IMB Annual Reports

- Acutely mentally unwell prisoners continue to be segregated in the CSU, awaiting transfer to appropriate psychiatric facilities, with staff lacking specialist training.
- The prison continues to experience extremely high levels of property loss and damage for prisoners transferring from other establishments, with HMPPS systems proving ineffective.
- Access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) remains alarmingly low, hindering resettlement efforts despite available employment links.
- Population pressure continues to negatively impact prisoner outcomes, including increased self-harm, violence, and transfers away from family networks.
- Inconsistent staff effectiveness in resolving basic prisoner issues, alongside poor operational oversight and meeting attendance, contributes to prisoner frustration.
- Concerns persist regarding the lack of enhanced gate security and the rising presence of illicit drugs, including synthetic opioids.

- The Probation Service in the OMU remains understaffed, impacting the management of high-risk and IPP prisoners.
- All transfers to secure mental health facilities continue to exceed the 28-day stipulated timeframe.
- The Board no longer receives clinical reviews from PPO reports on deaths in custody, limiting monitoring.
- There are ongoing issues with property policy adherence, particularly missing property for incoming prisoners.
- Inconsistent standards during food service at serveries, including PPE use and equipment functionality, remain a concern.
- There are persistent issues with the availability of prison and health complaint forms on houseblocks.

- The size of double rooms is unsuitable and does not comply with PSIs when used by two prisoners, making it impossible to fit adequate furniture.
- There are no on-site residential healthcare facilities, meaning prisoners with complex medical or end-of-life conditions must remain on units or be transferred externally.
- Ongoing delays with Community Offender Managers completing OASys assessments for prisoners, causing delays to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) applications.
- Little tangible progress continues to be made regarding the plight of IPP prisoners.
- The quality of some accommodation is poor, and despite proposals, there has been no progress in replacing or converting dormitories to smaller, more suitable rooms.
- Prisoners' property frequently does not arrive in its entirety on transfer, leading to long waits and potential loss of personal and legal documents.

- The continuing influx of drugs and mobile phones, primarily via drones, exacerbating debt and organised crime within the prison.
- The prolonged detention of IPP prisoners beyond their sentences due to insufficient programmes, courses, and support for progression towards release.
- Overcrowding, particularly the doubling up of single cells, which is unsuitable for the prison's cohort, especially older prisoners with health issues.
- Limited opportunities for purposeful activity, work, and education, further compounded by workshop closures for renovation and potential reductions in education provision.
- The frequent short-term transfer of prisoners close to their release dates, disrupting resettlement planning and causing distress.
- Persistent accessibility issues for disabled prisoners, including poor wheelchair access and long distances between essential services.
- Ongoing problems with prisoners' property, particularly for those transferring between establishments, and inadequate reception space.

- Ingress of drugs remains a constant battle, with high incidents of prisoners being under the influence of illicit substances and violence.
- In-cell fires and vandalism have increased, often stemming from fear of violence and demands for relocation.
- Many prisoners are brought in from out of the area, creating challenges for family contact and gang management.
- Large numbers of prisoners with mental health issues are held in conditions not designed for their needs, exacerbated by inadequate officer training and a severe lack of secure hospital spaces leading to prolonged waits for transfer.
- Early release schemes reduce time for prisoners to complete rehabilitation courses, obtain qualifications, and adequately prepare for resettlement, further impacted by the Wrexham Borough Council policy of assessing housing only on the day of release.
- Substandard cell conditions persist due to a halted refurbishment programme, and medication cannot be dispensed over weekends if prisoners arrive late on Fridays.
- Key worker provision remains inconsistent, and digital food thermometers are frequently out of order due to stolen batteries.

- The poor standard and maintenance of induction cells and the lack of clear guidance for new arrivals.
- The continued availability of illicit substances despite enhanced security measures.
- The deteriorating and insufficient healthcare building, leading to issues with decency, confidentiality, and space.
- Challenges with healthcare provision, including prisoners arriving without essential medication, frequent loss of hospital appointments due to escort shortages, and lack of nicotine replacement therapy.
- The inability to adequately manage frail and elderly prisoners within the main estate and the high caseload of offender managers.
- The ineffective operation of the prison council and the persistence of property loss during transfers and cell clearances.

