IMB Annual Reports

- Severe staff shortages across both Feltham A and B sides, leading to severely curtailed time out of room and cancellation of education, activities, and key worker sessions.
- Inadequate provision for children with complex mental health needs on A side and for separated young people, including ineffective education and lack of suitable private spaces for wellbeing services.
- Significant safety concerns on B side, particularly assaults in communal showers, which deterred prisoners from attending education and workshops.
- The persistent and poorly managed issue of lost prisoner property, causing significant distress and wasted staff resources.
- Understaffing in the Probation Service, coupled with the national policy against single transfers, severely hampers sentence planning and resettlement for prisoners.
- Ongoing issues with the fabric of the estate, including long-standing leaking roofs and generally desolate exercise yards.

- A clear strategy is needed for the progression to release of IPP prisoners.
- The number of secure mental health spaces available is inadequate.
- The backlog of court appearances for remand prisoners, some held for over 12 months, needs addressing.
- Prisoners’ property continues to be lost in transit on a regular basis.
- Population pressures are increasing incidents, highlighting a need for more community-based sentences.
- Insufficient staff to ensure all healthcare appointments are attended.
- Lack of continuity and stability of staff in the CSU impacts Rule 45 reviews and prisoner support.
- Absence of a medical prescriber in Reception for out-of-standard-hours arrivals, affecting timely medication.
- Education and workshop activities require improvement for all prisoners.
- Continued training and development of inexperienced staff is essential for a safe environment.

- Serious incidents at height, including young people climbing on netting, bars, or roofs, necessitating escalation to the Youth Custody Service Executive Director.
- The total number of violent incidents, although slightly reduced, remains unstable, with an increase in fights.
- Inadequate time out of room, especially at weekends, which the Board deems neither fair nor humane for young people.
- Educational provision is still inadequate due to curriculum limitations, restricted regime, violence, and 'keep aparts,' further exacerbated by the closure of the main library for over a year.
- Safety concerns regarding housing over-18-year-olds with under-18s, a question directly posed to the Minister.
- Lack of adequate social work cover, particularly for maternity and sick leave, impacting oversight of child-protection paperwork.
- The need to enhance safety measures to reduce the making of protective weapons by young people.
- Challenges in developing positive relationships between young people and staff, with limited meaningful communication observed.

- Self-harm is an ongoing concern.
- A significant increase in illicit substance use and related incidents.
- Increasing pressure on the prison population.
- Persistent accommodation issues due to the prison's age, including lack of hot water and vermin.
- Lost property remains a continuing and significant problem.
- Inconsistent adherence to the key worker scheme due to staffing shortages.
- Insufficient support for accommodation on release, with many prisoners lacking arrangements.
- OMU and resettlement teams continue to be understaffed, exacerbated by vetting delays.
- Poor telephone service for visits booking since centralisation.
- Lack of out-of-cell dining space, forcing shared cells to eat near toilets.
- A long-overdue health needs analysis.
- Impact of medication changes on prisoners upon reception.
- Need for improved officer awareness and practice regarding transgender prisoners.
- An old Georgian infrastructure is unsuitable for prisoners with disabilities or mobility issues.
- A 23-week waiting list for Adult ADHD assessments.

- The inhumane regime, with boys held in cells for excessively long periods and inconsistent time out of cell.
- Long periods boys spend on remand due to court backlogs, leading to unjust and inhumane detention.
- The inadequate regime for 18-year-olds retained at Cookham Wood due to adult estate pressures.
- Challenges in securing timely accommodation for boys returning to local authority care on release.
- High officer attrition and inadequate staffing levels severely impacting regime delivery and relationships with boys.
- Poor education provision, lacking in quantity of teachers and range of subjects, including vocational options.
- Slow progress on essential landing refurbishment, including the Cedar resettlement unit.

- The continuing deterioration and failure to adequately maintain the prison estate, particularly A, R and Q wings, raising health and safety concerns and questioning the slow pace of refurbishment.
- Ongoing lack of external Probation Service support, which negatively impacts prisoners' access to ROTL, particularly for those returning to London.
- Significant delays and lack of planning for the new build expansion project (to 779 men) and its impact on existing prison facilities, coupled with the cramped reception area lacking electronic security scanners.
- Persistently high number of complaints regarding the failure to safely transfer prisoners' personal property between prisons, with little national movement on the property framework.
- Underuse of outdoor facilities and the negative impact on purposeful activity due to staff resourcing issues and inflexibility in workshops.
- The external supplier, CXK, did not provide the contracted level of resource for over six months to deliver Personal Learning Plans for prisoners, and the contractor was not held accountable.
- The continued use of IPP sentences is inhumane and should be removed from existing prisoners.

