Prison
Cat Category A local
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Belmarsh
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 28 November 2025
HMP Belmarsh is a Category A local prison facing significant challenges during the reporting year ending June 2025. The Board noted a concerning rise in violence, strain on staffing impacting key worker sessions and daily regimes, and inadequate provision for vulnerable and seriously ill prisoners due to bed shortages and transfer delays. While staff professionalism and some positive initiatives were observed, persistent issues with property management, infrastructure, and purposeful activity, particularly for young offenders, require urgent attention.
Positive Findings
The Board commends staff and senior leaders for their dedication and professionalism in maintaining a safe and positive environment despite daily challenges. Positive developments include new neurodiversity initiatives, improved support for remand prisoners, and successful vocational training courses. Significant efforts have been made in developing an incentivised substance-free living spur, which has positively impacted the houseblock atmosphere. The prison has also seen improvements in reducing out-of-action cells, external area cleanliness, and the overall quality of healthcare provision. The equality team's work and the chaplaincy's support are also highlighted as positive.
Key Concerns
Safety
There was a 14% rise in incidents of violence, and violence was most frequent in the young adult age group (18-25 years old). This was accompanied by a 22% increase in the number of weapons found in the prison.
Safety
Repeated
The Board observed another significant rise in the number of vulnerable prisoners (VPs) deemed to be at risk of being targeted by other prisoners. There are too many VPs to accommodate on the prison’s dedicated spur and, at the time of reporting, between 20 and 30 VPs were being held in cells on general spurs alongside other prisoners.
Safety
Repeated
Insufficient care was being taken in some cases to ensure the wellbeing of prisoners who self-isolate. IMB members noted several occasions during the year when houseblock records were not up to date and officers were not clear about how many prisoners were self-isolating.
Staffing
There was a dramatic fall in the number of sessions between prisoners and their key workers. This was caused by a significant rise in the number of staff on sick leave. Staff absence also had a negative effect on the daily regime in the houseblocks, healthcare centre, segregation unit and the HSU.
Segregation
The Board had raised concerns to prison management about several issues in the segregation unit: The number of multi-unlock close supervision centre (CSC) prisoners being held at Belmarsh. The number of spaces in the segregation unit for use by the prison - just eight - after CSC prisoners and out-of-action cells were considered. Officers were obliged to manage prisoners involved in serious incidents on the houseblocks rather than in the segregation unit. The number of young adults (under 25) and young offenders (under 21) being managed in the segregation unit.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The Board does not believe HMP Belmarsh is sufficiently well resourced to be a suitable location for these younger individuals.
Healthcare
Repeated
Seriously ill patients on ‘do not unlock’ regimes were treated on the prison’s houseblocks or in its segregation unit because cells were not available in the in-patient unit (IPU). The shortage of cells in IPU is due, in no small part, to the number of high-profile prisoners with life sentences who are being held in the unit. There has been a rise in the number of seriously ill multi-unlock patients in the prison awaiting transfer to a secure hospital setting. A transfer should take place within 28 days of a referral being completed but it is taking on average 80 days.
Healthcare
Repeated
There were disturbing cases of prisoners hoarding their medicine, cases of prisoners either not receiving their prescription or being prescribed the wrong medication, and concern was expressed by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman about dispensing procedures in the case of more than one death in custody.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
The Board continues to be concerned about the failure to make proper provision for communicating with foreign national prisoners who struggle with English, especially in healthcare and at key worker sessions.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Although the numbers at Belmarsh have fallen over the year, the Board remains concerned about the situation of IPP (imprisoned for public protection) prisoners, some of whom have served much longer than their original minimum term and still have no clear route to release.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The Board is particularly concerned about the lack of purposeful activity for category A young offenders (aged 18-21 years old) and the negative impact it has on their mental health.
Estate/Conditions
Belmarsh is a relatively recent addition to the prison estate, but years of under-investment have started to show, and several areas of the prison need refurbishment.