- Persistent lack of consistent senior leadership created a significant lack of structure and impacted the prison's ability to address issues.
- The HMIP Urgent Notification highlighted long-standing failures, with recommendations from a 2021 inspection still unaddressed, particularly in respect, purposeful activity, and preparation for release.
- The prison's Edwardian-built wings continue to deteriorate, barely meeting acceptable accommodation standards, with ongoing issues like mould and vermin.
- Major strategic changes, including the Cookham Wood merger and the introduction of PCoSOs, were implemented too quickly with insufficient planning, causing significant logistical and operational disruption.
- Staffing shortages due to high sickness and inexperience frequently lead to restricted regimes and limited time out of cell for prisoners.
- Ongoing problems with property loss during transfers and internal moves persist, exacerbated by a failure to implement volumetric control.
- There is a lack of trainers and tutors in Education and Skills, and insufficient provision of behavioural programmes, particularly for PCoSOs, impacting resettlement.

- The lack of a centrally directed, long-term solution to the injustice of the IPP sentence and its impact on the mental health and wellbeing of affected prisoners.
- The need for government initiatives to facilitate national partnerships for employment for prisoners convicted of sexual offences (PCoSOs) and encourage appropriate employment opportunities on release.
- The compassionate release process remains unnecessarily difficult, with specific requirements leading to applications not being completed before death.
- The need for increased staff to avoid rationing hospital escorts, given the ageing population and high demand.
- Concerns regarding property lost on transfer, especially sensitive documentation, and the need for improved checking processes.
- Questions regarding the reliability of the prison body scanner and its impact on CSU placements.
- A sense of hopelessness among many IPP prisoners and a potential gap in one-to-one targeted support for more complex prisoners.

- High level of violence in the prison, including prisoner-on-prisoner assaults.
- Illicit substances continue to enter the prison, with high availability, including through drones and thrown packages.
- Significant delays in transferring prisoners with mental health issues from the CSU to appropriate facilities.
- Deteriorating estate condition, including shabby shower/toilet blocks, bedbug problems, and persistent overcrowding.
- Ongoing issues with loss or misplacement of prisoners' property during transfers, causing distress and frustration.
- HMP Ranby functions more as a resettlement prison (40%) than its designated Category C training role (60%), exacerbated by a high churn of short-term prisoners who cannot access rehabilitative courses.
- A rising proportion of inexperienced staff, lacking life skills and empathy for vulnerable prisoners, compounded by key workers being pulled from duties due to staff shortages.
- Persistent problems with the canteen system, including incorrect orders, delayed refunds, and inadequate contract management.
- Complaint forms (including IMB and IPCI ombudsman forms) have not been readily available on the house blocks despite repeated concerns raised.
- Healthcare staffing shortages contributing to delayed responses to prisoner complaints.

- The high level of 'short time to release' prisoners creates significant 'churn' pressure, impacting regime, education, employment, and the OMU.
- There are not enough education, skills or workplaces, leading to low attendance and too many prisoners being released to no fixed abode.
- Prisoner property loss during transfers remains an unacceptable and long-standing issue, exacerbated by increased churn.
- 256 prisoners are sharing cells designated for single occupancy, which the Board views as unsatisfactory or not decent.
- Key worker sessions are severely compromised by high prisoner turnover and staffing pressures, leading to low figures.
- Healthcare providers face additional workload from population turnover and drug/alcohol issues, with oversubscribed clinic space and some weak medicines management.

- Persistent high levels of violence, linked to the proportion of Time Served Foreign National Offenders (TSFNOs) and detainee frustration over prolonged detention.
- Inappropriate detention of vulnerable individuals with significant mental health problems, including their prolonged housing in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) due to a shortage of specialist beds and poor information sharing from prisons.
- Safeguarding concerns, including the shared CSU for male and female detainees and issues with visual access between male and female units leading to unwelcome comments.
- Lengthy and uncertain detention periods, especially for TSFNOs, contributing to detainee frustration, anger, and deteriorating mental health, compounded by slow casework progression and bail accommodation delays.
- Inconsistent application of rules and potentially inhumane treatment, such as threats of force for administrative transfers and routine handcuffing of detainees during hospital visits.
- Challenges in healthcare provision due to a lack of medical history for new arrivals, particularly from the prison estate, which delays essential medication and assessment.

