Prison
Cat YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Elmley
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 10 April 2026
HMP/YOI Elmley is a local prison situated on the Isle of Sheppey which serves the courts of Kent. The operating capacity of Elmley at the start of the year was 1137 and decreased to 1043 by the end of the reporting period in October 2025. The Board has concerns regarding prison staffing levels and the implementation of key working.
Positive Findings
The Board has observed the prison take great strides to engage with and support new prisoner receptions with the ‘bus to bed’ initiative. The prison’s approach to promoting equality and diversity has improved significantly during the reporting period. The education provision has been good during the reporting period, with improvements in the quality of teaching and the recruitment of appropriately qualified teachers.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
substantial investment is required to bring existing accommodation up to an acceptable standard, including access to clean working showers with sufficient hot water.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The Board has concerns regarding prison staffing levels and the implementation of key working as intended in the offender management in custody (OMiC) model. The Board appreciates the fluctuation in staffing requirements. However, we would like to see key working given a much higher priority before being cancelled.
Healthcare
After diligent calculations of the numbers of applications to the Board for healthcare reasons have halved in this reporting year. The Board still receives complaints that there are lengthy delays in gaining medical appointments. Oxleas has delivered healthcare since April 2022 and judging by the reduction in IMB applications there is strong evidence that provision is improving.
Regime & Daily Life
The Board has been heartened by the implementation of a new shift pattern in the late summer of this reporting year. The Governor and staff are optimistic that the new shift working will provide more staff to maximise time out of cell for all residents of houseblocks. Prisoners have access to table tennis, pool, and snooker provisions but this is restricted during high-risk times, such as serving mealtimes, otherwise they are freely available for use.
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 | 13 | 8 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 4 | 5 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 3 | 9 | |
| Equality | 4 | 1 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 10 | 5 | |
| Food and kitchens | 7 | 14 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 47 | 70 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 14 | 6 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 20 | 6 | |
| Property within this establishment | 36 | 13 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 7 | 10 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorization | 14 | 6 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 31 | 22 | |
| Transfers | 6 | 2 |
Recommendations (4)
Governor / Director: 2
Ministry of Justice: 1
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 1
Recommendation 1
Given the importance of this area, care should be given to ensure ongoing investment in the necessary equipment
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 2
The Board would encourage the Minister to explore every avenue possible to eradicate this growing and dangerous activity where illicit items are concerned.
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 3
We strongly suggest more care and diligence be taken to secure the cell when any prisoner has to leave his accommodation for a reasonable amount of time.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 4
The assessment and transference of prisoners who require secure mental healthcare accommodation can sometimes be very protracted. We would urge all agencies in this procedure to expedite these transfers for the good of all concerned.
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
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.