Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Brixton
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 17 March 2022
The reporting year at HMP Brixton was dominated by COVID-19, leading to severe restrictions on the prison regime, impacting prisoners' mental health and resettlement opportunities. Despite significant efforts by staff and healthcare to maintain services and well-being, concerns persisted regarding the suitability of the offender flow system, inadequate accommodation for older prisoners, and a lack of D-category prison places. While self-harm incidents slightly decreased, assaults on staff increased, and substance misuse remained a challenge, with the Board commending positive aspects like food quality, staff commitment, and progress in education.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the significant efforts by prison staff and healthcare to support men during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing extra activities, and maintaining excellent food quality. Cleanliness of the wings was good, and the catering received very favourable comments. Segregation staff worked with professionalism and compassion, and positive relationships between staff and prisoners continued in some cases. The Listener scheme was well-supported, and new cohorts were trained despite restrictions. The body scanner proved a valuable de-escalation tool, and the drug diagnostic team provided good oversight. Ofsted awarded Novus and the prison 'reasonable progress' for education, noting good teamwork.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
The already inadequate number of places in category D prisons has been exacerbated by remedial works at existing open prisons taking a number of places out of commission. The absence of the benefits of experiencing open conditions before release for prisoners who have earned them not only increases the likelihood of re-offending but also removes the incentive for good behaviour for men still working towards D categorisation.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
As in previous years, the Board is concerned at the number of men revealed by our annual survey (29% in 2021 compared with 36% in 2019) as having no accommodation to go to upon release.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The introduction of the offender flow process has resulted in men who do not meet the profile being sent to Brixton which is not equipped to support men very recently convicted, or those who have not been in a training prison, or men with substantial sentences still to serve. The process is setting up both these prisoners and the prison to fail.
Estate/Conditions
Brixton continues to manage a prison population that includes a number of men over 70. The infrastructure of the prison is not geared to men with mobility impairments, nor does it have appropriate residential accommodation for the elderly and infirm.
Other
Prisoner pay varies across the estate depending on the other pressures on a prison’s budget. This should be reviewed so that a standard amount can be provided across the estate, to match the standard costs of items available through canteen and of telephone calls.
Safety
prisoner on staff assaults and their seriousness increased.
Safety
One man was severely ill-treated by his cellmate during lockdown over a period of several months.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The Board has consistently reported that accommodation at Brixton is small, cramped and unsatisfactory. During the lockdown in the current reporting period, nothing has changed.
Estate/Conditions
There was a rat problem over several months in the autumn, with rats seen on the wings as well as outside.
Substance Misuse
Psychoactive substances (PS) were the primary drug of choice and were readily available, usually in a paper-based form.
Substance Misuse
Prison supervision of the dispensing hatches continued to be uneven, although nursing staff reported an improvement during lockdown but, for some of that time, medication was issued at cell doors – a safe but time-consuming practice. In June 2021, the dispensing of tradable medication was reported to be unsupervised by prison staff on all but one wing.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff were under severe pressure during lockdown due to many absences and redeployments, impacting the key worker system and staff-prisoner relationships. Staff assaults increased, and there were concerns about disruptive behaviour. Nationally, staff training, such as control and restraint, was interrupted, and many new officers lacked experience in supervising large groups. Training in assertion of authority and SPEAR/PAVA was delayed due to trainer unavailability. While overall staffing remained adequate due to bank nurses, there were specific shortages, such as with chaplains initially, and under-trained officers in certain techniques. The safer custody team had officers redeployed for wing cover, affecting their focused work.
Healthcare
Healthcare services were largely dominated by managing the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on testing and vaccination efforts. Non-essential services were reduced or cancelled during lockdown, leading to backlogs. Despite challenges, health screening on arrival and pre-release assessments continued, with vulnerable men receiving support via the RECONNECT project. GPs conducted daily ward rounds on all wings, and emergency dental cases were seen. Dispensing of tradable medication remained an issue with inconsistent supervision. Covid testing was widespread, and vaccination rates mirrored community levels for the younger population. Mental health problems increased significantly during the year, stretching capacity, with staff prioritizing urgent cases.
Regime & Daily Life
The reporting year was heavily dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, severely limiting the regime. Time out of cell was significantly reduced, initially to as little as half an hour daily, and 24 hours on Fridays. Collective worship was suspended until June 2021, and meals were delivered to cell doors, restricting association. The Board described the restricted regime as not humane. From May, the regime began to improve, allowing more men out and reopening serveries. Indoor gyms reopened in May, with attendance improving by year-end. However, HMPPS approval for men to browse library books was still pending by August.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | 33 | — | |
| Property (lost on transfer) | 40 | — | |
| Property (other) | 12 | — | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns (inc bullying) | 44 | — |
Recommendations (5)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 3
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
An increase in the number of D category places is urgently required.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
increasing the supply of accommodation for men released from prison is urgently required.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
The introduction of the offender flow process has resulted in men who do not meet the profile being sent to Brixton which is not equipped to support men very recently convicted, or those who have not been in a training prison, or men with substantial sentences still to serve. The process is setting up both these prisoners and the prison to fail and needs to be amended to ensure that only men who do meet the profile are directed to Brixton.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 4
Better living conditions appropriate for frail men and those with mobility impairments is urgently required.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 5
Prisoner pay varies across the estate depending on the other pressures on a prison’s budget. This should be reviewed so that a standard amount can be provided across the estate, to match the standard costs of items available through canteen and of telephone calls.
HMPPS
Other
Other IMB Reports for Brixton
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
3 Mar 2025
IRP
4 Jun 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 1
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.