- The prison is a less safe environment than last year for prisoners and staff, with significant increases in staff assaults and prisoner-on-prisoner violence.
- There is an increased availability of illicit drugs, particularly Spice, and consequential prisoner debt, which are major contributory factors to the increased violence.
- Equality appears to be of lower priority due to the unreplaced full-time equality manager role, impacting the timeliness of discrimination complaints.
- The prison faces considerable challenges with prisoners requiring mental health transfers to secure hospitals, highlighting a lack of sufficient beds.
- Staffing shortages and contract issues contribute to excessively long waiting times for GP and dental appointments.
- The chronic shortage of qualified probation officers persists, leading to delayed categorisations and unsustainable workloads.
- There is no robust system for identifying and assessing prisoner social care needs, especially for the increasing elderly population.
- The number of prisoners on open ACCT plans in the SARU is concerningly high, given the exceptional nature of such segregation.
- The lack of enhanced security gates at both sites facilitates the ingress of illicit items, contributing to safety issues.
- Workshops and family visit waiting facilities require urgent repair and funding.
- Many adjudications are procedurally incorrect or dismissed, indicating issues with the disciplinary process.
- Poor condition of food trolleys, issues with food temperature, portion control, and servery supervision negatively impact prisoner welfare.
- The central laundry has been out of operation since 2021, and there are ongoing problems with washing machines and dryers on wings.

- The continued use of small single cells as doubles, with barely screened toilets, raises concerns about dignity and humane treatment.
- Complaints regarding the quality, quantity, and ordering system of food are rising, with the food comments book often inaccessible.
- Prisoner-on-prisoner violence and self-harm incidents have increased, as have incidents where force was used.
- Preventing the availability of illicit items, especially drugs like Spice, remains a constant challenge, with a noticeable spike in 'under the influence' cases.
- The PPO has raised concerns about the quality of physical healthcare not being equivalent to community standards.
- There are delays in transferring PIN numbers for prisoners moving from private to public sector establishments, causing anxiety and impeding family contact.
- Inadequate bandwidth prevents the consistent deployment of body-worn video cameras.
- The amount of property lost during transfers, exacerbated by high prisoner churn, remains a significant problem.
- Limited specialised rehabilitation procedures are available for IPP prisoners, leading to persistent low optimism.
- Mental health waiting times of 5-6 months exclude many short-sentence prisoners from receiving necessary support.
- The amount of work available in workshops is reported to be lower than in the past, with instructors having to slow pace to occupy prisoners.

- Appliances in the main kitchens frequently break down, posing food safety risks and requiring upgrades.
- The transfer of prisoners' property between institutions remains problematic, with unacceptable amounts going missing or experiencing significant delays.
- Delays in Home Office processing for the Early Release Scheme and for prisoners beyond their conditional release date cause frustration and unnecessary pressure on the prison system.
- The library is under-resourced in staffing, leading to frequent closures and reduced service, hindering this essential rehabilitative function.
- A high number of prisoners are unemployed or jobseekers, and attendance at education and workshops is concerningly low.
- There is little purposeful activity and limited educational resources available in the Care and Separation Unit.

- Delay in mobile phone pilot scheme and lack of equivalent communication devices
- Lack of spaces in approved premises leading to delays in parole/release
- IPP prisoners remaining incarcerated beyond their indicative tariff dates
- Unreliability and regular failures of BT PIN phones
- Food budget not keeping pace with inflation
- Inefficiency and increased workload of Community Offender Managers (COMs) impacting resettlement
- Need to increase facilities and staffing levels proportionally to the proposed rise in operational capacity
- Property transfer issues and failure to apply volumetric limits consistently across establishments
- Increasing complaints involving intimidation and bullying of vulnerable prisoners
- Delay in providing an emergency call bell system in wings for less able and elderly prisoners
- ISFL drug testing failing to reflect local drugs of choice (Subutex and ketamine)

- The constant struggle to find staff resources, leading to frequent regime cancellations and poor delivery of key worker contact.
- A significant increase in reported self-harm incidents (from 400 to 557), violence on both prisoners and staff, and use of force incidents (from 334 to 469).
- Failures in the use of body worn video cameras (BWVC) and an unreliable CCTV infrastructure, impacting monitoring and accountability.
- Frequent failure to deliver beyond minimum regime, resulting in prisoners being locked in cells for prolonged periods.
- The inhumane length of time prisoners with severe mental health issues are kept in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) awaiting appropriate hospital transfers.
- Outstanding prisoner complaints from other establishments, particularly regarding lost property during transfers, remain a persistent problem.
- The persistent and worsening problem of illicit items (drugs, mobile phones, weapons) entering the prison, despite vigilance.
- Significant delays in refurbishment works (G wing and new workshops) due to contractor liquidation, leaving 230 bedspaces unavailable and an uncertain timescale.
- Poor maintenance response times for the old building's infrastructure and electro-mechanical services, impacting security, safety, and decency.

