Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Lindholme
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 10 July 2025
HMP Lindholme, a Category C male training prison, faced significant challenges in the reporting year ending January 2025, largely due to a substantial ingress of illicit drugs, which led to increased violence and self-harm incidents. The prison's population of 946 was held in an establishment designed for 924, including 160 doubled-up cells. Key concerns include prisoner safety, the misuse of segregation as a sanctuary, and inadequate education and work provisions, impacting preparation for release.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the kitchen team for achieving a 'good' inspection rating after initial poor results. Efforts by senior management and staff to manage daily issues are recognised, and a supportive regime for self-isolating prisoners has been implemented. The re-establishment of a drug strategy forum and the successful setup of an incentivised substance-free living environment are welcomed. Positive strides are noted in supporting IPP prisoners, and the library facility and catering qualifications offered in the Bistro are highlighted as excellent. The management of the CSU and care provided by staff are also noted positively.
Key Concerns
Safety
Violence has increased within the prison, much of this resulting from the significant amounts of illicit drugs and contraband coming into the prison.
Safety
violence has increased within the prison, much of this resulting from the significant amounts of illicit drugs and contraband coming into the prison.
Substance Misuse
The ingress of illicit drugs into the prison has had a profoundly negative effect on its ability to keep prisoners and staff safe and reduce the reoffending of prisoners.
Safety
the Board believes the prison is less safe for many of the prisoners and staff compared with the previous reporting year.
Segregation
Repeated
Prisoners are increasingly seeking ways to be sent to the care and separation unit (CSU) to escape conflict, debt or the threat of violence.
Safety
Prisoners are increasingly seeking ways to be sent to the care and separation unit (CSU), where men are segregated, to escape conflict, debt or the threat of violence.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The practice of doubling up prison cells designed for one continues, with no sign of this outdated practice ending.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The practice of doubling up prison cells designed for one continues, with no sign of this outdated practice ending.
Segregation
Repeated
The Board is concerned about the number of men (32) being held in segregated conditions in the CSU for over 42 days this year.
Segregation
The Board is concerned about the number of men (32) being held in segregated conditions in the CSU for over 42 days this year (the limit allowed without external authorisation).
Segregation
Repeated
The CSU is perceived as a place of sanctuary by prisoners, who break prison rules in order to be taken there to escape debt, threats or drugs, or to simply take themselves out of the general prisoner population.
Segregation
the CSU is perceived as a place of sanctuary by prisoners, who break prison rules in order to be taken there to escape debt, threats or drugs, or to simply take themselves out of the general prisoner population.
Staffing
Repeated
Whilst the prison is reporting that they are fully staffed, the number of staff who are in their first three years’ service is high. The consequences of this are a lack of in-depth knowledge when dealing with prisoner complaints and issues and an unwillingness to challenge unacceptable behaviour or wrongdoing.
Staffing
Repeated
Whilst the prison is reporting that they are fully staffed, the number of staff who are in their first three years’ service is high. The consequences of this are a lack of in-depth knowledge when dealing with prisoner complaints and issues and an unwillingness to challenge unacceptable behaviour or wrongdoing.
Other
Repeated
The Board continues to be concerned about property going missing internally. This is when a prisoner moves cells within the prison or is moved to the CSU and his property follows later.
Other
Repeated
the Board is concerned about the number of applications and complaints raised concerning the loss of property in inter-cell moves within the prison.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Complaints’ forms submitted by prisoners are often not reaching the complaints’ clerk and, similarly, replies to a submitted complaint are not always received by the prisoner.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
prisoner complaint forms (Comp1s, which are ordinary complaints) are not reaching the complaints clerk and, similarly, the replies are not reaching the prisoner.
Mental Health
Repeated
The Board continues to be concerned about the lack of options for senior managers when choosing the most appropriate location for a prisoner whilst awaiting assessment for transfer under the Mental Health Act.
Mental Health
The Board continues to be concerned about the lack of options for senior managers when choosing the most appropriate location for a prisoner whilst awaiting assessment for transfer under the Mental Health Act.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Too few courses are being offered in education and work that provide meaningful training and progression.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
too few courses are being offered in education and work that provide meaningful training and progression. The recent IMB survey, 60% of prisoners who responded stated that the offer provided did not adequately prepare them for release.
Resettlement/Release
The board is concerned at the impact of prisoner population pressures is having on the prisons ability to prepare prisoners for release.
Resettlement/Release
the Board is concerned at the impact of prisoner population pressures is having on the prisons ability to prepare prisoners for release.
Estate/Conditions
The lack of cleanliness and staining of the cell toilets has been of particular concern to the Board.
Safety
The majority of prison-cell courtesy keys are missing. The consequence of this is that prisoners are unable to lock their cell when they leave it unattended, thus relying on staff, who are not always available, to lock them. The outcome of this is a prisoner’s property is regularly stolen whilst they are elsewhere.
