Prison
Cat B training prison
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Swaleside
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 14 October 2025
HMP Swaleside has faced significant challenges, including a major influx of inexperienced staff leading to operational and relationship issues, and a pervasive problem with gang culture, illicit drug use, and high violence levels. Despite some positive developments in healthcare and equality initiatives, major concerns persist regarding prisoner mental health, an inadequate regime, overcrowding, and the effectiveness of security measures against contraband. The Board highlights the urgent need to address staff experience, regime provision, mental health support, and the management of illicit items and violence.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the senior leadership team, officers, and service providers for their efforts. Positive developments include an easing of the regime, effective work in the CSRU, improved staff morale in healthcare, and high completion rates for education courses. Significant progress has been made in managing complaints, with 95% responded to on time, and addressing inequality concerns, with improvements in DIRF response times and an increase in Black officers. Healthcare staffing levels have improved, and new initiatives like a 'smart' ward and digital health information board are operational.
Key Concerns
Safety
Repeated
Again, the Board has a concern about the gang culture in the prison.
Substance Misuse
Based on the results of random drug testing of prisoners, it is estimated that over 50% are using illicit substances. Cannabis and a synthetic cannabinoid (spice) are the most used, with the latter much harder to detect. The trade in illegal substances has resulted in a high level of debt, which creates fear of violence and settling scores.
Safety
Violence is a constant theme and the manufacturing of bladed weapons on site is ominous. A total of 620 adjudications (disciplinary hearings when a prisoner is alleged to have broken prison rules), for violent/threatening behaviour were recorded in the first four months of 2025.
Estate/Conditions
While there are maintenance issues with the showers, heating, hotplates and other parts of the estate, the prisoners benefit from all cells being sole occupancy.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
the easing of the regime during the year is a positive, but too often movement has been delayed or cancelled due to the shortage of staff and/or inexperience.
Mental Health
Repeated
Again, the Board is concerned about the appropriateness of these cells [CSRU] for prisoners with severe mental-health issues, for the extended length of time spent and for use as constant watch.
Staffing
Staff and prisoner relationships have been impacted by the low quantity and quality of key work sessions, due to the high number of new officers.
Mental Health
Prisoners’ mental health continues to be a major concern. While the in-reach team do their best to manage, there are not enough staff to cope with the caseload.
Mental Health
The time limits for assessing and transferring prisoners to secure or specialist mental health care units are not being met. The longest transfer for a prisoner was an astounding 721 days.
Overcrowding
The offender flow system continues to see prisoners sent to Swaleside, who should not be.
Staffing
The offender management unit (OMU) has continuing staff shortages, with two-thirds of capacity. This has had a detrimental impact on sentence progression. SDS40 (a scheme to ease capacity strains on prisons by allowing eligible prisoners to be released after 40% of their standard determinate sentence instead of the standard 50%) has increased the pressure, with a large amount of extra work.
Other
Repeated
The Board reiterates its concern about imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, which have no set release date.
Safety
Attempts to combat the incursion of drones nationally have not been successful. At HMP Swaleside, sightings are down but contraband is up, so it appears that drones are no longer being successfully detected.
Overcrowding
Repeated
Despite SDS40, the population pressure persists. Again, as a category-B training prison, Swaleside does not have the ability to double as a resettlement prison. Also, the pressure on spaces means some prisoners are being inappropriately sent to Swaleside.
Staffing
The inexperience of staff is compounded by the limited training they receive. This is not sufficient to commence employment.
Safety
Repeated
The Board shares the concerns expressed by the senior leadership team (SLT) that there have, again, been deaths in custody during the year, especially as only two were, apparently, due to natural causes.
Segregation
Repeated
Again, the length of time spent in the care, separation and reintegration unit (CSRU) by a number of prisoners remains too long and far exceeds regular recommendations.
Food/Catering
Repeated
While noting last year’s response that contractors had entered administration, the continued reliance of HMP Standford Hill on the kitchen at HMP Swaleside for the preparation of its food continues to cause major issues, as has been stated for years.
Mental Health
The Board notes the increase in trained mental-health staff, but the number of cases is combined with the inappropriate facilities to properly care for those with severe mental-health issues. When will the Prison Service increase secure units nationally?