- Overcrowding, with 49% of prisoners sharing single cells, contravening decency standards.
- Inadequate safeguarding processes for prisoners’ property, especially during internal transfers.
- A high level of use of force, attributed to inexperienced staff and rigid-bar handcuffs.
- Significant difficulty transferring prisoners with serious mental health issues to appropriate community facilities due to a lack of beds.
- Frequent missed healthcare appointments due to a shortage of movement officers.
- Patchy availability of complaint forms, with officers sometimes showing little interest in replenishing them.
- Challenges in maintaining separation between vulnerable and non-vulnerable prisoners on B wing.
- A library photocopier remaining broken for a year, impacting services.
- The unsatisfactory handling of Prisoner P's release by the Home Office, leaving him with no support.

- Negative impact of wider prison population pressures on Category D prison ethos and resettlement.
- The Lakes building is unsuitable for its current use of assessing new prisoners.
- Persistent vulnerability to illicit items entering the prison due to incomplete perimeter fencing.
- Delays in hospital outpatient referrals and follow-up appointments.

- The lack of 24-hour dedicated social care provision for frail, elderly prisoners.
- Inadequate funding and provision for resettlement, which is increasingly critical given the high number of direct releases from this training prison.
- Significant understaffing in the Offender Management Unit (OMU), leading to substantial backlogs in OASys assessments and reviews.
- Frequent cancellation of external healthcare appointments (approximately one-third) due to insufficient prison staff for escorts, or lack of appropriate transport/trained staff.
- Long waiting times for mental health services, with waiting lists of approximately 10 weeks for a psychologist and 15 weeks for a psychiatrist.
- The Board regrets the lack of a 'community hospital' facility, which would alleviate strain on staff and reduce external hospital visits for minor procedures.

- The stability of Wetherby was severely compromised in March and April 2023 due to multiple factors, including high levels of violent behaviour among young people and against staff.
- Increasing finds of drugs, phones, and improvised weapons highlight ongoing security challenges and the ease with which contraband enters the establishment.
- The lack of a predictable regime and frequent cancellations of educational classes or activities cause significant frustration and uncertainty for young people, leading to excessive time in rooms.
- Conditions on B wing, which houses both newly arrived (FNIC) and separated young people, are unsatisfactory, with mouldy showers, dirty cells, and poor repair.
- Too many young people are held on remand due to court delays, receiving limited support or interventions, which is a national priority concern.
- Operation Safeguard, which keeps 18-year-olds at Wetherby until 19, creates frustration among these young people and impacts the establishment's stability.
- Significant staffing issues persist, including high officer turnover (8% within six months, 12% within a year), and concerns about the experience of new, predominantly female officers.
- Local authorities frequently financially disadvantage "looked after" young people through late or absent payments, and suitable accommodation on release remains a challenge.
- The Board remains concerned about the suitability of placing girls at Wetherby in their current accommodation and the lack of progress on this long-term issue.

- The adverse consequences of overcrowding, impacting safety, purposeful activity, and regime stability.
- Increasing levels of self-harm and assaults, especially serious assaults, linked to the availability of illicit items, particularly drugs.
- The unacceptable use of the segregation unit as a place of safety for prisoners with acute mental health problems awaiting specialist transfers.
- Persistent issues with property loss during transfers, causing significant frustration and an avoidable expense despite new policies.
- Substandard and delayed repairs to the ageing prison estate and equipment, negatively affecting decency standards and access to purposeful activity.
- Insufficient provision for the increasingly ageing prisoner population, including a lack of suitable accommodation and tailored regimes.

- Overcrowding and cell sharing, with many men locked up 22 hours a day in cells designed for one, impacting health and wellbeing.
- Significant increase in self-harm incidents, compounded by staff shortages affecting key work schemes.
- Persistent lack of purposeful activity and education for prisoners, with underuse of available opportunities.
- Delays in transfers to secure mental health establishments and inadequate provision for complex mental health needs.
- Shortcomings in resettlement support, including inter-agency collaboration failures leading to homelessness for many upon release.
- Inadequate staff training for key work, high churn of inexperienced staff, and insufficient out-of-hours healthcare cover.

