Prison
Cat YOI / Category C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Feltham
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 3 February 2026
The IMB report for HMP/YOI Feltham (August 2024-September 2025) highlights significant internal restructuring into Feltham A (YOI) and Feltham B (Category C). While commendable progress has been made in staff professionalism, substance-free units, and reduced 'keep aparts', critical concerns persist regarding high staff absence on Feltham A affecting regime, severe probation staffing shortages, and the negative impact of new visa rules on foreign national prison officers. The establishment also faces ongoing issues with estate underinvestment, insufficient purposeful activity, and the prevalence of weapons and drug contraband.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the successful internal split of Feltham into two distinct establishments and the positive changes observed, particularly at Feltham B, which is now a very different place from 12 months ago. Staff are consistently praised for their professional and humane treatment of prisoners. Notable improvements include the introduction of substance-free living units on Feltham B, the elimination of 'keep aparts' leading to increased free flow to activities, and a significant reduction in incidents at height on Feltham A. The IMB also highlights the dedicated support provided by staff on the Alpine unit and the valuable work of charities like Catch 22 and Belong.
Key Concerns
Staffing
Repeated
Shortage of Probation Service staff hampers delivery of resettlement services.
Staffing
Repeated
Recent changes to visas for overseas workers will prevent many foreign national people who have recently joined the Prison Service from continuing to work in the UK, leading to deportations and hindering recruitment.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Insufficient meaningful activity and time out of rooms to allow all boys (Feltham A) to have more time out of their rooms, particularly at weekends and on bank holidays.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The education contract with Shaw Trust (Feltham A) is not fit for purpose in a number of key respects and needs revision.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Shortage of workshop places and slow delivery of building and renovation projects for workshops (e.g., bricks workshop closure due to fan failure, delays in recycling workshop) on Feltham B.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Underinvestment in the fabric of the estate, leading to persistent roof leaks (visitors centre, CSRU), damp and mould issues in cells (Lapwing, Kingfisher), and units taken out of use.
Safety
Repeated
Continued prevalence of weapons finds (50 in August 2025 on A side, 44 in July 2025 on B side), and ongoing issue of drones delivering drugs. Concerns around staff competency and corruption related to weapons finds.
Resettlement/Release
Release plans for boys on Feltham A are often finalised very close to release dates, causing distress and anxiety.
Food/Catering
Repeated
Inconsistent cleanliness in serveries, sporadic wearing of hygienic uniform by servery workers, and vermin issues (rodent faeces, live mice) due to exposed food.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff absence, particularly on Feltham A, remains a significant challenge, exacerbating regime delivery issues and violence, although retention has improved. Feltham B has seen improved staff attendance, but faces a critical issue with 56 staff members at risk of losing their right to work due to visa changes. Probation staffing is at crisis levels across the establishment, with only one POM instead of the required five, severely impacting resettlement and offender management services. Resettlement teams on both sides remain short-staffed.
Healthcare
While the co-location of therapeutic services on Feltham A's residential units is a positive move, boys still face difficulties accessing interventions due to a lack of suitable one-to-one meeting rooms. Feltham B has successfully introduced substance-free living units, but dental care was disrupted by a prolonged refurbishment of the dental room. Feltham has also lacked facilities for dispensing methadone during the reporting year. The Alpine unit continues to provide intensive support for children with complex mental health needs.
Regime & Daily Life
Regime delivery on Feltham A is severely impacted by high staff absence, leading to boys spending less than two hours out of their rooms daily and frequent cancellations of education and workshops. Feltham B initially saw similar complaints about insufficient time out of cells and unengaging activities, but this improved towards the end of the reporting period due to the successful policy of standing down 'keep aparts', allowing for increased attendance at workshops and education. Overall, there is a persistent lack of sufficient meaningful activity, especially at weekends and in the evenings.
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 | |
| Medical treatment (including dental) | 27 | 25 | |
| Other (eg. discipline, legal, visitors) | 60 | 55 | |
| Property (lost or damaged) | 12 | 10 | |
| Total | 144 | 128 |
Recommendations (41)
Other: 4
HMPPS: 17
Governor / Director: 17
Ministry of Justice: 3
37 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What is being done to recruit staff to the Probation Service? The shortage of probation staff hampers delivery of resettlement services in prisons and will be a serious impediment to the proposed community sentence proposals in the Government’s Sentencing Bill.