- High levels of illicit substances and increased drone activity, impacting safety and security.
- Significant increases in violence and self-harm incidents, with a high number of prolific self-harmers.
- Poor and sub-standard living conditions, including cell windows, older cells, exercise yards, and inadequate laundry facilities.
- Unacceptable long waiting times for general practitioner and dental appointments, with an urgent need for dental chair replacement.
- Lack of prisoner engagement in meaningful activities and an inadequate number of workspaces.
- Persistent delays in vetting new staff appointees and significant backlogs in Offender Management System (OASys) completion and sentence planning.
- Ongoing issues with missing, mislaid, and delayed prisoner property, particularly during transfers.

- Inadequate capacity within the prison system, leading to double-celling in inadequate spaces and prisoners being held far from support networks.
- Lack of capital funding for enhanced gate security measures.
- Persistent significant issues with prisoners' property during transfers between establishments.
- Insufficient catering budget allocations, requiring the establishment to supplement from other budgets and prisoners to subsidise their diets.
- Significant resourcing challenges within the Probation Team, impacting support for prisoners pre- and post-release.
- Poor communication protocols from prison officers to the IMB regarding serious incidents and segregation reviews.
- Ongoing issues with vermin infestation, particularly in the Victorian section of the establishment.
- A sharp rise in incidents of self-harm and assaults on both prisoners and staff.

- The kitchen is inadequate for the prison's size, impacting food quality, with a promised new kitchen repeatedly delayed.
- Illicit items, particularly steroids, continue to be found, contributing to a worrying rise in adjudications.
- Despite efforts, engagement with mental health services remains low, suggesting ongoing stigma or prioritisation of employment over mental wellbeing.
- Reduced gym access during evenings and weekends due to staffing limitations frustrates men, especially those engaged in community work.
- The new OMU building was demolished due to significant faults, leading to considerable delays and indicating a failure in building project monitoring.
- There is an increasing trend of men arriving at the prison without their essential medication.

- The unsuitable remote location and inadequate communications infrastructure, leading to inhumane and unequal treatment.
- The long and frequent disruptive journeys, often at night, causing anxiety and fear for vulnerable women.
- Continued detention of extremely vulnerable women, including those with serious mental health issues, and maintenance of detention after Rule 35(3) reports.
- Unacceptably long waiting times for Rule 35(3) assessments (up to 21 days).
- Frequent dissatisfaction with the variety, quality, and portion sizes of food provided.
- Deficiencies in the availability and consistent use of translation services and lack of progress on mobile phone reception/Wi-Fi calling.
- Reduced provision of activities for health and wellbeing, particularly for those with anxiety and mental health issues.
- The absence of a legal time limit for immigration detention.

- The large number of self-inflicted deaths in custody continues to be a critical concern.
- ACCT document checks on prisoners at risk of self-harm and suicide may not have been accurately logged.
- Prisoners continue to share cramped cells, often with recurrent toilet defects, and experience extreme temperatures.
- Lack of clarity and progress for IPP prisoners remains a concern despite a fall in numbers.
- The large number of prisoners with severe mental health issues are not prioritised for transfer to appropriate facilities.
- The presence of illicit substances is a major concern, exacerbated by failed drug testing equipment and resulting regime curtailments due to staff shortages.
- Overcrowding creates pressure across all prison areas, impacting accommodation and resettlement outcomes for released prisoners.

- Low staffing levels impact safety of prisoners and staff.
- Violence, particularly gang-related incidents, continues to increase.
- Insufficient purposeful activity places, education, and training opportunities lead to prisoner frustration.
- Severe mental health needs are not met due to delays in transfer to secure hospitals.
- Persistent issues with property loss during transfers and poor condition of infrastructure (cells, heating, windows).
- The Crown Prosecution Service inadequately follows up and prosecutes assaults reported by the prison.