- The Board calls on the Minister to once again consider the re-sentencing of IPP prisoners, many of whom are held far beyond their original tariff.
- There is a need for a national minimum wage for prisoners due to pay disparities and fixed canteen costs.
- Insufficient work opportunities and activity places are available, with fewer than 66% of working-age prisoners engaged, leading to boredom.
- The potential for increased prisoner numbers without proportional increases in work, recreational space, or improved regimes for older prisoners is a concern.
- The Board has noted an increase in self-harm incidents that requires investigation by the prison.
- The lack of formal medical care on-site at night leads to significant, costly escorts to A&E, impacting staff and the daily regime.
- Longstanding estate issues persist, including unaddressed heating problems in Residential Unit 7 and non-functioning solar panels, both repeated from previous reports.

- Lack of a physically present GP at weekends and only a substance misuse doctor on Mondays, particularly for vulnerable new arrivals.
- Late arrival of SERCO vans, impacting reception processes and prisoner care.
- High incidence of self-harm, largely attributable to a few prolific individuals.
- Increase in violent incidents, driven by canteen trading, vapes, and poor mental health.
- Staffing shortages (especially experienced officers) adversely affecting regime, leading to property complaints and increased prisoner-on-staff violence.
- Lengthy delays in prisoner complaints, leading to scepticism in the system.
- Continued use of the healthcare in-patient facility to house acutely mentally unwell prisoners awaiting transfer, straining capacity.
- Severe and sustained shortage of substance misuse staff, resulting in reduced therapeutic sessions and alcohol services.
- Significant number of prisoners being released without safe and sustainable accommodation, a persistent concern.
- Lack of alternative vocational training opportunities following the closure of the call centre facility.

- Mental health provision remains a high concern with insufficient manpower.
- Prisoners are leaving custody without suitable accommodation, undermining resettlement efforts.
- The number of out-of-area prisoners being received into HMP Swansea is consistently high.
- Inconsistent informing of the Board regarding CSU admissions and Good Order or Discipline reviews.
- Cell refurbishment has effectively halted due to external project management delays.
- There is poor disability access throughout the prison, with only one compliant cell for over 400 prisoners.

- Overcrowding in small, single cells, deemed inhumane and unsafe.
- Lack of matching increase in staff and support services for the increased population.
- Insufficient purposeful activity, leading to prolonged unlock times on wings.
- Severe lack of capital investment, impacting infrastructure, in-cell telephony, and basic amenities.
- Critical staffing issues in healthcare, leading to reduced services and increased complaints.
- Continued inadequacy of support for older, infirm, and vulnerable prisoners.
- Lack of prisoner confidence in the DIRF and complaints processes.
- Poor support provision for Foreign National Prisoners.

- The ineffectiveness and lack of positive impact of the induction experience for new prisoners.
- Persistent poor communication from the prison regarding the regime and future plans.
- Inadequate cell conditions, including cleanliness, furniture, and sanitary ware, affecting basic decency.
- A significant lack of trust in staff (57% negative) and a perception that staff are unable to help with personal problems or loneliness (82% not helped).
- The failure of the key working scheme to provide consistent support or meaningful contact.
- High numbers of prisoners feeling unsafe and a profound lack of trust among fellow prisoners (68% trust none or very few).
- Minimal support for resettlement planning and life chances after release, with 96% feeling unhelped.
- Systemic problems with property handling, leading to delays and missing items.
- Low satisfaction with healthcare access and complaint responses.
- General unfairness and inadequacy in the formal complaints system (75% view Comp 1/1A as unfair).
- Deterioration in education provision, including access to materials, feedback, and library services.

- High number of self-harm incidents.
- High level of violence.
- High number of use of force incidents.
- High level of availability of illegal substances.
- Chronic overcrowding.
- Poor state of most showers in residential wings.
- Continuing staff shortages and high proportion of inexperienced staff, leading to a significant shortfall in key working hours.
- Shortcomings in the strategic management of education, learning skills, and work, resulting in limited engagement and low attendance rates.
- Increasing prisoner churn is preventing prisoners from achieving education outcomes, eroding distance learning, and hindering progression in work and training.