Safety
Repeated
In our 2023-2024 annual report, we stated that the situation with body worn video cameras (BWVCs) needs to rectified, so that all staff can be issued with cameras.
Safety
Repeated
Again, there is a lack of sufficient constant-watch cells during times of crisis.
Other
The Board is concerned about the number of adjudications that are being adjourned and prisoners not attending. This undermines the effective running of the prison.
Safety
For the majority of the reporting year, violence was ranked as a ‘serious risk’ by the prison. Yet, up to 25% of prisoners are not placed on report, or BWVCs activated, as officers can feel intimidated about potential consequences.
Staffing
Staff and prisoner relationships have been damaged by the huge influx of inexperienced staff.
Substance Misuse
Drugs, mobile phones and other illicit items being recorded at ‘serious risk’ is not acceptable for the safety of prisoners and staff.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Too much time has been lost in movement to meaningful vocational work and/or education in the reporting year.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The Board remains concerned that prisoners are being released from Swaleside without proper support.
Safety
Repeated
The relentless theft of stock by prisoners from the DHL workshop has not been addressed.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
The inequality of opportunity for prisoners convicted of sexual offences (PCoSOs) and vulnerable prisoners still needs to be addressed, despite progress made in that direction.
Mental Health
Repeated
The Board remains concerned about the mental health of prisoners who have suffered long-term lockdown. This is evidenced by the number of assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) plans, self-harm cases and violent incidents. The first indications from the recent improvement in regime are positive. However, the necessity for increased psychology and psychiatric services still needs to be assessed.
Other
Repeated
The Board notes the backlog of adjudications (disciplinary hearings when a prisoner is alleged to have broken prison rules) and the excellent efforts taken by staff to alleviate this.
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Swaleside initially suffered from chronic staff shortages, but saw a huge influx of new, inexperienced staff this year, many on sponsored visas. This led to communication challenges, cultural misunderstandings, and a significant lack of experience, with nearly 50% having less than one year's service by September 2024. Despite increased recruitment, actual "boots on the ground" remained below target due to sickness and suspensions, impacting safety, conduct, and the quality of key work sessions. Training levels for control and restraint techniques reflect the high number of new recruits awaiting instruction.
Healthcare
The healthcare department, run by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, is under pressure despite improved staffing, especially at weekends. Mental health remains a major concern due to insufficient staff for caseloads and extreme delays in transfers to secure units, with one prisoner waiting 721 days. Medication management poses significant challenges, as a new dispensing system is unused due to staffing needs, and nearly 80% of prisoners are in possession of medicated drugs. There are also space constraints for clinics and staff offices.
Regime & Daily Life
The Core Day 5 regime increased time out of cell by 1.25 hours to 7.25 hours per week, which the Board considers insufficient. Delays and cancellations of movement for purposeful activity are common due to staff shortages and inexperience. The extended duration prisoners spend on the induction wing has inadvertently fostered gang culture, drug use, and debt, as transfers off induction have slowed. Overall, too much time is lost in accessing vocational work and education.
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) | 285 | 197 | |
| Adjudications | 216 | 120 | |
| Discipline/staff conduct | 110 | 57 | |
| Drugs | 33 | 24 | |
| Education and activities | 112 | 108 | |
| Equality | 28 | 85 | |
| Food | 166 | 110 | |
| Healthcare | 293 | 252 | |
| Legal | 132 | 105 | |
| Other | 857 | 180 | |
| Property | 958 | 206 | |
| Safeguarding | 20 | 12 | |
| Security | 32 | 17 | |
| Segregation | 102 | 70 | |
| Sentence planning and progression | 240 | 160 | |
| Total | 3,928 | 2,098 | |
| Visits | 88 | 50 | |
| Welfare | 114 | 85 | |
| Work/pay | 92 | 60 |
Recommendations (17)
Ministry of Justice: 4
HMPPS: 7
Governor / Director: 6
9 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board reiterates its concern about imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, which have no set release date. The Board notes the Minister’s response last year, that resentencing could result in prisoners being released without licence supervision. However, not resentencing is punishing them for their behaviour, which has undoubtedly been impacted by the uncertainty of IPPs that were abolished in 2012, with the Government stating that they were ‘not defensible’. When will the Minister review resentencing?