Resettlement/Release
Inter-prison transfers to resettlement prisons are limited, which reduces the aim of rehabilitation.
Substance Misuse
There are suggestions that there is limited motivation for men to reduce drug dependency because there is a lack of a regular routine.
Food/Catering
standards at the point of service to prisoners are poor, despite the prisoners who serve food being given hygiene training.
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Lindholme is reported as fully staffed, but a high turnover rate means 158 out of 209 prison officers have less than three years' service. This inexperience leads to a perceived lack of in-depth knowledge in handling prisoner complaints and an unwillingness to challenge unacceptable behaviour, with some staff reportedly turning a blind eye to drug issues. These observations suggest a lack of confidence among staff in asserting authority.
Healthcare
The Board remains concerned about the limited options for senior managers regarding the placement of prisoners awaiting Mental Health Act transfer assessments, often resulting in prolonged stays in segregation despite associated risks. However, the prison has successfully established an incentivised substance-free living (ISFL) environment on L wing, with plans for expansion. The substance misuse team reports limited motivation for drug reduction due to a lack of regular routine, yet the team itself is highly regarded by prisoners.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime at HMP Lindholme is hampered by the ongoing practice of doubling up single-occupancy cells, a situation deemed outdated. Purposeful activity is insufficient, with too few meaningful education and work courses, and limited workshop places, leading to many prisoners working only part-time. This lack of engagement contributes to boredom, increased illicit drug use, and a sense of purposelessness among prisoners, failing to adequately prepare them for release.
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 laundry, clothing, ablutions | 10 | 5 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 3 | 11 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 12 | 18 | |
| Equality | 7 | 3 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | 7 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 6 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 33 | 21 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 9 | 5 | |
| Miscellaneous | 3 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 19 | 33 | |
| Property within the establishment | 10 | 22 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 7 | 6 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, recategorisation | 13 | 21 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 18 | 20 | |
| Transfers | 2 | 17 |
Recommendations (17)
Other: 2
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 10
8 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
The Board is concerned that the practice of “doubling up” cells designed for one continues
Other
(minister)
Overcrowding
Recommendation 2
Inter-prison transfers to resettlement prisons are limited, which reduces the aim of rehabilitation. The board considers that a more multifaceted plan should be adopted rather than merely building more prison places.
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
The Board asks that the Minister consider in what ways national resources could be deployed to provide additional support and resources to the prison in dealing with the serious ingress of illicit drugs, which is affecting its function as a training prison.
Ministry of Justice
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board asks that, in regard to those prisoners who have undertaken a gatekeeping assessment, the Director-General considers providing prison management with further resources, such that they will have increased options when assessing where to locate a prisoner whilst waiting for a bed in a secure hospital.
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 5
Repeated
The Board asks that the Minister address the continuing practice of “doubling up” cells designed for one.
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Recommendation 6
The Board asks that the Governor considers reviewing the quality of CSU paperwork and putting in place quality-assurance procedures.
Governor / Director
Segregation
Recommendation 7
The Board considers that a more multifaceted plan should be adopted rather than merely building more prison places, to improve inter-prison transfers to resettlement prisons which are currently limited.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 8
Repeated
The Board asks that the Governor considers monitoring the population of the CSU as currently many prisoners are being held there in excess of 42 days.
Governor / Director
Segregation
Recommendation 9
The Board asks that, in regard to those prisoners who have undertaken a gatekeeping assessment, the Director-General considers providing prison management with further resources, such that they will have increased options when assessing where to locate a prisoner whilst waiting for a bed in a secure hospital.
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board asks that further measures be taken to reduce the loss of property during cell movements within the prison.
Governor / Director
Property
Response
property complaints remain high and prison management will need to continue efforts in order to reduce losses and improve prisoner trust and confidence in this issue.
Recommendation 11
The Board asks that the Governor considers reviewing the quality of CSU paperwork and putting in place quality-assurance procedures.
Governor / Director
Segregation
Recommendation 12
The Board asks that the Governor considers implementing a deep-cleaning programme of the in-cell toilets.
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 13
The Board asks that the Governor considers monitoring the population of the CSU as currently many prisoners are being held there in excess of 42 days.
Governor / Director
Segregation
Recommendation 14
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board asks that a review be undertaken of submission and collection process for prisoner complaint forms (Comp1s, Comp1As/appeal forms, DIRFs/discrimination incident reporting forms) in order to raise prisoner trust and confidence.
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 15
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board asks that further measures be taken to reduce the loss of property during cell movements within the prison.
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 16
The Board asks that the Governor considers implementing a deep-cleaning programme of the in-cell toilets.
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 17
Repeated
The Board asks that a review be undertaken of submission and collection process for prisoner complaint forms (Comp1s, Comp1As/appeal forms, DIRFs/discrimination incident reporting forms) in order to raise prisoner trust and confidence.
Governor / Director
Complaints
Other IMB Reports for Lindholme
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
17 Jul 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 3
Activity: 1
Release: 1
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.