- The resettlement programme is fragmented, underfunded, and needs a return to a properly funded service within establishments.
- The Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 is on hold, leaving a gap for prisoners released with no fixed abode.
- The Prison Council's effectiveness is hampered by lack of awareness among prisoners regarding its role and representatives.
- Significant delays and poor communication regarding internal property cause frustration for prisoners.
- Key work is not prioritised sufficiently, hindering early identification of deteriorating mental health and engagement with learning.
- Persistent mental health staffing shortages mean prisoners wait longer for professional support.
- There is overlap, confusion, and a lack of communication between Offender Management Unit and Community Offender Managers, leading to service gaps.

- Lengthy delays in Minister's decision-making for parole board recommendations for IPP/life-sentenced prisoners.
- Persistent issue of prisoner property loss during inter-prison transfers, despite numerous assurances.
- Lack of plans for specialist custodial centres for elderly prisoners with dementia or terminal illness.
- Inability to produce accurate income and expenditure accounts for the Prisoner Trust Fund (PTF) for several years, despite repeated requests.
- Local Incentives Policy implementation is perceived as disciplinary rather than incentivising and lacks consistent application.
- Recent tightening of prisoner movements makes the prison feel more like a Category B, causing dismay among long-stay prisoners.
- Ongoing problems with unhygienic in-cell wash basins and some showers.
- Long waiting list for optician services and lack of an in-patient care facility for seriously ill prisoners.
- Concerns about the number of cancelled education and training sessions.
- Lack of practical support for the Equalities PCO and insufficient analysis of diversity and equality data.

- Persistently high levels of self-harm and violence, particularly assaults on staff and incidents involving young adults.
- Severe overcrowding, with two prisoners sharing cells designed for one, coupled with ancient, dilapidated infrastructure, vermin infestations, and frequent plumbing failures.
- Prisoners spend excessive amounts of time locked in their cells (over 20 hours daily), detrimentally affecting mental health, and contributing to violence and self-harm.
- The mental health team operates with very limited resources, group activities are absent, and a vital mental health steering group has become inactive, leading to poor prisoner satisfaction.
- The key worker scheme has not been fully reintroduced, and the induction process for new prisoners remains inconsistent.
- Significant ongoing problems with inter-prison property transfers, stemming from a lack of clear protocols and an unfit card-based system.
- Limited provision of purposeful activity, with workshops often inoperative and the gym frequently closed due to staffing shortages.

- Prisoners often report feeling unsafe, particularly new arrivals, due to Aylesbury's reputation and gang affiliations.
- There is an increase in drugs and trading of prescription medicines, leading to debt and threats among prisoners.
- The prison failed to quickly adapt its regime and culture for the older Category C population, affecting staff-prisoner relationships.
- Many prisoners are located far from their families, causing anxiety, especially regarding sick relatives.
- Healthcare services had a chaotic start under a new provider, with significant staff shortages and impact on delivery.
- There is insufficient high-quality purposeful activity, hindering prisoners' progression and resettlement skills.
- The Offender Management Unit (OMU) ran with only 50% staffing, affecting sentence planning and release preparation.
- Aylesbury, not being a designated resettlement prison, released 65 prisoners without proper resources or preparation, which is deemed unsafe and counterproductive.
- Staffing levels remained critically low (average 60%), impacting all daily activity and experience in managing confrontational situations.
- The transition from YOI to Category C was severely under-planned and HMPPS did not provide adequate support or resources until after the HMIP report.

- The stability at Buckley Hall is low throughout the establishment.
- CCTV has still not been installed in the healthcare building, requiring additional staff.
- The decision to reject IPP resentencing recommendations has had a very negative impact.
- There are significant delays in recategorisation and ministerial sign-off for Cat D transfers.
- Slow progress continues in prison maintenance (showers, repairs) and transfers due to overcrowding.
- Issues persist with medication dosages being reduced without thorough explanation to patients.
- Prisoners with severe mental health issues are kept in segregation for too long due to lack of secure hospital places.
- Frequent errors in roll call lead to disruptions, and wings are regularly locked down due to staffing.

- Lack of appropriate accommodation in the prison system for prisoners with serious mental health problems, leading to long periods in segregation.
- Prisoners in dirty conditions in segregation for lengthy periods, impacting others.
- Inadequate provision and poor coordination for prisoners with disabilities.
- Lack of prisoner confidence in the complaints system.
- Ongoing loss of property on transfer and shortages of essential clothing/kit.
- Dissatisfaction with food quality/quantity and canteen supply issues.
- Shortages of NHS healthcare staff and inadequate access to health/mental health services.
- Health care complaints not being dealt with adequately.
- Staff training curtailing the regime once a month.
- Slow take-up of education post-Covid.
- Long periods on remand or awaiting transfer/sentencing preventing sentence progression.
- Uncertainty for IPP prisoners regarding Parole Board hearings and release.

