Prison
Cat local
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Elmley
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 5 March 2021
HMP Elmley faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic reporting year (Nov 2019-Oct 2020), which severely restricted the prison regime and IMB monitoring. While the Board praised adaptations like in-cell education and efforts against drug importation, key concerns persisted regarding inadequate mental health support, lengthy dental waiting times, and major difficulties in securing resettlement accommodation for prisoners on release. The pandemic also exacerbated issues of substance misuse and limited purposeful activity.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the prison's efforts in adapting to COVID-19 restrictions, including providing in-cell activity packs and maintaining routine medical access. Positive improvements include dedicated officers in the inpatient department, rigorous scrutiny of use of force, and determined efforts to detect drug importation. The Board also noted significant improvements in equality and diversity initiatives and chaplains' strong support during the pandemic. The establishment should be congratulated for developing a learner menu for in-cell education.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
Inadequate mental health provision and diversion for prisoners with serious mental health issues, compounded by pandemic restrictions and post-release support gaps.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
Persistent issues with substance misuse, debt, and bullying, with concerns over vulnerable prisoners' safety due to changing house block allocations.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Significant negative impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the regime, purposeful activity, and time out of cell, leading to prisoner frustration.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Major challenges in resettlement, particularly securing accommodation and providing crucial support for bank accounts and identification upon release.
Healthcare
Deterioration of healthcare provision, notably routine dentistry, and long waits for medical appointments, alongside concerns regarding paracetamol management.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Delays in progression for life-sentenced prisoners due to limited course availability and transfer issues, as well as general adjudication delays.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The pandemic significantly impacted staff numbers, leading to a reduction in key working schemes which had initially been well-received by prisoners. However, the deployment of two officers to the inpatient department was a positive development, providing informal key working support. Staff shortages also affected the efficiency of adjudications, though laundry staff demonstrated dedication by working extra hours.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision faced significant challenges during the pandemic, particularly dentistry, with prisoners experiencing long waits for pain relief. Mental health issues became more complex, and despite the mental health team's efforts, many prisoners with serious conditions were not diverted to more appropriate facilities. Concerns were also raised about the safe management of paracetamol distribution by house block staff and difficulties confirming ADHD diagnoses due to ECG limitations.
Regime & Daily Life
The COVID-19 lockdown severely restricted the regime, leading to frustration and increased time in cell for prisoners, initially limited to 45 minutes out of cell daily. While the regime was later adapted to allow up to two hours out of cell in small groups, the gym and most workshops remained closed. Education adapted by providing in-cell learning packs, which saw higher-than-expected uptake.
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 | 25 | 7 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 29 | 18 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 7 | 4 | |
| Equality | 5 | 8 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 14 | 35 | |
| Food and kitchens | 8 | 5 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 76 | 93 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 24 | 32 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 58 | 80 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 18 | 28 | |
| Property within this establishment | 33 | 41 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 11 | 17 | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 68 | 98 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 86 | 77 | |
| Transfers | 14 | 19 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 3
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
The Board would ask the minister to review the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service (CJLADS), given the number of prisoners that arrive at the establishment with a mental health diagnosis. Is the scheme working as it was designed to do, and is it properly resourced?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
The pandemic has highlighted the need to avoid overcrowding in prisons. The Board is pleased that reducing the operational capacity at HMP Elmley during the year allowed for the elimination of three-man cells in accommodation originally designed for one or two prisoners. The Board would seek reassurance that three-man cells are a thing of the past.
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 3
Repeated
The Board recommends the return to some form of central control for the movement of life-sentenced prisoners. This would allow a better grasp of the national picture and promote more effective planning for the progress of lifers.
HMPPS
Progression
Recommendation 4
The Board seeks reassurance that the healthcare department’s attempts at auditing the issue of paracetamol by prison staff on the wings is supported by managers. Given the near-miss this year, it is important that paracetamol is controlled in similar ways to any other medication provided in the prison.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 5
The Board has raised the issue of medication under restraint, and received confirmation that the Governor is the ultimate authority in such interventions. This needs to be more firmly established, for the sake of the prison officers who carry out the restraint, and in terms of the fair treatment of the prisoner involved.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 6
The Board recommends that some form of pre-release training covering such issues should be conducted for nominated prisoners before release. It is appreciated that short sentences mitigate against the success of such a proposal.
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Elmley
2023
Published 17 Jul 2025
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.