Prison
Cat B, YOI, local
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Wormwood Scrubs
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 17 December 2020
HMP/YOI Wormwood Scrubs, a Category B local male prison and YOI, held 1,066 prisoners at the end of May 2020, operating at a capacity of 1,279. The report noted a reduction in violent incidents and self-harm, alongside improvements to living conditions and complaints systems. Key concerns included high rates of cancelled hospital appointments, inconsistent use of Body Worn Video Cameras, and significant challenges with the Key Worker scheme, staffing, and managing prisoner property during transfers.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomed the reduction in violent incidents and self-harm, as well as significant improvements to living conditions through refurbishment of C wing. The chaplaincy received commendation for their support, particularly during the pandemic. The prison also implemented more robust complaints and property management systems, leading to a decrease in related issues, and responded well to the challenges of COVID-19. The CQC noted improvements in medicines management in healthcare.
Key Concerns
Healthcare
Repeated
The high rate of cancelled hospital appointments and the lack of a national policy to prevent prisoners from being returned to the start of the appointments process.
Safety
Repeated
The inconsistent wearing and use of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs) by staff, which is not mandatory despite recommendations from the CPT.
Safety
The inhumane practice of using escort chains for very elderly or seriously ill prisoners during hospital escorts.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Persistent issues with the slow rollout and eventual cessation of the key worker scheme, and the delayed implementation of a new Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) policy.
Other
Repeated
The lamentable system for tracking and receiving prisoner property during transfers from other establishments.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Significant delays and prolonged stays for some prisoners in the First Night Centre (FNC), effectively lodging there with a limited regime.
Substance Misuse
The easy availability of drugs within the prison, which remains a serious issue and a driver for violence and gang-related activity.
Safety
Prisoners on the Elizabeth Fry unit are susceptible to other prisoners from E wing coming onto the unit at certain times of day.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels fluctuated throughout the year, with significant shortages in summer 2019 leading to concerns about cross-deployment and a reduced presence on wings. The Key Worker scheme, in particular, made slow progress, ran intermittently for 18 months, and was ultimately halted by COVID-19, with most prisoners unaware of its function or receiving inconsistent contact. Staff shortages were also cited as a reason for mental health group cancellations.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision, while showing improvements in medicines management identified by CQC, remains a significant concern, with a high rate of cancelled external hospital appointments (31% average) and an ineffective complaints system. Mental health services successfully met assessment targets but struggled with therapy provision due to staff shortages, leading to 64% of groups being cancelled. The Board also criticised the continued use of escort chains for seriously ill prisoners and noted a lack of regular strategic healthcare partnership meetings.
Regime & Daily Life
Prior to COVID-19, the Board expressed concern that prisoners spent too much time in their cells, with promised association time often not delivered, and gym access frequently limited by staff redeployment. During the pandemic, a rigorous 23-hour lock-up regime was implemented, though efforts were made to provide daily showers, exercise, extra phone credit, and in-cell telephones. The situation for prisoners in the First Night Centre, however, remained poor, with many spending extensive periods confined to their cells with minimal 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 transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| Canteen | 15 | 10 | |
| Conditions (e.g. hygiene, environment) | 23 | 21 | |
| Discipline (adjudications, IEP) | 34 | 30 | |
| Discrimination/equality | 2 | 2 | — |
| Drugs and alcohol | 5 | 8 | |
| Education/activities | 4 | 5 | |
| Food | 11 | 10 | |
| Healthcare | 61 | 43 | |
| Legal issues | 15 | 18 | |
| 10 | 11 | ||
| Money/finances | 9 | 10 | |
| Other | 31 | 35 | |
| Property | 27 | 44 | |
| Reception/release | 8 | 9 | |
| Relationships (staff, family, others) | 13 | 15 | |
| Resettlement/release planning | 2 | 3 | |
| Security (e.g. transfers, searches) | 7 | 14 | |
| Telephones | 4 | 2 | |
| TOTAL | 333 | 343 | |
| Visits | 11 | 15 | |
| Work | 1 | 0 |
Recommendations (10)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 6
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the minister instigate, at a national level, a policy which will ensure that prisoners who have had their hospital appointments cancelled, through no fault of their own, are not returned to the start of the appointments process?
Ministry of Justice
Healthcare
Recommendation 1
While noting that there is a property policy review now under way, the Board urges HMPPS to devise a protocol committing each prison to the return of property to prisoners who have transferred to another prison.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Given the Board’s concerns relating to the provision of healthcare services, will the Governor ensure: (i) regular meetings of the strategic healthcare partnership? (ii) a fit-for-purpose healthcare complaints system, delivering timely and appropriate responses, with agreed deadlines? (iii) a significant reduction in the number of cancelled hospital appointments?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the minister consider adopting the recommendation of the CPT (paragraph 58) to amend the terms of Prison Service Instruction 04/2017, to make it mandatory for BWVCs to be issued, worn and turned on by all prison staff who may have to use force against prisoners?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Can the Governor ensure that efforts are made to increase the wearing and use of BWVCs, especially in light of the minister’s response to our last annual report, in which she stated, in June 2020, that: ‘full active use of cameras is required as part of the readiness assessment for the introduction of PAVA’?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 3
Will the minister ensure that sufficient funds continue to be available to the prison for the continuation and enhancement of measures taken to increase the safety of prisoners?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 3
Can the use of escort chains at a local level be reviewed – in particular their use for very elderly or sick prisoners?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Can the Governor ensure that, within the exigencies of dealing with COVID-19, the implementation of the new IEP scheme and the full rollout of the key worker scheme are given priority?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 5
Can the Governor take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that prisoners on the Elizabeth Fry unit are not susceptible to other prisoners from E wing coming onto the unit?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 6
Can the Governor seek a solution to the problem of some prisoners staying a lengthy period of time in the First Night Centre?
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Wormwood Scrubs
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
16 Mar 2026
IRP
9 Jun 2025
Unannounced
7 Jun 2021
Unannounced
16 Sep 2019
Announced
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.