Other
(minister)
Staffing
Response
Dedicated national campaign to recruit youth justice workers. Additional funding; staffing levels in London increased 13% in the year ending December 2023; additional support in London through Civil Service detached duty scheme; alumni scheme to recruit returners to the Probation Service.
Recommendation 2
The IMB understands that recent changes to visas for overseas workers will prevent many foreign national people who have recently joined the Prison Service from continuing to work in the UK. These trained and operational working prison officers face deportation. The changes will also prevent current overseas applicants from being successfully recruited. In this situation, where else will the Government look for prison staff?
Other
(minister)
Staffing
Recommendation 3
What plans are in place to support 18-year-olds with complex needs who are released from a children’s prison, in terms of housing and probation support?
Other
(local_authority)
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
When will there be sufficient meaningful activity to allow all boys to have more time out of their rooms, particularly at weekends and on bank holidays?
HMPPS
Regime
Response
A Side: the YCS ‘Road Map to Effective Practice’ with integrated care model introduced. Small improvements seen by August 2025 but lost by October 2025.
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The education contract with Shaw Trust is in year three of seven years. It is not fit for purpose in a number of key respects. When will the education contract be revised so it is fit for purpose?
HMPPS
Education
Response
The YCS does not qualify for additional LA funding to support SEN/EHCP children: ‘We are working with the Department for Education to see how we can support learners with SEN.’ There was an acknowledgement that Feltham A education provision requires improvement. The YCS has developed a new contractual assurance cycle. In October 2023, this recorded shortcomings in outreach. Action to improve outreach forms part of the school development plan and is monitored monthly. The YCS education leads monitored this in January 2024 and confirmed some improvement but that more is required.
Recommendation 6
Repeated
What steps will you take to support the A side Governor in recruiting more staff for resettlement and well-being teams?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 7
The IMB understands there is an intention to open Grebe unit as a construction workshop area. When will this be achieved?
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 8
Repeated
What steps will you take to improve staffing levels in the resettlement team?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 9
What steps will you take to improve staffing levels in the wellbeing team?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What plans are in place to further increase time out of room for the boys at the weekends and in the evenings?
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
A Side: the YCS ‘Road Map to Effective Practice’ with integrated care model introduced. Small improvements seen by August 2025 but lost by October 2025.
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The IMB has seen plans to increase workshop capacity by early 2026. What steps will you take all steps to ensure these plans are delivered?
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Response
A review of current workshop spaces is underway; a new carpentry workshop is being introduced. The recycling workshop moving to a new compound. There is a new initiative for servicing and repairing garden machinery from other prisons. ‘Additional vocational training programmes are being introduced in high demand industries.’ Higher level qualifications are being introduced. All staff are attending regular training to upskill to deliver high quality instruction. ‘A structured process in place to gather information about each learner early in their custody, allowing for a personalised learning plan’. Partnerships with external employers and apprenticeships. Partnerships with charities/not-for-profit organisations to ensure individuals have mentorship and support on release.
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Implement dedicated national campaign to recruit youth justice workers.
HMPPS
Staffing
Response
Dedicated national campaign to recruit youth justice workers.
Recommendation 13
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Recruitment of probation staff?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Response
Additional funding; staffing levels in London increased 13% in the year ending December 2023; additional support in London through Civil Service detached duty scheme; alumni scheme to recruit returners to the Probation Service.
Recommendation 14
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Address prisoners’ lost property issues.
HMPPS
Other
Response
The Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework was introduced in 2022. Onus is on Governors and Directors to ensure management checks are undertaken to have confidence that prisoners’ property is being handled correctly and with care. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to monitor framework and see if improvements can be made.
Recommendation 15
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Improve information sharing between social services and the YCS, so looked-after children (LACs) receive entitlements.
HMPPS
Equality
Response
The Youth Custody Service (YCS) will build relationships with local authorities (LAs) and site safeguarding teams. Working-together guidance being prepared by the YCS and the youth justice board (YJB).
Recommendation 16
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Address staff absence and improve retention.