- Residents' main concerns relate to the uncertainty of their futures.
- The temperature in the care and separation unit was found on occasion to have been too high.
- Literature in the multifaith area has been questionable, being more political than religious.
- Preventative measures are needed to ensure roofs are not accessible to detained persons, a repeated concern.
- Some staff should be trained in negotiation techniques, as per a previous recommendation.
- Admissions often arrive very late at night only to be taken back to Edinburgh airport early in the morning, which seems unnecessarily inconvenient.
- Plans to expand the parking area, a previous recommendation, are still in the planning phase and have not yet broken ground.

- Staffing shortages across key areas, including admissions, MDT, healthcare, and education, detrimentally impacting safety, regime, and service delivery.
- Persistent delays in the transfer of mentally unwell prisoners to secure hospital facilities.
- The failure to reinstate the pre-pandemic regime for prisoners eating out of cell.
- Ongoing issues with prisoners' lost property.
- The failure of Seetec to deliver on their resettlement contract.
- The interruption and under-resourcing of substance misuse programmes.
- The inadequacy of the daily allowance for prisoners’ food.
- The increase in use of force incidents and violence against staff.
- The late arrival of prisoners from courts causes prisoners and staff additional stress and frustration.

- Increase in deaths in custody (9), self-harm (40% increase), and violence (40% increase), with high ACCT and constant supervision numbers.
- Persistent overcrowding (over 50%) in cells designed for one.
- Staffing levels consistently below required, affecting regime delivery, activities, and key working.
- Long waits for specialist mental health transfers, often in segregation, and lack of physical disability access to healthcare.
- Low prisoner access to education and workshops due to staff shortages.
- Insufficient support for the increasing number of remand prisoners and lack of housing/medication support for recall prisoners.
- Significant property issues, frequent drug availability, and poor cell bell response times.
- The Board is concerned the recent Urgent Notification Action Plan does not address systemic issues like occupancy or staff numbers.

- Persistent issues with healthcare provision, including problematic transfers of mentally ill prisoners and a poor handover from the previous provider.
- Ongoing problems with prisoner property management, both during transfer and within the establishment, leading to high complaint levels.
- Inadequacy of resettlement support, including probation provision and housing/employment guidance for released prisoners.
- Underperformance of the education contract and insufficient purposeful activity for prisoners.
- Deficiencies in the cell bell response system and in-cell CMS, affecting prisoners' access to services and communication.
- Concerns regarding potential disproportionality in the treatment of ethnic groups in areas like CSU, adjudications, and use of force.

- Access to specialist mental health facilities remains a problem due to low staff numbers.
- IPP prisoners find last-minute adjournments to their parole hearings distressing.
- The number of probation officers is inadequate, with only one available where four are needed.
- The loss of prisoners’ property during transfers from other prisons continues to be an unresolved problem.

- Continued restricted regime due to staffing shortages
- The mix of experienced vs. less experienced officers
- Prisoners' lack of confidence in the equality/discrimination (DIRF) investigation system
- Prisoners' difficulty in engaging effectively with healthcare processes
- Loss of prisoners' property, particularly affecting those with limited funds or sentimental items
- Decency concerns around mandatory cell-sharing with limited space and screened toilets
- Potential erosion of prisoners' spending power due to inflation and rising canteen prices for prison work earnings

- Inappropriate transfers, including those on open ACCTs or with short stays, are increasing, indicating that prisoner flow is not working as it should.
- Transfers of prisoners to Category B establishments take too long, and the Population Management Unit (PMU) is ineffective.
- Waiting times for mandatory programmes are excessively long, causing frustration for prisoners.
- Wing-based electronic kiosks are not available, which is seen as a backward step by transferees from other prisons.
- The food allowance for prisoners is insufficient given the rising cost of living and needs to be increased.
- The education provider is consistently failing to provide a good service, and the contract requires review.
- Despite a reduced attrition rate, continued effort is needed to address staffing and recruitment levels.

- Insufficient capacity within the prison estate leading to inadequate double cell accommodation.
- Persistent issues with prisoners' property, particularly during transfer.
- Inadequate catering budget affecting food quality and requiring prisoners to subsidise their diets.
- Significant resourcing challenges within the outside Probation Team impacting resettlement support.
- Need for improved key worker performance and support for young adults.
- IMB members lacking full access to required IT systems within the establishment.