- The significant increase in violence (45%) and the challenges of managing safety due to inexperienced staff.
- Easy access to drugs within the prison, evidenced by high positive random drug tests, and increasing illicit item delivery via drones.
- Frequent, unpredictable regime changes and prolonged periods of cell confinement directly caused by staff shortages, impacting purposeful activity and prisoner well-being.
- Persistent and critical issues with staff recruitment and retention, leading to high turnover, redeployment, and an inability to consistently deliver key work.
- The unacceptable duration of segregation for prisoners with severe mental health issues due to a lack of suitable alternative accommodation and overburdened mental health services.
- The ongoing injustice of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, which continue to severely impact a significant number of prisoners.
- The deteriorating prison estate, including leaking roofs (until late in the reporting year), poor ventilation, and inadequate healthcare waiting facilities, with funding gaps for necessary repairs.
- Major problems with the timely and complete transfer of prisoner property, leading to loss of vital documents and compensation claims.

- The significant ingress of illicit drugs has profoundly negative effect on safety, leading to increased violence and self-harm.
- The prison is less safe for many prisoners and staff compared with the previous year, with prisoners increasingly seeking segregation as a sanctuary.
- The practice of "doubling up" cells designed for one continues.
- A high number of inexperienced staff contributes to a lack of knowledge in dealing with prisoner issues and an unwillingness to challenge unacceptable behaviour.
- Complaint forms are often not reaching the clerk or replies not reaching prisoners, eroding trust in the complaints process.
- Too few meaningful education and work courses are offered, inadequately preparing prisoners for release and contributing to boredom and drug misuse.
- The Board is 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, often resulting in prolonged stays in segregation.

- High levels of self-harm among prisoners with complex mental health needs who cannot be transferred to specialist facilities.
- Occasional accommodation of prisoners in double cells with limited toilet screening or no toilet seats.
- Outstanding estate maintenance issues including poor ventilation, missing door screens, broken exercise equipment, and poor drainage.
- Shortages of basic bedding and clothing for new arrivals.
- Delays and lack of communication regarding prisoner complaints, especially those related to previous prisons.
- Poor handling and loss of prisoners' property, particularly during transfers, which is a national systemic issue.
- Sharp increase in healthcare applications and unacceptably long waiting times for non-urgent and specialist appointments.
- Issues with medication administration, including delays and men going without essential medication.
- Lack of transparency in healthcare performance data and complaints, coupled with a significant discrepancy in complaint response times between the prison and healthcare providers.
- Concerns about the attitude and empathy of some healthcare staff.
- Under-resourced chaplaincy team with staffing gaps.
- A significant rise in prisoners on the basic regime, which is very restrictive and poses mental health challenges.
- Inconsistent use of body-worn video cameras during use of force incidents.

- Persistent issues with the heating and hot water system, leading to unacceptably hot or cold conditions.
- Significant gaps in psychiatry provision, impacting mental health service delivery.
- Continuing delays for prisoners requiring transfer to secure mental health facilities.
- Increase in self-harm incidents, up by around one third over two years, despite a slowing rate of increase.
- Increase in assaults on staff (15%) and use of force incidents (25%), with disproportionality against young adults and ethnic minority prisoners.
- Fall in prisoner attendance at education since late 2024 following regime changes.
- Disappointment that plans to renew and expand CCTV collapsed, leaving some high-risk areas uncovered.
- Property remains the biggest category of prisoner complaint.

- The IMB's access to detention records, especially at Poole and Cardiff, remains consistently inadequate, severely compromising effective monitoring.
- Border Force's lack of prompt responses to IMB questions and concerns from July to December 2024 prevented effective oversight.
- The absence of routine Use of Force statistics in monthly data returns prevents effective monitoring of this critical area.
- Persistent facility deficiencies include the absence of heating at Poole, frequent failures in providing hot water and soap at Portsmouth, and inadequate bedding storage at Bristol.
- The inability to consistently provide hot food and drinks at all sites, and for protracted periods at some (e.g., Portsmouth), was a concern, especially given potentially long detention periods.
- The expansion in passenger numbers at Bristol Airport will strain detention facility capacity, with no clear reassurance that this will be addressed.
- Deficiencies identified in Disability Access Reviews at all sites, even if not required to meet current regulations, are concerning.
- The arrangements for assessing and treating health conditions, particularly the withholding of medication, are deemed inadequate and pose potential health risks.
- Staffing levels, especially at Bristol Airport, are sometimes insufficient, leading to extended waits in less comfortable areas, with weekend flexibility still an issue.
- Children sometimes had to wait a considerable time for Social Services to attend, with the range of waiting times indicating room for improvement.
- Record-keeping quality, though showing some improvement, still frequently misses key information, hindering effective monitoring.
- Extended detention times frequently occur due to delays in arranging transport by Mitie Care & Custody or Clearsprings.

