisoner achievements in education and the Koestler Awards.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The Board is concerned with the lack of resources provided for resettlement activities which continue to be required of HMP Littlehey. While the Board recognises the reconfiguration project will eventually result in prisoners nearing their sentence end date being moved to specialist resettlement prisons, there will continue to be a need for resettlement services at HMP Littlehey for those being released on parole.
Overcrowding
Repeated
As stated in last year’s report, there continue to be too many prisoners forced to share cells, some of which are designed as single cells.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
It is disappointing to note that the new framework (for prisoners' property policy) had not been published before the end of the reporting period. ... property continues to be the area most complained about, and recognised as such, across the prison estate
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The Board is disappointed that the replacement for G wing (after it was condemned by HMPPS in 2020) is taking so long and is concerned that it suggests a lack of adequate funding and planning. ... the planned replacement is to be sited in an area next to the market gardens that is currently occupied by an astro-turfed football pitch, thus reducing the prison sport facilities and wasting previous investment while the site previously housing the demolished G wing is left as unsightly waste ground. ... the planned replacement reportedly lacks adequate roofing.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The Board is concerned with the continuing use of temporary freezers at HMP Littlehey... This unacceptable situation has been ongoing for more than two years and has been highlighted in previous IMB annual reports.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board is aware of the rollout of in-cell telephones across the prison estate and is concerned with the length of time it is taking for HMP Littlehey to have this facility. The delay is leading to an increasing issue of prisoners transferring from category B regimes feeling that their situation has worsened because their previous establishment had in-cell phones and HMP Littlehey does not.
Equality/Diversity
While the Board acknowledges that significant progress has been made, and continues to be made, in providing suitable resources and surroundings for the elderly population on the two older prisoner wings, there is an open question of how and when such improvements will be available to all the elderly prisoners across HMP Littlehey.
Healthcare
Repeated
The Board believes the maintenance of these aids (wheelchairs) needs specific focus to resolve this ongoing issue. As referenced in previous reports
Equality/Diversity
The Board has observed that progress on understanding the equality issues at HMP Littlehey and embedding diversity and inclusion within the prison has not progressed as much as anticipated given the progress during the previous reporting year.
Estate/Conditions
HMP Littlehey has many used mattresses, stored in sterile areas, which are proving difficult to dispose of because recycling units elsewhere in the prison estate do not have unlimited capacity. Recycling issues aside, the Board questions whether the excess also results from a lack of published guidance for wing staff when deciding to issue a new mattress, or poor-quality mattresses needing to be replaced too frequently.
Safety
During the reporting period, two Prisons & Probation Ombudsman (PPO) investigations into prisoner deaths uncovered concerns with safeguarding and procedures between healthcare and prison staff, which left elderly prisoners in an unsafe condition
Segregation
Repeated
Only eight cells are available to hold prisoners (in CSU) with cell 1 used only for searches, cell 7 used for constant watch and cell 9 remaining out of use due to structural issues for at least the last two years. This situation remains since our last report and there are no apparent plans to remedy it. For the third year in a row the Board maintains that this area is far from suitable for prisoners who need long-term isolation to protect themselves or others especially if they also have severe mental health issues.
Equality/Diversity
Adjudications of Muslim prisoners accounted for 28.7% of the total, while Muslims represent only 11.8% of the population... the Black population remains over-represented (in adjudications).
Equality/Diversity
More concerning is that the Muslim community was subject to force on 42 occasions during the period, representing 26.9% of the total despite being only 11.8% of the prison’s population.
Healthcare
The Board is concerned to see that for most services provided the trend in DNAs (Did Not Attends) is upward, with the last quarter of the reporting year showing the highest numbers.
Mental Health
The Board is however concerned that over the year more than 100 psychology clinics were unable to take place due to staffing.
Safety
The Board is disappointed to see that not all those who are identified as having fall risks have such alarms (technical aids to assist vulnerable prisoners).
Estate/Conditions
It is disappointing to note that staff facilities in the older Lakeside gymnasium continue to be in a poor state of repair with potential health and safety implications.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
At the end of the reporting period, of a total population of 1,158 prisoners, 273 had no assigned activity for any part of the day (23.6%).
Board Commentary
Staffing
The key worker scheme's relaunch was compromised by pandemic restrictions, but delays were used for staff training. While prisoners generally praised specific wing officers, the kitchens faced significant staffing issues. Primary and mental health staffing improved with fewer vacancies, though physiotherapy operated at 50% for most of the year. The library manager post was vacant at the end of the reporting period.
Healthcare
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provided seamless physical and mental health services, prioritising essential and emergency care due to the pandemic. Staffing levels generally improved with fewer vacancies, though physiotherapy remained at 50% for much of the year. Significant waiting times persist for non-urgent procedures, including three weeks for podiatry/physiotherapy, three months for ultrasound/optician, and six months for non-urgent dental treatment. The mental health team successfully reduced waiting times for referrals to five days, despite over 100 cancelled psychology clinics. The prison achieved over 90% double vaccination rates.
Regime & Daily Life
The pandemic caused severe and constantly changing restrictions, significantly limiting prisoner association and time out of cells, negatively impacting mental wellbeing. Access to face-to-face activities like education, workshops, gym, and visits was curtailed, with in-cell education and distraction packs provided. Access to communal telephones was also limited, and there was no progress in increasing purposeful activity for older prisoners.
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 | |
| Discipline (adjudications, incentives and earned privileges scheme) | 18 | 26 | |
| Family contact and visits | 26 | 23 | |
| Food | 10 | 15 | |
| Healthcare (appointments, medication, dental) | 37 | 34 | |
| Other (including legal, finance, religion, legal documents) | 27 | 22 | |
| Property | 143 | 124 | |
| Safety (including bullying, self-harm and ACCT) | 50 | 56 | |
| Segregation | 9 | 11 | |
| Staff conduct | 12 | 11 | |
| Total | 398 | 379 | |
| Work, education and activities | 21 | 19 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 2
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Does the minister acknowledge this situation and will funding for it be provided?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Prisons are generally poor in responding to external complaints, and the Board is curious to understand from HMPPS whether it is something against which prison performance is measured.
HMPPS
Complaints
Recommendation 3
Why is the Prison Service looking to replace a permanent wing with a temporary structure when it is known that this additional capacity will be a long-term requirement?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Repeated
When will this situation be resolved?
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 5
The Board therefore asks when this facility will be implemented at HMP Littlehey.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 6
Repeated
The Board believes the maintenance of these aids needs specific focus to resolve this ongoing issue.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
The Board questions whether the excess [mattresses] also results from a lack of published guidance for wing staff when deciding to issue a new mattress, or poor-quality mattresses needing to be replaced too frequently.
Governor / Director
Other
Other IMB Reports for Littlehey
2026
Published 13 May 2026
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
4 Sep 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.