- The education contract remains inadequate, with poor curriculum and teaching standards, making it difficult to hold the provider accountable.
- Long delays in transferring prisoners with severe mental illness to suitable treatment centres persist due to bed capacity issues.
- An inadequate contract for new boilers led to units without heating in winter and further public expense, alongside ongoing issues with lack of individual thermostats.
- There is a long-standing, unresolved leak in the reception area, leading to unsanitary conditions and repeated, costly temporary fixes.
- Activity places are limited and often lack purpose, failing to adequately prepare prisoners for release, exemplified by insufficient vocational training opportunities.
- The length of time prisoners remain on remand is excessive, often resulting in release without completing offending behaviour programmes.
- Gang culture continues to cause friction and premeditated violence, challenging safe placement and requiring better staff training for intervention plans.

- Funding for a 'drop down' spends allowance for prisoners, reflecting the rising cost of living.
- The number of new trainee officers allocated is unfunded and exceeds staffing requirements, leading to detached duty.
- The speed of security and background checks for new recruits needs improvement.
- A strategy is required to address the disappointing OFSTED inspection recommendations.
- Significant waiting lists for jobs within the prison cause frustration for prisoners seeking work.

bullet Ongoing concerns about the provision and quality of food from HMP Hollesley Bay.
bullet The decision to suspend the ROTL pilot, impacting prisoner progression and preparation for release.
bullet Transfer of prisoners’ property remains a major concern, despite local solutions.
bullet Need for further investment in the prison estate, with outstanding work beyond current shower block renovations.
bullet Development of resettlement support, including better access to digital technologies, to reduce recall rates.
bullet Staffing shortages at the education provider, People Plus, and restrictive contract processes impacting learners.
bullet Secretary of State’s intervention delaying movement to Category D or release after parole, negatively affecting prisoner mental health.
bullet Discrepancies between local authorities regarding social care funding and equipment provision.
bullet Prisoner dissatisfaction with pay levels and the impact of increasing costs on purchasing power.

- The medication tracker unit is still not in use despite over a year of waiting.
- Ongoing challenges in preventing the entry of illicit items due to a lack of human and technological resources.
- Significant delays in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) applications, exacerbated by uncooperative probation services and perceived inconsistencies among OMU staff.
- The general poor state of dormitory accommodation, which remains a significant live issue despite some improvements.
- Prisoner property is not efficiently transferred, leading to numerous complaints and difficulties for the IMB.
- Lack of quiet spaces for prisoners to read, study, or find respite from noisy, shared dormitory environments.
- A substantial number of prisoner complaints are not processed within the required timescales.
- Low levels of functional skills attainment among prisoners on arrival, hindering their readiness for external work opportunities.
- Lack of Wi-Fi connectivity on site hindering resettlement activities and up-to-date IT facilities.

- The inadequacies of reception, with the purchase of the adjacent museum being the only viable long-term solution, also to relocate the Offender Management Unit.
- Property of prisoners is not always treated with respect, leading to distress and loss, and requires more investment in transport facilities.
- The prison's budget structure means minor capital items are hired at costs exceeding purchase, which is illogical and needs adjustment.
- Time out of cell for prisoners not in work or education is insufficient and should be increased.
- There is a need for more family engagement in preparation for prisoner's release.
- The key worker programme has been drastically reduced and should be increased to operate at its designed level.

- Lack of opportunity for a full and purposeful regime due to safety concerns over gang violence and conflicts.
- The kitchen facilities are tired and in need of refurbishment or more proactive repair.
- Missing property continues to cause frustration, particularly during inter-prison transfers.
- Assessment and provision of appropriate accommodation for prisoners with mental ill-health takes far too long.
- A new mental health team has not yet been established under the new healthcare provider.
- Up to a quarter of prisoners lack purposeful activity and spend the majority of their day locked in their cells.

- Medication being removed from detained people without a satisfactory regime for administration, posing serious health risks.
- The lack of adequate provision for people with disabilities across the estate, including unsuitable facilities and lack of showering facilities.
- Prolonged detention (more than eight hours or overnight) in airport holding rooms that are not equipped or suitable for extended stays.
- Unimplemented planned alterations at Larne House RSTHF to provide separate facilities for women and to upgrade basic bedroom furnishings.
- Inadequate ventilation systems across many holding rooms and the residential STHF.
- Safety and security concerns regarding remote CCTV monitoring of detainees in the Controlled Waiting Area at Prestwick Airport.

