Prison
Cat A/B
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Long Lartin
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 21 May 2026
There was a promising start to the year with sufficient staff resources to provide a relatively stable regime, which is so important to prisoners. However by mid-year the prison was experiencing staff recruitment and retention problems. Well intentioned efforts to improve the prison and make Long Lartin a more humane and decent living environment for prisoners, are hampered by bureaucracy.
Positive Findings
Overall the prison is cleaner with accumulated waste being removed and grass being cut. Wing cleaners are well trained and support wings are very clean. The now established monthly prison council (PC) has been a positive and successful initiative. Family contact provision and facilities have improved.
Key Concerns
Safety
Drones: incursions continue to deliver dangerous illicit items into the prison.
Safety
Security systems: much of the existing security systems technology is obsolete and unserviceable, increasing the vulnerability of prisoners and staff.
Estate/Conditions
Unsatisfactory management of infrastructure and maintenance: the Board remains concerned that the Minister’s department is not robustly managing the contract with Amey plc.
Estate/Conditions
Lack of in-cell sanitation on four wings
Staffing
Officer shortages
Board Commentary
Staffing
By mid-year the prison was experiencing staff recruitment and retention problems with an acknowledgment that the number of staff leaving Long Lartin was higher than the national average. The prison continues to be a very challenging environment for young, inexperienced staff. Prisoner welfare relies on good communication and interaction with officers on the wings, but this has been adversely affected by the high turnover and shortages of staff.
Healthcare
The Board has repeatedly reported that the in-patient unit is unsuitable for the care of mentally ill prisoners who make up the majority of residents. The shortage of beds in secure hospitals leaves prisoners, who urgently need treatment, languishing in conditions which cannot support adequate therapeutic care. Mental health awareness is sadly deficient in officers’ basic training and within the prison.
Regime & Daily Life
Demands for limited staff resources left prisoners with an unpredictable regime and too much time locked in their cells. Staff shortages limited prison regime again this year, restricting prisoner association and purposeful activity which can lead to boredom, frustration and sometimes violence. Opening of workshops remained unpredictable and there has been insufficient work to keep prisoners purposefully occupied.
Recommendations (16)
Ministry of Justice: 5
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 6
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Drones: incursions continue to deliver dangerous illicit items into the prison. Funding has been agreed for physical and technological drone countermeasures at a number of prisons. When will Long Lartin receive the benefit of similar countermeasures?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 2
Security systems: much of the existing security systems technology is obsolete and unserviceable, increasing the vulnerability of prisoners and staff. Funding for a new comprehensive surveillance system has been approved by Government but is unlikely to be installed and commissioned until 2028. Will the Minister bring this date forward?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 3
Unsatisfactory management of infrastructure and maintenance: the Board remains concerned that the Minister’s department is not robustly managing the contract with Amey plc. What further action is his department taking to restore and maintain the fabric and infrastructure of the prison to a decent standard?
Ministry of Justice
estate
Recommendation 4
Lack of in-cell sanitation on four wings: the Board welcomes the Minister’s assurance that a proposal for estate investment has been submitted to install in-cell sanitation across all wings. Will the Minister provide an update on this process?
Ministry of Justice
estate
Recommendation 5
Officer shortages: how is the Minister raising the profile of this important role to attract suitable applicants to the Prison Service?
Ministry of Justice
staffing
Recommendation 6
Drones: incursions continue to deliver dangerous illicit items into the prison. Government funding has been approved to address the problem. Will the Prison Service confirm that funding for preventative measures will be made available to Long Lartin?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 7
Security Systems: it is understood that Government has approved the funding for a modern surveillance system. Can the Prison Service provide information on progress with the tender and appointment of a contractor?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 8
Prison infrastructure, maintenance and projects: to which building and maintenance projects has funding been allocated in the next three years? When will the building of a new kitchen commence and has a new property storage facility been approved?
HMPPS
estate
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prison work contracts: repeat question from 2024. What action is the Prison Service taking to secure quality work contracts in the LTHSE?
HMPPS
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 10
Officer shortages: how is the Prison Service going to improve selection, training and retention of officers in the LTHSE?
HMPPS
staffing
Recommendation 11
Security systems: electronic security protection does not meet the specification for a high security prison. Pending the installation of a new security system, what is the plan to maintain security at an acceptable level?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 12
Time out of cell: until staff resources improve, what measures can be taken to limit the time prisoners are locked up and to enable them to engage in more purposeful activities? How will the prison help mitigate the negative impact on prisoners of the education budget cuts?
Governor / Director
regime
Recommendation 13
Officer shortages: how has the Governor used the cost savings accrued by a reduced staff payroll to mitigate the negative impact on both prisoners and staff?
Governor / Director
staffing
Recommendation 14
Prison maintenance: the Governor has acknowledged that he is a dissatisfied client of Amey. Will he now request executive responsibility for ensuring that the contractor fulfils its contractual obligations to the prison?
Governor / Director
estate
Recommendation 15
Officer training: what plans are in place for in-prison training to improve new officers' confidence and capability to deal with and support prisoners and to train all officers in substance misuse and mental health awareness?
Governor / Director
staffing
Recommendation 16
Management of property: what further measures are being taken to improve the management of prisoners’ property and to address the shortage of storage space?
Governor / Director
complaints
Other IMB Reports for Long Lartin
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
30 Sep 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 2
Release: 3
5 Dec 2022
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 2
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.