HMPPS
Staffing
Response
Answer, as above, given by the Minister.
Recommendation 17
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Investigate if local authority funding for SEN/EHCP children can follow them into custody.
HMPPS
Education
Response
The YCS does not qualify for additional LA funding to support SEN/EHCP children: ‘We are working with the Department for Education to see how we can support learners with SEN.’ There was an acknowledgement that Feltham A education provision requires improvement. The YCS has developed a new contractual assurance cycle. In October 2023, this recorded shortcomings in outreach. Action to improve outreach forms part of the school development plan and is monitored monthly. The YCS education leads monitored this in January 2024 and confirmed some improvement but that more is required.
Recommendation 18
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Ensure older prisoners on B side have access to appropriate education and training.
HMPPS
Education
Response
This lies with the Governor, who commissions courses, informed by a need-analysis in consultation with employers and HMPPS New Futures Network. Review of activities is underway. Additional resource is targeted to cater for the older cohort. ‘The quality and type of workshop provision will be addressed to mitigate the current poor levels of engagement and attendance.’
Recommendation 19
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Address underinvestment in the structural fabric of the estate.
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Response
In the past year, over £100,000 has been spent on short-term roofing repairs. There is a £20 million MoJ capital project for roof replacements on five-and-a-half units on B side (Ibis, Lapwing, Nightingale, Osprey, Raven and Swallow), as well as the legal and social visits areas. Project in design phase; works expected 2024-2025.
Recommendation 20
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Take proactive steps to reduce staff absence and provide support for those on sick leave.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Response
Update given verbally to IMB at Board meetings on a continual basis. In cases of unauthorised absence, action has been taken, post-absence, to reduce further occurrences and to tighten up on TOIL (time off in lieu of overtime pay). The increase in violence adds to staff absence.
Recommendation 21
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Improve delivery of key worker and custody support plan (CUSP) sessions.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
September 2025: there is a B side new key worker strategy, with an increase in quality and quantity. Changes to A side mean more CUSP sessions are delivered now.
Recommendation 22
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Provide suitable spaces for outreach meetings.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Response
August 2025: 80% of outreach interventions take place, more rooms are available and some are being refurbished.
Recommendation 23
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Investigate why the population of Wren unit is generally white, when a significant proportion of the prison population is black.
Governor / Director
Equality
Response
2025: Wren now open as a substance free living unit and reflects the population of the prison in terms of diversity.
Recommendation 24
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Make more information available regarding time out of room (TOoR), e.g. inclusion of data in daily briefing and flagging all children with less than two hours.
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
August 2025: This information is now in every daily briefing notice.
Recommendation 25
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Address youth knife crime and gang culture.
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Response
The government manifesto committed to halving knife crime over 10 years’ and every person caught possessing a knife referred to YOT to draw up plan to prevent reoffending… We are working up proposals though stakeholder engagement.’ A new offence in the Crime and Policing Bill to increase convictions against exploiters and gangs who use children to commit crimes. MoJ’s programme Turnaround providing funding to YOTs running to March 26 Young Futures Programme to identify young people who could be drawn into crime.
Recommendation 26
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Address knife crime and gang conflict in London (Mayor of London).
Other
(local_authority)
Safety
Response
The Mayor has committed £15.6m for London Children and YP Violence and Exploitation Support Service. MOPAC worked with London Prisons Group formulate a violence reduction strategy. At Feltham, this includes peer mentoring, enhanced purposeful activity, specialist support for prisoners, phase 2 now a specialist therapeutic group work programme.
Recommendation 27
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Implement enhanced gate security (EGS), considering the rise in substance misuse and the admission of older prisoners on B side.
HMPPS
Safety
Response
HMP/YOI Feltham implementing EGS-working towards building a new area for staff searches. Local-led project re-allocating local existing resources due for completion July 2025.
Recommendation 28
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Take proactive steps to address the issue of prisoners making and carrying weapons in custody.
HMPPS
Safety
Response
YCS has ‘prioritised research to better understand why children create, carry and use weapons’ and if neurodiversity is a factor. Feltham A is being offered support through group safety leads, and the site is developing a ‘weapons strategy’. This will include a consistent response to those young people making, holding and using weapons.