- Prolonged detention of individuals beyond 24 hours in unsuitable marquee accommodation at Manston, leading to severe overcrowding and distress.
- Significant lack of privacy during induction interviews at KIU and healthcare screenings at Manston, which compromised the identification of vulnerabilities.
- Detainees' pervasive confusion regarding their processing journey and lack of information about their length of stay, adversely impacting their welfare.
- Inadequate and unhygienic living conditions, including insufficient sleeping mats, crowded spaces, frequently out-of-order showers at KIU, and limited provision of clean clothes and wash kits.
- Insufficient variety and repetitive nature of food provided at Manston for individuals detained for prolonged periods.
- A lack of transparency from contractors, as evidenced by the Board's inability to obtain weekly figures on length of stay at Manston.

- The number of prisoners showing extreme symptoms of mental illness who are inappropriately held in prison, leading to inhumane suffering and a strain on staff.
- Prisoner on prisoner fights have nearly doubled in the last year.
- Healthcare services are poorly integrated due to multiple contracts, leading to communication issues and delays in essential medication and hospital referrals.
- Key worker allocation and contact has been less than expected, with insufficient time for staff and low prisoner awareness of the system.
- The prevalence of psychoactive drugs, like spice, despite measures to control their entry.
- Securing ample post-release accommodation remains a significant challenge.

- The number of prisoners showing extreme symptoms of mental illness, who should be diverted to appropriate healthcare.
- Prisoners being left without prescribed medications for days or weeks upon arrival or transfer, leading to anxiety and self-harm.
- Inadequate climate control in cells, with insufficient fans in summer and heating issues in winter.
- The inconsistent quality and compliance of key worker allocation and contact, with some prisoners unaware of the system.
- Concerning delays in arranging assessment and admission to hospital for mentally unwell prisoners.
- Staff shortages leading to curtailment of the regime, particularly at weekends and impacting library access.
- Delays in risk assessments for Home Detention Curfew (HDC) and Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) applications due to Community Offender Management (COM) input.
- Securing ample post-release accommodation remains a significant challenge.
- Unserviceable key kitchen equipment causing strain on meal provision.
- Shortage of smaller/petite size clothing options for prisoners.
- Bland and "stodgy" food, with requests for more salads and fruit.
- Insufficient staff resources to consistently and promptly process social video call applications for family contact.
- Significant postal delays causing distress and frustration, likely due to staff shortages.

- The continued transfer of prisoners unsuitable for open conditions, leading to increased returns to closed conditions, despite ministers' assurances.
- The urgent need for a CCTV upgrade.
- The lack of in-cell technology and telephony, contributing to illicit mobile phone use and associated issues.
- Curtailment of various activities (gym, C2W, mail room) due to staff redeployment, despite high staffing levels.
- Disparity in prisoner pay between outworkers and internal activities, causing discontent.
- Persistent issues with billet maintenance, including ventilation, unrefurbished showers, and heating/hot water.
- Significant waiting times for standard dental check-ups (21 weeks).
- Ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of property transfers between prisons.

- Increased levels of assaults on both staff and prisoners.
- Increased levels of self-harm remain a concern, with a number of chronic and acute self-harmers responsible for a high proportion of incidents.
- Prisoners released from HMP Whatton, a training prison, are at a disadvantage regarding resettlement support due to lack of dedicated staffing or finance, despite approximately 200 prisoners being released annually into the community.
- The substandard accommodation in the B wings, containing some of the smallest cells in the prison estate and deemed unfit for purpose, continues to be a concern, with no funding available for replacement and pipework replacement delayed by 12 months.
- Healthcare services continue to be under great pressure, particularly due to ongoing shortages of specialist healthcare staff and the poor condition of healthcare accommodation.
- A significant backlog of prisoners awaiting accredited offending behaviour programmes remains a concern, impacting sentence plans, parole hearings, and release dates.
- Changes in the parole system and high rejection rates of Parole Board recommendations are causing significant anguish among prisoners, particularly those with sexual offence convictions, regarding potential delays to Category D transfers and release.
- Progression for IPP prisoners remains a significant concern, with increased anxiety following the government's rejection of Justice Select Committee recommendations on re-sentencing and licence periods.
- Delays in transferring prisoners needing secure psychiatric care to hospital, exceeding the proposed 28-day statutory limit, continue to be an issue.
- The Eureka key security system has been unserviceable for over three years, awaiting replacement.
- Key working has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, and there are concerns that not all prison staff prioritize it adequately.
- The new property framework for prisoners’ property has shown no evidence of meeting its objectives in improving transfers between establishments, leading to continued losses and distress.

