Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Brixton
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 23 January 2026
HMP Brixton operated as an overcrowded Category C resettlement prison during the reporting year, with a population of 697 against a CNA of 530. The year was marked by preparations for a delayed re-role to Category B, which disrupted rehabilitation efforts. Positive developments included a reduction in self-harm, improved induction processes, and good staff-prisoner relations, alongside high-quality food provision. However, significant concerns persisted regarding drug availability, property loss, unlawful detentions, and the impact of the re-role on resettlement and purposeful activity.
Positive Findings
Arrangements for the reception and induction of men transferred from other prisons were improved. A 25% reduction in self-harm continued the previous year’s trend. The recruitment of a sufficient number of uniformed middle managers had been successfully completed, enabling each residential wing to have two custodial managers (CM), with consequent improvement to oversight. Food continued to be very good, receiving consistently high marks from prisoners and making the kitchen a finalist for prison catering team of the year. Staff and prisoner relations were generally observed to be good. Backlogs in induction and assessment were much improved, with 80-90% of men assigned to education or work within a week of arrival. The debt advisory service, piloted in Brixton and now extended to 13 other prisons, has supported 65 men. The Board welcomed staff training in dealing with neurodivergent prisoners, particularly for officers engaged in the use of force.
Key Concerns
Substance Misuse
The ready availability of drugs had increasing impact through the year. The potency varied by the batch and this unpredictability resulted in men being found under the influence, emergency ambulance call-outs and a strain on healthcare and uniformed staff.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
This was to have been the reporting period in which Brixton changed from a category C resettlement prison to a category B primarily serving the courts. Preparations for this change have impeded work to reduce reoffending within the nine pathways: in particular mental health, substance misuse, education and vocational training.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The decision to send to Brixton men with as little as 28 days left to serve impeded or negated a range of resettlement actions.
Other
Repeated
Property mislaid in transfer to Brixton has continued to cause distress to prisoners and wasted staff resources. From a sample of complaints we researched (5.7 below), we found unacceptable delays in recovering property and, when untraceable, in paying compensation for its loss.
Other
During the year, 11 men were unlawfully detained (UD), i.e. held after their release date. The Board considers this unjust: prisoners should be made aware of their right to compensation and the default action should be to make payment to them unless they sign a waiver.
Overcrowding
Repeated
Accommodation: The oldest wings of the prison, A and B, probably date from the first half of the 19th century. ... The toilet is about a metre from the bunk, on which prisoners sit to eat their meals. ... This is manifestly too crowded.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
For many years, the prison has been short of space for single cells and interview rooms on the wings and for classrooms in the right location for activities.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The recruitment of a sufficient number of uniformed middle managers was successfully completed by August 2025, ensuring each residential wing had two custodial managers and improved oversight. Staff and prisoner relationships were generally good, with staff noted as helpful and friendly. The Board observed some complaints about lack of key worker contact, but the number of sessions increased towards year-end, with an emphasis on improving quality. Senior management increased their visibility following HMIP criticism.
Healthcare
Healthcare is provided by Practice Plus Group, with Forward Trust for substance abuse and North London NHS Foundation Trust for mental health. Administration of healthcare appointments was excellent, and complaints to the Board halved. While wait times for specialist psychiatric input were acceptable, one-to-one counselling and psychotherapy had lengthy delays, often exceeding a prisoner's time at Brixton. Around 40% of the population received mental health medication, with a concerning rise in misdirected medication finds. A key challenge remains the lack of robust community handover plans for mental health patients upon release.
Regime & Daily Life
Regime varied across wings; while some experienced improved association and the reintroduction of evening activities, A wing prisoners complained of limited time out of cell, with a maximum of 90 minutes per day. The prison remained over 150 activity places short, and high turnover hindered course completion and access to classrooms, forcing the delay of external charity courses. The proportion of men out of work/education decreased from 30% to 23% by year-end.
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 | |
| Discipline (adjudications, release on temporary licence, HDC) | 67 | 51 | |
| Discrimination | 11 | 14 | |
| Finance (pay, private money, property, canteen, compensation) | 112 | 107 | |
| Healthcare | 24 | 48 | |
| Other | 6 | 7 | |
| Programmes, education, activities, work | 19 | 13 | |
| Safety (including staff treatment, violence, bullying, self-harm) | 27 | 30 | |
| Total | 339 | 340 | |
| Visits and correspondence | 28 | 32 |
Recommendations (5)
Other: 2
HMPPS: 3
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
This was to have been the reporting period in which Brixton changed from a category C resettlement prison to a category B primarily serving the courts. Preparations for this change have impeded work to reduce reoffending within the nine pathways: in particular mental health, substance misuse, education and vocational training. Will the Minister take note that this falls short of the response he gave to last year’s report (3.3 below)?
Other
(minister)
Regime
Response
Prisons continue to ensure that the rehabilitation needs of each prisoner are met and protected despite the impact of population pressures. The average time spent in Brixton has reduced considerably. The decision to re-role to B category has led to building work and prisoner transfers that adversely affected rehabilitation. Most prisoners continue to be held in the right place at the right stage of their sentence to get the help they need to manage their risks. For those with less than 12 weeks till release, they are still scheduled for discussion and actions fast-tracked dependant on the time left.
Recommendation 2
During the year, 11 men were unlawfully detained (UD), i.e. held after their release date. We have been told that UD compensation would be issued through HMPPS’s regional litigation teams if a legal claim is made by the individual and then assessed on a case-by-case basis by the presiding judge; and that HMPPS do not pay this by default. The Board considers this unjust: prisoners should be made aware of their right to compensation and the default action should be to make payment to them unless they sign a waiver. Will the Minister make this happen?
Other
(minister)
Other
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The decision to send to Brixton men with as little as 28 days left to serve impeded or negated a range of resettlement actions. Will the Prison Service take measures to avoid a repetition of this damage?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Response
Most prisoners continue to be held in the right place at the right stage of their sentence to get the help they need to manage their risks. For those with less than 12 weeks till release, they are still scheduled for discussion and actions fast-tracked dependant on the time left. As a result of an increase of men with short sentences, the number of men with less than 12 weeks till release has exceeded the capacity to support them.
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Property mislaid in transfer to Brixton has continued to cause distress to prisoners and wasted staff resources. From a sample of complaints we researched (5.7 below), we found unacceptable delays in recovering property and, when untraceable, in paying compensation for its loss. Men are likely to have been released before either of these steps. We (from the prisoners’ money section within the prison) have no way of confirming that compensation was in fact paid after release. What steps will HMPPS take to remedy this?
HMPPS
Other
Response
Property is still lost in transfer and examples cited in 5.7 below indicate long delays in its recovery or compensation paid.
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Given that in-cell phone calls cost more than calls outside prison, wages inside are low and men can only buy phone credit from their ‘spends’ account (which also covers canteen purchases) while being unable to use savings or private funds, what steps are being taken to ensure that emotionally vulnerable prisoners and those with overseas family can maintain essential contact without exhausting their allowances?
HMPPS
Respect
Response
Things that would raise prisoners’ morale...would be...cell phones available from day one, with prompt clearance of family and legal numbers
Other IMB Reports for Brixton
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
3 Mar 2025
IRP
4 Jun 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 1
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.