Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Northumberland
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 6 June 2025
HMP Northumberland, a Category C prison, experienced a challenging year due to RAAC issues impacting various areas, including education and reception, and contributing to spikes in self-harm and violence. Despite these challenges, the Board noted significant improvements in accommodation, healthcare provision, and progress in securing housing for prisoners on release. Key concerns remain around the inadequacy of mental health support and the effectiveness of education and vocational training in preparing prisoners for employment.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomed significant improvements to house blocks and cells, including the positive opening of a new 60-bed unit for PCOSOs. Healthcare provision improved with a new head of healthcare, increased accessibility through zone-based teams, and closer collaboration with Northumbria NHS. There were notable initiatives in vocational training, such as the Bicycle Repair and Recycling Shop, and progress in securing accommodation for prisoners on release.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
The Board remains concerned about the inadequate mental health provision.
Estate/Conditions
The problems with RAAC have had a destabilising effect on the prison, resulting in some increases in violence and self-harm.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The Board remains concerned over the inadequacy of the initial assessment and that the education and training provided may not adequately assist prisoners in obtaining work on release.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Our overall concern is that in the majority workshops, the numbers who can be accommodated are quite small and the level of qualifications attainable is modest.
Healthcare
The waiting time to see an optician is, however, 16 weeks.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff-prisoner relationships are generally positive, with the prison actively working to improve them further through greater staffing stability. In healthcare, an important achievement was the absence of locum or agency staff, and high staffing levels led to improved patient care. However, mental health services experienced recruitment issues, operating under business continuity.
Healthcare
Healthcare delivery at HMP Northumberland has seen overall improvements, especially since the appointment of a head of healthcare, leading to more accessible zone-based care and better relationships with external NHS trusts. The prison has increased pharmacy staff, introduced on-wing clinics, and improved access to diagnostics. While physical healthcare and rapid triage for dental pain are positive, the Board remains concerned about inadequate mental health provision, which has operated under business continuity due to recruitment issues, despite some progress in psychology services.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison adjusted its core day in October to improve access to work and education, with activities commencing at 9 am and finishing at 4:30 pm, followed by evening association. Purposeful activity is incentivised, with non-participants remaining in cells. The regime was significantly disrupted by the discovery of RAAC in the education block and workshops, necessitating alternative delivery methods like in-cell learning.
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 | 3 | 2 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 1 | 4 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 3 | 5 | |
| Equality | 1 | 2 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 4 | 7 | |
| Food and kitchens | 7 | 2 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 23 | 25 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 3 | 6 | |
| Miscellaneous | 0 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 14 | 12 | |
| Property within the establishment | 24 | 11 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 8 | 8 | — |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 16 | 15 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 32 | 29 | |
| Transfers | 3 | 6 |
Recommendations (3)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 1
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What measures can be implemented to ensure mental health support is available within a reasonable timeframe to prisoners who require it?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Response
No real improvement in this area has been seen
Recommendation 2
What action can be taken to ensure any remaining RAAC issues are dealt with swiftly?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What are the plans to improve progression for prisoners so that they can move into work upon release?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Response
Progress in this area has been hampered by RAAC being found in the education block and workshops. The Director has worked hard to put in place alternative arrangements and maintain and improve levels of engagement.
Other IMB Reports for Northumberland
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.