Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Hindley
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 1 May 2026
The Board is increasingly concerned about the prison not always feeling safe, due to rising levels of violence, affecting both prisoners and staff, and the availability of illicit substances. The national problem of overcrowding in prisons impacted on HMP/YOI Hindley, which was operating at very near or full capacity throughout the year. As highlighted in previous annual reports, the Board remains concerned about the insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation
Positive Findings
Overall, the Board considers the health and wellbeing needs of prisoners are being satisfactorily met at HMP/YOI Hindley. Regular, anecdotal informal feedback to the Board from the men in receipt of healthcare over the past year indicates a general satisfaction with the standard of healthcare services. There is good cross prison co-operation, particularly between catering, PE and healthcare staff, working closely for the benefit of prisoners despite severe budget constraints. Worthy of commendation is the high standard of other wellbeing related services provided via the gym and physical fitness team, chaplaincy services and the Partners of Prisoners Service (POPS).
Key Concerns
Safety
The increased number of assaults on both prisoners and staff, with a peak in the second quarter of the year (48 in 2024 rising to 70 in 2025).
Safety
Repeated
Drugs, mobile devices and weapons continuing to be readily available.
Safety
The lack of security and searching at the main gate.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation
Resettlement/Release
introduction of early release schemes to manage the national capacity crisis in prisons at relatively short notice meant that many men left Hindley unprepared for their release
Board Commentary
Staffing
Following a significant fall last year in the resignations of Band 3-5 prison officers, this trend has continued reducing from 10% to 8%. However, staff absence levels have remained stubbornly high despite the focus that has been placed upon addressing this. This has caused challenges across the prison with regular lock downs (the impact that frustrates prisoners the most), restrictions on activity, and difficulties in attending appointments across the prison.
Healthcare
Spectrum healthcare continues to provide healthcare which was generally regarded positively by prisoners. The Local Delivery Board consider HMP Hindley as one of the best performing prisons in the region. There was about a three week wait for a doctor’s appointment. The prison had the second highest uptake of the flu vaccine in the region with 41% vaccinated.
Regime & Daily Life
Throughout the reporting year there were extended periods of restriction to the regime, meaning that prisoners were locked up in a cell without any meaningful activity. In addition, these restrictions have had a disruptive influence on prisoners’ work routine and education provision, as well as leading to a reduction in social engagement. These factors, when combined, have not only failed to prepare prisoners for the world of work, but they also have had a negative impact on their mental stability and levels of frustration, often resulting in violence and unrest.
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 | 6 | 3 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 13 | 5 | |
| Equality | 1 | 9 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 2 | 2 | — |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 10 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 18 | 6 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 9 | 4 | |
| Miscellaneous | 0 | 1 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 14 | 10 | |
| Property within the establishment | 6 | 3 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 5 | 5 | — |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 20 | 8 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 12 | 16 | |
| Transfers | 3 | 3 | — |
Recommendations (4)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 2
Recommendation 1
What is planned to enhance gate security and reduce this route for illicit items getting into the prison?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 2
Will the Prison Service review funding allocations and provide sufficient funds to meet Hindley’s activity and educational needs?
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 3
How is the Governor proposing to ensure that lockdowns of this length no longer occur?
Governor / Director
regime
Recommendation 4
How is this to be improved?
Governor / Director
staffing
Other IMB Reports for Hindley
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.