- The persistent issue of women with severe mental ill health being held in prison rather than suitable healthcare environments, causing significant disruption and resource strain.
- A substantial year-on-year increase in self-harm incidents that the Board wishes to see reversed.
- The need to capture and record every incident of use of force and violent assault, building on current progress.
- The ongoing challenge of short sentences preventing meaningful work and effective resettlement planning for some prisoners.
- The concern that some prisoners are still released without settled accommodation, often leading to recall.
- Lengthy waiting times for transfers of severely mentally ill prisoners to community mental health beds.
- Uncertainty regarding the future funding for two key NEPACS staff members providing crucial resettlement support.

- Inhumane conditions and overcrowding in STHFs, with detainees often held for extended periods (over 24 hours/overnight) without adequate sleeping provision, privacy, natural light, or exercise areas, and limited hot food.
- Lack of privacy during inductions and medical consultations, particularly for sensitive personal information, and inadequate facilities for healthcare professionals.
- Persistent issues with the fabric and maintenance of facilities, including the dilapidated Port of Felixstowe STHF and non-compliance with disability access standards in both old and newly built facilities like 2 Ruskin Square.
- Failure to deliver on ministerial commitments regarding facility improvements at Gatwick North and Felixstowe.
- Routine and non-compliant use of handcuffs at Luton Airport during detainee escorts, despite concerns about individual risk assessments.
- Lengthy waiting times (16-17 hours) for Children’s Services to respond to requests for support for unaccompanied minors.

- The level of illicit items and drugs entering the prison and the number of prisoners appearing to be under the influence of substances.
- The significant increase in prisoner-on-staff assaults, from 9 to 40 incidents, including three serious assaults.
- The ongoing issue of a failing central heating and hot water system, reported for the last five years, causing unreliable showers and anxiety.
- The new kitchen not functioning as intended due to contractor issues and expired warranties, with no new maintenance arrangement.
- One cell in the segregation unit being out of action for most of the year due to delays in replacement parts for the door.
- Persistent problems with property going missing during transfers, a lack of volumetric control between prisons, and unreliable handwritten property cards.
- The delay of over two years in providing new, suitable healthcare accommodation, leading to reduced care provision and inadequate clinical space for mental health services.
- Delayed mental health transfers, with some breaching the 28-day target timeframe.

- Delays in transferring seriously mentally ill prisoners to secure hospital settings and diversion from prison.
- A significant proportion of prisoners (33%) are released without arranged accommodation.
- Lack of suitable pathways and facilities for prisoners with severe dementia.
- Ineffective resettlement for men on repeated 14-day recalls.
- The persistent availability of illegal drugs within the prison, enabled in part by deteriorating cell windows facilitating drone deliveries.

- Overcrowding and its impact, including issues with cell sharing.
- A prisoner death during the reporting year.
- Inadequacies and ongoing issues with heating and hot water systems due to maintenance backlogs and funding constraints.
- Lack of accessible facilities for disabled prisoners and inadequate in-cell toilet screening.
- Mental health prisoners being held in the Care and Segregation Unit (CSU) and experiencing delays in transfer to specialist inpatient care.
- The discontinuation of funding for the 'Here 2 Help' peer support and emotional resilience training project beyond March 2025.

- Rising levels of violence, self-harm incidents, and use of force.
- The pervasive issue of drug availability, high positive MDT rates, and insufficient main gate security.
- Extended periods of lockdown (up to 23 hours per day) due to unacceptably high staff absence levels.
- A significant deficit in purposeful activity places, leaving many men idle and impacting their rehabilitation.
- Concerns regarding overcrowding and the poor condition of existing, often unfit-for-purpose, accommodation, exacerbated by plans for a three-tier system post-expansion.
- The ongoing situation of IPP prisoners held long beyond their tariff, impacting their mental health and hope for release.

- Six deaths in custody and concerns about learning from previous Prevention of Future Deaths reports.
- Pervasive availability of illicit drugs, high positive MDT rates, and a marked increase in 'code blue' incidents posing significant safety risks.
- Major deficiencies in healthcare provision, including lack of leadership, severe staff shortages (especially mental health and night cover), and long waits for transfers and appointments.
- Significant increase in use of force and persistently high levels of assaults on staff, indicating ongoing safety challenges.
- Chronic understaffing and under-resourcing in probation and psychology departments, impacting rehabilitation, resettlement, and access to purposeful activity.
- Systemic failures in the prisoner complaints system, property management, and informing the IMB of serious incidents.