Ministry of Justice
Other (Justice System)
Response
The Board notes the Minister’s response last year, that resentencing could result in prisoners being released without licence supervision.
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board shares the concerns expressed by the senior leadership team (SLT) that there have, again, been deaths in custody during the year, especially as only two were, apparently, due to natural causes. What specific, actions are being taken to prevent further fatalities and improve prisoner safety?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 1
For the majority of the reporting year, violence was ranked as a ‘serious risk’ by the prison. Yet, up to 25% of prisoners are not placed on report, or BWVCs activated, as officers can feel intimidated about potential consequences. What support will staff be given?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 2
Prev. unaddressed
Attempts to combat the incursion of drones nationally have not been successful. At HMP Swaleside, sightings are down but contraband is up, so it appears that drones are no longer being successfully detected. What specific, advanced technology, such as that used by the military, will the Minister deploy across the prison estate to help combat this problem?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Again, the length of time spent in the care, separation and reintegration unit (CSRU) by a number of prisoners remains too long and far exceeds regular recommendations. The Board notes the response last year about exit strategies, but there has been no improvement. What actions and strategies have been implemented to reduce the time prisoners spend in the CSRU, why have these failed and how does the Prison Service plan to ensure an improvement?
HMPPS
Segregation
Response
The Board notes the response last year about exit strategies
Recommendation 2
Prev. unaddressed
Staff and prisoner relationships have been damaged by the huge influx of inexperienced staff. Will the Governor reassure the Board that the recent recovery in key work sessions from a low base will be matched with quality assurance?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Despite SDS40, the population pressure persists. Again, as a category-B training prison, Swaleside does not have the ability to double as a resettlement prison. Also, the pressure on spaces means some prisoners are being inappropriately sent to Swaleside. How does the Minister propose to address these two issues?
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
While noting last year’s response that contractors had entered administration, the continued reliance of HMP Standford Hill on the kitchen at HMP Swaleside for the preparation of its food continues to cause major issues, as has been stated for years. What will the Prison Service do to address the ongoing issue?
HMPPS
Food
Response
notes last year’s response that contractors had entered administration
Recommendation 3
Drugs, mobile phones and other illicit items being recorded at ‘serious risk’ is not acceptable for the safety of prisoners and staff. What steps is the Governor taking to ensure a safe prison environment?
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 4
The inexperience of staff is compounded by the limited training they receive. This is not sufficient to commence employment. What steps will the Minister take to involve Governors in the recruitment process, and what is the rationale for the exclusion of Governors from the process?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 4
The Board notes the increase in trained mental-health staff, but the number of cases is combined with the inappropriate facilities to properly care for those with severe mental-health issues. When will the Prison Service increase secure units nationally?
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 4
Prev. unaddressed
Too much time has been lost in movement to meaningful vocational work and/or education in the reporting year. How will the Governor address this issue?
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
In our 2023-2024 annual report, we stated that the situation with body worn video cameras (BWVCs) needs to rectified, so that all staff can be issued with cameras. The prison response was there are enough BWVCs for operational staff, but the Board believes non-operational staff need to have the opportunity when they come into contact with prisoners. Again, we ask when will the issue be rectified?
HMPPS
Safety
Response
The prison response was there are enough BWVCs for operational staff
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board remains concerned that prisoners are being released from Swaleside without proper support. How does the Governor plan to address this issue?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Again, there is a lack of sufficient constant-watch cells during times of crisis. The Board noted the response last year that in-patient department cells were being considered, but no decision appears to have been made and G wing’s cell has been intermittently out of action. When will a decision be made?
HMPPS
Safety
Response
The Board noted the response last year that in-patient department cells were being considered
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The relentless theft of stock by prisoners from the DHL workshop has not been addressed. What will the Governor do to prevent the thefts?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 7
The Board is concerned about the number of adjudications that are being adjourned and prisoners not attending. This undermines the effective running of the prison. What are the reasons for the high number of adjournments and non-attendances and what actions can be taken to address them?
HMPPS
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Swaleside
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
15 Dec 2025
Urgent Notification
11 Sep 2023
Announced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 2
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.