Prison
Cat B local adult male
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Liverpool
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 28 July 2022
HMP Liverpool operated under severe Covid-19 restrictions in 2021, leading to prisoners spending only one hour a day out of cell, though the environment remained calm. While healthcare and education were maintained at appropriate levels, significant concerns persisted regarding the holding of mentally ill prisoners in unsuitable conditions and the lack of progress in engaging all prisoners in purposeful activity. The Board also highlighted issues with the use of body-worn cameras, prisoner property management, and the effectiveness of the new resettlement contractor.
Positive Findings
The Board considers HMP Liverpool a safe environment where prisoners generally felt safe, and self-harm incidents did not significantly increase. Prison leadership ensured fair treatment under severe Covid restrictions, and prisoners adapted well. Healthcare services were maintained to an appropriate level, and the chaplaincy provided vital support. The education department and vocational training maintained satisfactory provision, and the offender management unit had a successful year despite challenges. The prison and its partners also provided good support for visitors.
Key Concerns
Safety
Repeated
Insufficient use of body-worn cameras by staff, with only 49% of incidents recorded with activation, indicating persistent technical difficulties and negative staff views.
Estate/Conditions
Rubbish accumulating in gullies around I wing, exacerbated by drone activity.
Mental Health
Repeated
Seriously mentally ill prisoners being kept in the prison and especially in the care and separation unit (CSU), waiting too long for transfer to appropriate mental hospitals due to national shortages.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
The system of managing the collection, storage, and issue of prisoner property and its transport during transfers is an ongoing issue, leading to missing property complaints and compensation claims.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Lack of significant progress in engaging all prisoners in purposeful activity, with a need for significant investment to develop workshops.
Resettlement/Release
Ineffectiveness of the new contractor (Seetec) for resettlement planning, resulting in prison staff dealing with last-minute accommodation and resettlement issues and a lack of approved premises.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff morale in reception was a concern due to low levels, and staff sickness increased due to Covid-19 variants, impacting the key worker scheme significantly. Healthcare staffing also fluctuated with vacancies and reliance on agency staff, particularly for experienced nurses. Overall staffing levels for visits were reduced due to financial constraints. The Board recommends further development of the key worker role.
Healthcare
Healthcare services were maintained at an appropriate level despite challenges, though missed appointments increased due to regime restrictions. A key concern remains the prolonged detention of seriously mentally ill prisoners within the prison, particularly in the CSU, due to national bed shortages and a lack of specialist personality disorder provision. Staffing, especially for experienced nurses, continues to be a challenge, and transfer delays for mental health patients are noted. Plans for health promotion and a new service called Better Health Liverpool are underway for 2022.
Regime & Daily Life
Throughout 2021, Covid-19 lockdown led to prisoners spending only about one hour a day out of their cells. Despite these severe restrictions, wings remained calm, and prisoners generally felt safe, adapting to the situation. The Board noted potential benefits in reduced unstructured socialising but stressed the need to restore purposeful activity. Concerns persist about the impact of the restricted regime on rehabilitation and the lack of progress in engaging all prisoners in meaningful activity.
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 laundry, clothing, ablutions | 10 | 10 | — |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 5 | 2 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 9 | 16 | |
| Equality | 2 | 5 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 10 | 5 | |
| Food and kitchens | 6 | 12 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 26 | 36 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 29 | 32 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 27 | 18 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 14 | 11 | |
| Property within this establishment | 33 | 23 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 3 | 3 | — |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 20 | 17 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 34 | 22 | |
| Transfers | 8 | 16 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 3
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
The impact of Covid restrictions on the rehabilitation, personal development and wellbeing of prisoners should be considered at a national level and where possible action taken to mitigate any impact on possible increase on reoffending and to support reintegration into the community.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
The positive impact of Covid regime restrictions should be reviewed and guidance issued to the Prison Service. Examples of best practice should be shared in managing unstructured socialisation and how to maximise purposeful activity to impact on rehabilitation outcomes for prisoners.
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The system of managing the collection, storage and issue of prisoner property and the transport of property during transfer is an ongoing issue that leads to extra work for staff and increased levels of anxiety for those prisoners affected. Can the Prison Service look at improving the systems involved?
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prison should engage all prisoners in purposeful activity as soon as is practicable. The IMB believes that the prison should analyse the impact of lockdown on prisoner outcomes and where possible take remedial action to mitigate such impact.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 5
The role of the key worker should be developed, particularly in supporting prisoners who find it difficult to access prison systems.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The use of body-worn cameras should remain an area of development for the prison.
Governor / Director
Safety
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.