Prison
Cat D open prison
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Haverigg
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 2 April 2025
HMP Haverigg, a Category D open prison for men, maintained low levels of self-harm and violence, with two deaths in custody. The Board commended efforts to improve facilities and provide high-standard healthcare for an increasingly elderly and complex population, despite some staff vacancies. Key concerns included challenges for ex-PCoSO prisoners in finding employment, difficulties securing accommodation on release, and prisoners' reluctance to raise complaints due to perceived negative consequences.
Positive Findings
The Board found that levels of self-harm, assaults, violence, use of force, and illicit items remained low, with no evidence suggesting prisoners are unsafe. Sustained efforts were made to improve facilities and the overall prison environment. Healthcare services are of a good standard and valued by prisoners, with the mental health team fully staffed and effective. The prison maintains a positive culture encouraging personal development and responsibility, enhanced by family support and involvement, ensuring prisoners have opportunities for progression. Notably, primary emergency help training saved at least one prisoner's life during the year.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
The Board is concerned about the disadvantage facing ex-PCoSO prisoners in gaining employment when leaving custody, due to the reluctance of some businesses to consider them for available jobs.
Resettlement/Release
Given the growing difficulties securing timely and suitable accommodation for prisoners on release, and acknowledging the number of agencies that are often involved (prisons, probation, police, local authority, etc), what plans does the Minister have to minimise the risk of a growing number of prisoners becoming homeless, losing job opportunities, reoffending and being returned to custody?
Healthcare
When will the Minister improve the range of support services for an increasing number of very frail elderly prisoners (80+ years) who have complex physical, mental health and social care needs? Does the Minister consider that prison is a suitable environment for this cohort of prisoners? If not, what are the alternatives?
Estate/Conditions
We believe that the regime and environment at open prisons such as Haverigg are best suited for effective rehabilitation and call for a long-term investment plan that seeks to continually improve and enhance the prison environment to the overall benefit of prisoners, staff and the wider public.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Concerns persist around prisoners’ unwillingness, or reported reluctance, to reach out for support when needed.
Estate/Conditions
Despite ongoing issues with the structural integrity of the accommodation blocks
Food/Catering
prisoners continued to tell Board members of their concerns in this area [food], especially with regard to the quality, quantity and calorific value of meals.
Safety
the Board raised concerns about delays in the implementation of the Fire Safety Improvement Plan and an increase in the number of false fire alarms.
Healthcare
Some six prisoners arrived on transfer without their prescribed medication and after healthcare staff had left the prison.
Resettlement/Release
mounting concerns from prisoners about changes to individual risk levels that might affect progression, ROTL access and release/resettlement arrangements.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The remote location of HMP Haverigg impacts recruitment for specialist posts. Healthcare experienced staffing changes, with the GP post remaining vacant and reliance on locum doctors, and the new healthcare manager leaving. Vacancies for an Imam and a Catholic chaplain persist. Despite this, the Board commends staff efforts, particularly two part-time Anglican chaplains, for ensuring continuity of service provision and providing sensitive care for the increasing number of frail and elderly prisoners.
Healthcare
Healthcare staff deliver services to a high standard for a diverse and ageing cohort with complex needs. However, the GP post remained vacant, relying on locum doctors, and the healthcare manager was leaving. Prisoners provide positive feedback on the caring and responsive team. The remote location creates unavoidable issues for access to secondary and emergency care. The mental health team is fully staffed with good communication and effective cooperation with external bodies.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison's size and layout allow prisoners almost unlimited time out of their rooms, with many spending much of the day outdoors on allotments, walking, exercising, and socialising. Prisoners value this freedom. Efforts are made to improve the environment, often with prisoner involvement, and creativity is encouraged through arts, crafts, and woodwork. Peer-led initiatives, such as a breakfast club for elderly or socially isolated prisoners, have also increased.
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 | 1 | 3 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 1 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 1 | 0 | |
| Equality | 2 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | 2 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 3 | 4 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 1 | 2 | |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | 9 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 5 | 10 | |
| Property within the establishment | 3 | 3 | — |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 5 | 1 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, recategorisation | 15 | 13 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 4 | 2 | |
| Transfers | 0 | 1 |
Recommendations (5)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
As the Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, when will the Minister consider the use of supportive messaging for employers, which will help to address this disadvantage?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Given the growing difficulties securing timely and suitable accommodation for prisoners on release, and acknowledging the number of agencies that are often involved (prisons, probation, police, local authority, etc), what plans does the Minister have to minimise the risk of a growing number of prisoners becoming homeless, losing job opportunities, reoffending and being returned to custody?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
When will the Minister improve the range of support services for an increasing number of very frail elderly prisoners (80+ years) who have complex physical, mental health and social care needs? Does the Minister consider that prison is a suitable environment for this cohort of prisoners? If not, what are the alternatives?
Ministry of Justice
Healthcare
Recommendation 4
Given the age of the prison and the structural integrity of its buildings and facilities, the Board acknowledges the recent capital expenditure at Haverigg, including, for example RDCs, a fire safety system, laundry, kitchens and dining areas. We believe that the regime and environment at open prisons such as Haverigg are best suited for effective rehabilitation and call for a long-term investment plan that seeks to continually improve and enhance the prison environment to the overall benefit of prisoners, staff and the wider public.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Concerns persist around prisoners’ unwillingness, or reported reluctance, to reach out for support when needed. The Board is encouraged by local steps taken to help address this issue and to reassure prisoners, but we recommend that a strong focus is maintained in this key area.
Governor / Director
Complaints
Other IMB Reports for Haverigg
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
31 Mar 2025
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.