Other
Repeated
The Board noted the frustration and stress prisoners experience when their property has been lost in the system. This remains the case, despite assurances from the Minister and HMPPS that the new Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework would improve the situation and outcomes.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels were significantly impacted by a rise in sick leave, leading to a dramatic fall in key worker sessions and negative effects on the daily regime across all units, including healthcare and segregation. The increase in multi-unlock prisoners further strained officer resources. While healthcare staffing levels improved from 61% to 71% of permanent posts filled, a substantial portion of appointees are still awaiting security clearance, indicating ongoing challenges.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision by Practice Plus Group generally meets a good standard, with over 90% of appointments seen. However, a shortage of in-patient unit cells means seriously ill patients are sometimes treated in houseblocks or segregation. Mental health transfers to secure hospitals are significantly delayed, averaging 80 days against a 28-day target. Concerns persist regarding timely medication for neurodiverse prisoners, instances of medication hoarding or errors, and inadequate communication provision for foreign national prisoners in healthcare settings.
Regime & Daily Life
Staff absence severely impacted the daily regime across all units, leading to reduced time out of cell and purposeful activity. This was particularly acute in the HSU, where a full regime was limited to three days a week, and for self-isolating prisoners who frequently missed showers, exercise, and education. Overcrowding in the segregation unit, exacerbated by multi-unlock CSC prisoners, limited available spaces and forced management of serious incidents on houseblocks, further impacting regime delivery for all.
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 | |
| Daily routine | 63 | 51 | |
| Food | 19 | 22 | |
| Healthcare | 48 | 39 | |
| Other | 31 | 28 | |
| Property | 38 | 65 | |
| Staff behaviour | 23 | 27 | |
| Visits (including legal) | 15 | 18 | |
| Work/education/activities | 12 | 14 |
Recommendations (13)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 5
9 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
As set out in previous years’ reports, will the Minister require the Prison Service to urgently review its procedures on the transfer of property and introduce basic automated systems using available technology?
Ministry of Justice
Other
Response
Ensuring effective and timely transfer of property when a prisoner is moved continues to present challenges for prisons across the country. Governors will be reminded of the importance of compliance with the Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework and, in particular, the need to adhere to volumetric control limits. I am advised that most of the issues that occur relate to excess items that have to be sent on after the prisoner’s departure. HMPPS will be seeking to introduce digital systems when this becomes feasible and will continue to look at what further improvements can be made to the process.
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Will the Minister take further steps to ensure that number of IPP prisoners continues to fall and that all remaining IPP prisoners have a clear route towards release?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Response
From 1 November 2024, anyone who was released on IPP licence five or more years ago and has spent at least the last two years of that period in the community without being recalled will have their IPP licence terminated without the need for a review by the Parole Board. Further reforms will be implemented on 1 February 2025, when a reduced qualifying period for consideration of licence termination will see around 600 additional referrals made to the Parole Board.
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the Minister work with colleagues across the NHS to provide more beds in secure hospitals to enable prisoners with acute mental health needs receive the most appropriate therapeutic treatment?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 4
Will the Prison Service invest in the prison infrastructure at HMP Belmarsh to avoid continued deterioration in its facilities?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 5
Will the Prison Service look at the arrangements that are made for locating CSC prisoners at HMP Belmarsh? If a suitable location is not available, will it undertake to increase staffing?
HMPPS
Segregation
Recommendation 6
Working with the Governor, will the Prison Service look at the allocation of ‘high profile’ prisoners to HMP Belmarsh? Will the Prison Service consider an alternative location to in-patient unit in the healthcare centre? Will the Prison Service also provide additional staffing resources to manage these prisoners, to ensure outcomes for the rest of the prison population are not negatively affected?
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the Prison Service look at ways to mitigate the significant cuts in the education budget?
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 8
Will the Prison Service look at ways of providing a technological solution, such as computer tablets, to assist in translations for foreign national prisoners with limited English, particularly in a healthcare setting?
HMPPS
Equality
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Will the Governor continue to reinforce programmes across the prison to improve the quality of assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) plan reporting, as well as the procedures for managing prisoners who self-isolate?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the Governor look at ways to improve the number of key worker sessions, particularly for the vulnerable and younger prisoners?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the Governor continue with initiatives to provide improved conditions and opportunities for young adult prisoners, and to improve the orientation for young offenders, under 21, who are sent to HMP Belmarsh?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the Governor continue to work with Practice Plus Group to improve the management and dispensing of medication within the prison?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 13
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
When will the Governor make more opportunities available for vocational training?
Governor / Director
Education
Other IMB Reports for Belmarsh
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.