Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Ashfield
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 6 November 2025
The reporting period for HMP Ashfield was marked by significant change, including a new contract with Serco and the establishment of a new therapeutic community. While the Board found the prison generally safe, with high prisoner satisfaction in feeling secure, there were increases in self-harm and violence incidents compared to unusually low previous year figures. Key concerns include persistent staffing challenges impacting morale, inadequate social and dementia care for the aging population, and issues with the new split-week regime affecting purposeful activity and pay.
Positive Findings
The Board appreciated the efforts of senior managers during a challenging year of change, which maintained safety, as reflected in 94.5% of prisoners reporting feeling safe. Reception and induction processes were highly praised by new arrivals, and the prison maintained an excellent record in preventing illicit items. Key work is well-managed, exceeding new targets, and the prison's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion remains a striking feature. Property management was noted as efficient, and the Board welcomed timely responses to complaints.
Key Concerns
Healthcare
Urgent need for a comprehensive national older prisoner related strategy.
Healthcare
Inadequate social care, including end-of-life and dementia care, for people convicted of sexual offences.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Pressure on probation services inside and outside prison. Concern about prisoners being released without appropriate accommodation.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Last year, it was suggested that individual prisons would be provided with information about reoffending rates in the near future. Has there been any progress with this?
Other
How will the Prison Service improve the situation, whereby category D prisoners are being transferred to HMP Ashfield without prior adjudication or being placed on report and with no opportunity to put their case prior to transfer.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
With the introduction of the split work week and related pay structure in the new contract, what improvements are being made to simplify and make this fairer for all?
Staffing
The impact of key work reporting, providing escort staff in hospital and occasional redeployment to other Serco prisons has meant fewer wing officers available, all of which has resulted in low staff morale. What steps are being taken to relieve these pressures?
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The charity shop has been closed, initially due to building work and then staff shortages. Are there plans to re-open it?
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing at HMP Ashfield remains challenging due to difficulties in recruitment, retention, and a high proportion of inexperienced officers, despite an increased complement. Redeployment of staff for tasks such as bed-watches, key work duties, and secondments to other prisons has stretched wing officer availability. This situation has led to increased pressure on staff and observable low morale, with the high turnover contributing to inconsistency in approach.
Healthcare
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust provides healthcare at HMP Ashfield, though it is not commissioned for dementia or neurodiversity diagnoses, nor comprehensive social care. GP wait times average under four weeks, with dental waits up to 11 weeks. Key concerns include the lack of a 24-hour hospital wing, the financial strain of extended external hospital stays, and the reliance on the 'buddy system' to provide social care for an increasingly elderly population. Prisoner complaints frequently relate to GP service dissatisfaction and medication issues during transfers.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime was significantly impacted by the introduction of a new split-week system for education, skills, and work, which linked attendance to a tiered pay structure. This caused confusion, concerns about pay, and interrupted learning, with the Board finding it detrimental to purposeful activity. Although early-period movement restrictions that made the prison feel like a Category B were later relaxed, the continued closure of the charity shop due to building work and staff shortages further limited aspects of the regime.
Recommendations (8)
Other: 5
Governor / Director: 3
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Urgent need for a comprehensive national older prisoner related strategy. HMP Ashfield’s over 50s population sits at more than 43%. Is the Minister considering a strategy and, if not, why not? If you are thinking about a strategy paper, what is the timeline for it to be published?
Other
(minister)
Healthcare
Recommendation 2
Inadequate social care, including end-of-life and dementia care, for people convicted of sexual offences. With an increasing older population, what additional measures will be taken to assist prisons such as HMP Ashfield?
Other
(minister)
Healthcare
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Pressure on probation services inside and outside prison. Concern about prisoners being released without appropriate accommodation. What further measures are being taken to address this problem?
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Response
HMPPS offers a three-tier structure of temporary accommodation known as Community Accommodation Service (CAS). This includes CAS1, which is accommodation with a public protection focus for higher-risk offenders, known as Approved Premises, CAS2 for low to medium risk offenders on Home Detention Curfew or bail, and CAS3 that provides up to 12 weeks’ basic accommodation for prison leavers at risk of homelessness. HMPPS is also developing a new digitalised approach to Approved Premises referrals, through a National Central Referral Unit. This will oversee assessment for suitability and eligibility and match individuals to placements, whilst maximising occupancy and use of national capacity. Additionally, HMPPS is working closely with Local Authorities, our Strategic Housing Specialists, probation colleagues, and other partners to identify the most appropriate accommodation pathway for individuals who would otherwise be homeless.
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Last year, it was suggested that individual prisons would be provided with information about reoffending rates in the near future. Has there been any progress with this?
Other
(prison_service)
Resettlement
Response
Proven reoffending figures for offenders who were released from custody, received a non-custodial conviction at court, or received a caution or reprimand are published at the following link: Proven reoffending statistics - GOV.UK. By way of clarification, various changes were made in 2017 to the management and rehabilitation of offenders, known as Transforming Rehabilitation. Therefore, the data source was changed for compiling the statistics to better reflect the way in which offenders were now managed by the probation services. The new data source did not enable the department to break down the reoffending rate by prison, due to data quality issues. This has now been improved, and the Ministry of Justice anticipate being able to resume publication of the reoffending rates by prison in the future.
Recommendation 5
How will the Prison Service improve the situation, whereby category D prisoners are being transferred to HMP Ashfield without prior adjudication or being placed on report and with no opportunity to put their case prior to transfer.
Other
(prison_service)
Fair Treatment
Recommendation 6
With the introduction of the split work week and related pay structure in the new contract, what improvements are being made to simplify and make this fairer for all?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 7
The impact of key work reporting, providing escort staff in hospital and occasional redeployment to other Serco prisons has meant fewer wing officers available, all of which has resulted in low staff morale. What steps are being taken to relieve these pressures?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 8
The charity shop has been closed, initially due to building work and then staff shortages. Are there plans to re-open it?
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Ashfield
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
9 Oct 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 1
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.