- Inadequate staffing levels are causing restricted regimes, insufficient purposeful activity, and a reduction in key worker support.
- The prisoner officer appointment process and high attrition rates contribute to an inexperienced workforce and unsuitable appointments.
- Long remand times, up to four years, leave unsentenced prisoners without crucial pre-release support.
- Disproportionate use of force and segregation on black men and men of mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds remains a stubborn concern.
- High use of force incidents and inconsistent body-worn video camera activation.
- Unsuitable living conditions in shared cells, with ongoing issues like leaking roofs and heating problems.

- Increase in self-harm incidents (8%) and doubled near misses.
- Noticeable increase in illicit items, especially drugs.
- Prisoners spending more time in cells due to staffing shortages and lack of purposeful activity.
- Prisoner property issues remain a major source of complaints.
- Excessively long waiting times for dental appointments (20 weeks).
- Limited planned interventions for severe and enduring mental health issues.
- Inadequate education and work opportunities, making sentence progression difficult for many.
- Rising number of prisoners without accommodation on release and difficulties maintaining family contact.
- Inadequate facilities for people with disabilities, including restricted access to healthcare and education.

- Rise in violence and self-harm linked to drugs, bullying, and debt.
- Dire and inhumane conditions of showers and toilets on A and B wings, with refurbishment continually delayed.
- Overcrowding issues, including doubling up in unsuitable cells, forcing prisoners to eat on beds or toilets.
- Chronic staff shortages impacting safety, regime, healthcare, and purposeful activity.
- Persistent struggles in healthcare provision, marked by inadequate facilities, high reliance on agency staff, and long waiting times for dental care.
- The ongoing plight and lack of progression for prisoners serving IPP sentences, with government disinterest in addressing their situation.

- The persistent delays and poor quality of repair and maintenance work by Amey, leading to cells being out of use.
- Timely access to specialist mental health facilities for prisoners requiring transfers.
- The impact of increasing operational capacity on maintaining safety and decency within the prison.
- Challenges for transient prisoners to access and complete meaningful training opportunities to reduce reoffending.
- Ongoing issues with the loss or delay of prisoners’ property during transfers between establishments.
- Inadequate support for remand prisoners with release planning, as they are not eligible for probation services.
- The unsuitability of the Victorian infrastructure to provide adequate provisions for increasing numbers of frail elderly, disabled, and those with dementia or end-of-life care.
- The current daily food allowance of £2.20 being insufficient to provide nutritional meals given rising inflation.
- Ongoing problems with heating and hot water, coupled with general delays in maintenance and repairs.
- Persistent issues with food waste and debris outside accommodation wings, attracting pigeons.
- Inefficiencies in kit collection and distribution, leading to insufficient items for new arrivals and discrepancies in laundry returns.
- A significant number of cells in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) being offline due to maintenance issues or legionella risks.

- Chronic staff shortages severely undermine the prison's ability to function and deliver a consistent regime, with unavailability rates frequently exceeding 50%.
- The prison is unsafe, experiencing significant increases in prisoner-on-prisoner (28%) and prisoner-on-staff (21%) assaults, a 49% rise in use of force, and a 29% increase in ACCT cases.
- Inhumane and overcrowded living conditions persist, with most men sharing single cells, frequent lack of heating and hot water, and grossly inadequate shower facilities.
- The new multi-million pound healthcare centre remains unopened over a year past its scheduled date, while existing vulnerable units are unhygienic and dangerous.
- Critical medications are frequently not administered, posing serious risks to prisoner health.
- Remand prisoners continue to receive no housing support, increasing their vulnerability and risk of reoffending on release.

- Long periods of segregation for prisoners experiencing mental health difficulties.
- Inconsistent and not robust security arrangements at the main gate for staff/visitors, posing a contraband risk.
- Prisoner property continues to go astray during transportation between establishments.
- Insufficient investment to fund facilities and staffing levels to improve job prospects and rehabilitation.
- Improvement needed on the uptake and activation of body worn video cameras by all on duty officers.
- Inconsistent deployment of staffing to the Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) programme.