Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Risley
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 24 April 2026
HMP Risley is one of the largest category C training and resettlement prisons in the UK. The prison continues to be a hub for foreign national prisoners. There was a change in population during the year which resulted in an increase in the number of prisoners arriving compared to the previous period.
Positive Findings
The IMB concludes that overall, the transition was managed well and that the change will ease some of the difficulties experienced in the past, e.g. the necessity to run two parallel regimes to protect the safety of PCoSOs whilst moving around the prison. The prison had good systems in place for dealing with those with protected characteristics. The chaplaincy team was well regarded by prisoners.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
The IMB continues to be very concerned about the service provided by the maintenance contractors (AMEY) at HMP Risley.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The IMB shares the concern of prison management about the shortfall in activity places for the men.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
The IMB is concerned that property remains an issue.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Protected staff development time and ring-fenced time each week made a considerable difference to consistency across most of the prison. The transformation of the population into almost solely PCoSOs with a single regime has also eased some of the staffing challenges. There were weaknesses exposed in terms of prison staffing of areas, which affected the wellbeing of men. Key roles, such as complaints clerk, were not covered during periods of sickness or annual leave.
Healthcare
The Board observed that healthcare, in general, was well managed throughout this period. Staff responded to the challenges and improvements were made. A regular concern raised to IMB by men and staff was the issue of missed appointments. It was clear that service providers were aware of the problem and tried various approaches to secure attendance.
Regime & Daily Life
Following the implementation of a new core day in mid-September 2024, all prisoners received more time out of their cells for exercise, association, and domestic tasks. Those prisoners who were retired, disabled or working full time and had enhanced status received an additional evening domestic session which resulted in them gaining an extra 10 hours out of their cell each week. Prisoners who refuse to engage in activities and employment have less access to the open regime.
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 | 12 | 6 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 10 | 3 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 10 | 17 | |
| Equality | 3 | 4 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 10 | 15 | |
| Food and kitchens | 2 | 2 | — |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 25 | 32 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 41 | 15 | |
| Miscellaneous | 25 | 15 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 17 | 28 | |
| Property within the establishment | 29 | 33 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 7 | 12 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 12 | 15 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 21 | 20 | |
| Transfers | 6 | 4 |
Recommendations (2)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 1
Recommendation 1
Although this has not yet required a performance improvement plan, we ask whether the Minister plans to introduce more robust methods of monitoring the quality of service and ensuring its cost effectiveness?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
What work is planned to to ensure that all activity spaces are used to the maximum effect and men are adequately prepared for release?
HMPPS
Purposeful Activity
Other IMB Reports for Risley
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
12 Apr 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.