• Ongoing and overrunning refurbishment projects, particularly the continued closure of A wing and the unsuitability of the temporary Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
• Deteriorating prison fabric, specifically damp, mould, and plumbing issues in D wing.
• Persistent availability and illicit use of drugs within the prison.
• Staffing shortages in healthcare, leading to diversion of staff and impacts on patient engagement and complaint resolution.
• Inadequate preparation and support for prisoners released under early release schemes, and the lack of appropriate accommodation on release.

- Children experiencing extended waits in Controlled Waiting Areas (CWAs) without dedicated responsible adults or adequate facilities.
- Holding rooms not being equipped for stays exceeding 24 hours, leading to discomfort due to insufficient mattresses, blankets, and lack of natural light/fresh air.
- Persistent issues with temperature control in holding rooms at both London Heathrow and London City Airport.
- Lack of direct internet access for detainees, hindering communication and access to personal health information.
- Delays and unavailability of certain languages with The Big Word translation service, impacting inductions and communication.
- Detainees at London City Airport and Eaton House lacking access to their own prescribed or over-the-counter medication.
- Insufficient Border Force officers leading to unnecessarily extended periods of detention in CWAs and holding rooms.
- Continued absence of toilet seats in Terminal 5 and frequent unavailability of showers in other terminals.
- Delays in collection by Clearsprings for asylum seekers awaiting transfer to accommodation.
- Difficulty for detainees in accessing timely and effective legal advice through provided lists.

- Inadequate mental health provision and slow access to support for prisoners.
- Destabilising impact of RAAC on prison safety, particularly regarding increased violence and self-harm, and disruption to education and workshops.
- Concerns over the effectiveness of initial assessment and the adequacy of education and training in preparing prisoners for employment upon release.
- Limited capacity in vocational workshops and the modest level of qualifications attainable.
- Long waiting times for optician appointments (16 weeks).

- Daily staff shortages and high sickness levels led to rotational lockdowns, limiting regime delivery and impacting services.
- There was a significant increase in serious assaults on staff and an overall rise in self-harm incidents.
- The segregation unit roll remained consistently high, restricting regime provision and creating transfer challenges.
- New healthcare contracts significantly hindered prisoners' access to services, particularly impacting mental health provision in segregation.
- Insufficient work and education opportunities persisted, exacerbated by delays in opening planned workshops.
- Concerns were raised regarding the training of new staff and their confidence in communicating with prisoners.

- Levels of violence remained high in the reporting period, whether this concerned serious prisoner-on-prisoners assaults or, indeed, prisoner assaults on staff.
- There is a lack of meaningful rehabilitation, despite stabilised staffing numbers, a concern repeated from the previous report.
- Turnover of newly enrolled staff and their competency in the role, coupled with a lack of professionalism and inability to lead prisoners, creates significant challenges.
- Communication with some prison staff is difficult, hindering basic information requests from the IMB.
- The interaction between staff and the wider prisoner population, particularly those not complying with the regime, is a concern.
- Deerbolt lacks suitable facilities to deal with many prisoners with complex needs.
- The physical healthcare team has struggled due to an increase in the age profile of prisoners and staffing challenges, leading to numerous complaints and instances of unaddressed threats to healthcare staff.
- Prisoners are often locked up for too long, contributing to mental health issues and drug use.
- The rapid increase in the average age of prisoners without a corresponding change in educational and rehabilitative offerings hinders meaningful progression.
- The prison continues to struggle with short-notice cancellations of classes due to staff shortages or incidents, a concern repeated from the previous report.
- There is a stark deficiency in the ability to allocate senior resident prison officers to each wing, and new staff lack sufficient 'prison craft' experience.
- The IMB was not sent key information about individuals in the segregation unit, use of special accommodation, and incentive scheme status, as details were removed from daily reports.
- Immense frustration exists over the loss of personal possessions during transfers, leading to compensation costs and resolution expenses.
- Substance misuse remains an ongoing problem, with multiple 'code blue' medical emergencies due to drug use.
- Furnishings in residential wings are often damaged or old and in poor repair.
- Complaints data is not robust, especially for healthcare, where complaints are known to be made but responses are not forthcoming.
- Maintenance issues plague industrial workshops, including electrical and heating failures, leading to closures and frustrated prisoners.
- The relative remoteness of Deerbolt remains an issue for visitors, particularly those relying on public transport, and the external visitors’ centre is a low priority for maintenance.