Recommendation 29
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Change the policy where a boy who removes parts from his laptop, in order to make a weapon, is given a replacement after only 28 days; and look at the design of laptops so they do not include removable strips of rigid metal or other removable parts that can be sharpened into weapons.
HMPPS
Safety
Response
YCS policy is quoted in the response: a proven adjudication on proof of tampering with a laptop leads to 28-day ban on laptop use. A suitability review is conducted before a replacement is given and, if not suitable on review, the person is reassessed but at no longer than 35 days. There are seals on laptops.
Recommendation 30
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Reopen the enhanced support unit on Feltham A.
HMPPS
Mental Health
Response
This now operational. It was opened in October 2024. It has six beds but has had never more than three or four occupants.
Recommendation 31
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Improve purposeful activity and increase the number of workshop places to ensure prisoners have access to further education and training, such that they can secure employment on release (Feltham B).
HMPPS
Purposeful Activity
Response
A review of current workshop spaces is underway; a new carpentry workshop is being introduced. The recycling workshop moving to a new compound. There is a new initiative for servicing and repairing garden machinery from other prisons. ‘Additional vocational training programmes are being introduced in high demand industries.’ Higher level qualifications are are being introduced. All staff are attending regular training to upskill to deliver high quality instruction. ‘A structured process in place to gather information about each learner early in their custody, allowing for a personalised learning plan’. Partnerships with external employers and apprenticeships. Partnerships with charities/not-for-profit organisations to ensure individuals have mentorship and support on release.
Recommendation 32
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Improve the structural fabric of the whole prison.
HMPPS
Estate
Response
Emergency lighting changed; dental suites A and B upgraded; knotweed removed; landscaping and pond renewed; control room and gate house refurbished; IBIS and Wren and visitors’ centre have a new roof; Nightingale refurbishment. Future projects: multi-sport court; fire safety; study into upgrading or replacing boilers and roofs; explore feasibility of improving lighting; consider relocating radiators; consider installing anti barricade doors in education.
Recommendation 33
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Provide A side education with a new management of information system (MIS).
HMPPS
Education
Response
YCS will be purchasing a new cloud-based system designed for schools.
Recommendation 34
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Provide B side prisoners with in-cell laptops that support study on remote learning courses such as the Open University.
HMPPS
Education
Response
Currently there is a suite of educational videos available on Feltham’s Launchpad hub and three guidance docs for Open University’. Recognised that Launchpad has limited functionality and is not interactive, nor can it do word processing.
Recommendation 35
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Ensure that the shortfall between planned hours of education and delivered hours continues to be monitored and reduced (Feltham A Governor).
Governor / Director
Education
Response
Insufficient progress seen here.
Recommendation 36
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Take steps to deliver more education via outreach to separated boys (Feltham A Governor).
Governor / Director
Education
Response
Insufficient progress seen here, although attendance numbers have improved. Increase in red bands. Red bands now deployed on A side to clean.
Recommendation 37
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Commission appropriate skills workshops and rehabilitation courses for prisoners in Feltham B (Feltham B Governor).
Governor / Director
Education
Response
New standards role created on SLT with senior and very experienced leader.
Recommendation 38
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Address the inconsistent cleanliness seen in the serveries, including inconsistent wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) by servery workers (Feltham B Governor).
Governor / Director
Food
Response
Servery cleanliness improved but remains variable, with vermin issues in the summer of 2025. Appropriate clothing rarely worn by servery workers.
Recommendation 39
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Reduce the amount of food going missing between the kitchen and residential units (Feltham B Governor).
Governor / Director
Food
Response
Measures have been introduced with some success. Officers pick up the food trollies from the kitchen and an audit trail shows amounts of food allocated to wings.
Recommendation 40
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Commission the Traka units for dispensing medication for use (Feltham B Governor).
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Response
Traka units not commissioned in the 2024-2025 reporting year. There was a soft launch in October 2025 and this is now live, so B side prisoners are collecting their in-possession medication independently.
Recommendation 41
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Re-introduce a working protocol for resolving lost property issues (Feltham B Governor).
Governor / Director
Other
Response
No protocol but recently staff seem better able to track down property (as above).