- Violence, including prisoner-on-prisoner and staff assaults, increased markedly during the year.
- There is a disproportionate use of PAVA spray on black prisoners, who are also over-represented in violence metrics, with underlying causes unclear.
- Emergency cell bells are not being answered within the required five minutes, particularly during peak times, posing a safety risk.
- The general standard of cleanliness, especially in serveries, remains poor, with dirty food remains left overnight.
- Prisoners with serious mental health problems are held in the Segregation Unit for extended periods, awaiting transfer to specialist hospitals.
- Prisoners endure long periods locked in their cells, with those on separate regimes having very limited time out.
- Issues with prisoner property, particularly during transfer, continue to generate a high volume of complaints and IMB applications.

- The Board is concerned that induction interviews at KIU are not held privately, impacting privacy for sensitive questions like modern slavery and health issues, especially for children.
- The isolation units at WJF are considered inadequate, inappropriate, and unsatisfactory, with one unit lacking a window and fresh air, a concern also noted by HMIP as "bleak." The hygiene of wooden benches in isolation units is also questioned.
- Detained individuals still lack sufficient information about their "process journey," including where they will be taken and for how long, adversely affecting their welfare.
- Unaccompanied children are sometimes subjected to initial age decision interviews during night hours, leading to them resting on wooden benches overnight instead of being properly rested before interviews.
- Repairs across facilities, such as those for the flooding showers at KIU, are often slow and inadequate, with delays attributed to Home Office approvals.
- The provision of visual information on screens for non-literate individuals needs improvement, as information is often only in written format.
- Cleaning standards for various facilities, particularly when busy, need more consistent high levels of service to ensure hygiene in bathrooms and other areas.
- Overcrowding can lead to individuals sleeping in close proximity on floor mats, with inadequate recreational seating in the barracks (3-4 chairs for 12 people).
- HMIP noted that some welfare interviews with unaccompanied children took place without an appropriate adult, and safeguarding issues were not sufficiently explored, with necessary referrals not always made. Children suspected of having scabies were reported to be freely mixing with others at KIU.

- There is no visible progress on the development of replacement accommodation units under the rapid development cell programme (RDCS).
- Issues with prisoners' property being lost or mislaid on transfer between establishments continue to be a national problem.
- Funding and budgets remain a concern, with a recommendation for more local purchasing autonomy.
- The prison continues to experience bed-bug infestations despite ongoing efforts.
- Support sought for two Jewish prisoners remains outstanding.
- Doubling up in the induction block is perceived as a regressive step by prisoners.
- Government policies are undermining successes in prisoner employment, with men having insufficient time to benefit from opportunities.

- Ongoing challenges with staff recruitment and retention, impacting key worker provision and overall morale.
- Increased incidents of self-harm and violence among prisoners, exacerbated by drug misuse and debt.
- Loss of prisoner property during transfers causing significant distress.
- Lack of educational qualifications and reduced attainment over five years.
- Delays in funding and execution of major capital works, particularly to the roofs.
- Prisoner wages not keeping pace with rising canteen costs.
- Potential detrimental effects of the prison's re-role on prisoner wellbeing and progression.

- The ageing fabric and building infrastructure at Gartree, particularly issues with heating, leaking roofs, and broken showers.
- Healthcare provision generally, and lack of response to prisoners’ complaints about this service.
- Inadequate access to mental health services and transfers to secure hospitals.
- The continued influx of drugs and illicit items.
- Prisoners being allowed to keep observation panels obscured, which is not challenged by staff.
- Inadequate facilities for some of the older and/or disabled prisoners.
- Access to truly purposeful activities for all.
- The support and help available to rehabilitate prisoners prior to release.
- Long periods of segregation for prisoners with complex needs due to lack of suitable alternative accommodation.

- The suitability of HMP Frankland or other LTHSE prisons for housing prisoners with dementia, given poor facilities and inadequate accommodation.
- Persistent issues with outsourced maintenance contractors causing significant delays in repairing essential equipment, notably in kitchens and workshops.
- The continued availability of illicit drugs within the prison.
- Ongoing problems with healthcare waiting room facilities for prisoners with mobility issues, including lack of ventilation and accessible toilets.
- Protracted delays in transferring prisoners requiring secure mental health hospital placements, with one transfer taking 146 days.
- Capacity issues in other high-security segregation units hindering the progression of long-term segregated prisoners from Frankland's MPU.