IMB Annual Reports
768 annual reports from Independent Monitoring Boards covering 171 establishments. IMBs provide independent oversight of prisons, immigration removal centres, and secure training centres. Source: imb.org.uk.
768
Reports
171
Establishments
757
With Key Concerns
Establishment Type
Reports by Year
Key Findings
99% of IMB reports flag key concerns.
Independent monitors cover 171 establishments
across prisons, immigration removal centres and secure training centres.
Altcourse
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 957
Assaults: 421
Staff assaults: 83
HMP Altcourse experienced a challenging reporting year due to significant prisoner movement and increased population, impacting various aspects of prison life from reception to resettlement. While positive strides were made in staff-prisoner relationships, key worker schemes, and diversified mental health provision, critical issues persist. Key concerns include the inadequacy of kitchen facilities, lack of education in segregation, delays in mental health transfers, and a high proportion of prisoners released without accommodation.
Key concerns identified
- The constant movement of prisoners, late arrivals from court, and out-of-area intakes increase pressure on reception and challenge the safe location of vulnerable prisoners with gang affiliations.
- Sodexo's promised initiatives, including a specialist in-patient mental health unit, a fully operational crêche, and a new workshop, have not materialised.
- The kitchen is not fit for purpose given the increased population, leading to concerns about food quality and quantity.
- Education provision for prisoners in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) has not resumed, and mentally unwell men continue to be held in the CSU due to insufficient secure bed availability.
- The lack of a permanent crêche in the visits hall severely affects prisoners’ ability to maintain family relationships, and a high proportion of prisoners are released with no accommodation.
- The statutory 28-day time limit for mental health transfers is not in effect, and the daily food allowance for prisoners is inadequate. The prison also faces issues with high Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) levels, housing vulnerable prisoners on the induction unit, and chaplaincy vacancies.
- Sodexo's promised initiatives, including a specialist in-patient mental health unit, a fully operational crêche, and a new workshop, have not materialised.
- The kitchen is not fit for purpose given the increased population, leading to concerns about food quality and quantity.
- Education provision for prisoners in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) has not resumed, and mentally unwell men continue to be held in the CSU due to insufficient secure bed availability.
- The lack of a permanent crêche in the visits hall severely affects prisoners’ ability to maintain family relationships, and a high proportion of prisoners are released with no accommodation.
- The statutory 28-day time limit for mental health transfers is not in effect, and the daily food allowance for prisoners is inadequate. The prison also faces issues with high Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) levels, housing vulnerable prisoners on the induction unit, and chaplaincy vacancies.
Altcourse
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 850
HMP Altcourse experienced a contract transfer to Sodexo in June 2023, leading to initial staffing challenges that have largely been addressed. The Board commends staff for maintaining safety amidst population pressures and notes improvements in mental healthcare and a successful reading strategy. Key concerns include the kitchen's inadequacy, lack of education in CSU, delays in mental health transfers, and the impact of early release schemes on resettlement and accommodation provision.
Key concerns identified
- Late arrival of prisoners, particularly from out-of-area courts, increasing pressure on reception.
- Increased prison population making safe location of vulnerable prisoners and those with gang affiliations more challenging.
- Concerns that Pava incapacitant spray and batons may detract from good staff/prisoner relations.
- The kitchen being unfit for purpose, given the increased population and prisoner concerns about food quality and quantity.
- Lack of education provision for prisoners in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
- Mentally unwell men held in CSU due to insufficient beds in secure facilities.
- Staffing shortages leading to difficulties escorting prisoners to outside hospital appointments.
- Ongoing challenges engaging short-term prisoners in substance misuse management.
- Disappointment at the loss of vocational workshops and failure to deliver a planned workshop.
- Disappearance of a dedicated family unit and lack of a visits hall creche impacting family relationships.
- Government early release schemes exacerbating pressures on Offender Management and Resettlement teams, leading to more prisoners released without accommodation.
- Increased prison population making safe location of vulnerable prisoners and those with gang affiliations more challenging.
- Concerns that Pava incapacitant spray and batons may detract from good staff/prisoner relations.
- The kitchen being unfit for purpose, given the increased population and prisoner concerns about food quality and quantity.
- Lack of education provision for prisoners in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
- Mentally unwell men held in CSU due to insufficient beds in secure facilities.
- Staffing shortages leading to difficulties escorting prisoners to outside hospital appointments.
- Ongoing challenges engaging short-term prisoners in substance misuse management.
- Disappointment at the loss of vocational workshops and failure to deliver a planned workshop.
- Disappearance of a dedicated family unit and lack of a visits hall creche impacting family relationships.
- Government early release schemes exacerbating pressures on Offender Management and Resettlement teams, leading to more prisoners released without accommodation.
Altcourse
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 762
Assaults: 360
Staff assaults: 36
HMP Altcourse experienced significant challenges this year, primarily due to the transition to Sodexo management and severe staff shortages affecting all areas from safety to regime. While there were positive developments in food quality, GP waiting times, and some purposeful activity, persistent concerns remain regarding mental health transfers, the daily regime for meals, and the effectiveness of resettlement provision. The Board emphasizes the critical need for improved staff recruitment and retention to ensure stability and safety.
Key concerns identified
- 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.
- 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.
Altcourse
PRISON
Concerns
Assaults: 261
Staff assaults: 67
HMP Altcourse remains a generally safe and humane prison, showing a reduction in self-harm and violence, and improved healthcare facilities. However, significant concerns persist regarding the containment of severely mentally unwell prisoners in unsuitable conditions and chronic staffing shortages impacting various services. The Board also highlights issues with the national food budget and a lack of external support following a 'cluster death site' designation.
Key concerns identified
- Inadequate provision for severely mentally unwell men held in unsuitable prison conditions awaiting transfer.
- Lack of offence-related courses for men convicted of sexual offences, impacting progression and public safety.
- Insufficient national budget allowance for prisoners’ daily food, affecting quantity.
- No additional support or training provided despite the prison being designated a 'cluster death site'.
- Urgent need for staff recruitment to address vacancies, minimize redeployment, and ensure service continuity (complaints clerk, social worker).
- Need for increased focus on diversity in recruitment.
- Lack of offence-related courses for men convicted of sexual offences, impacting progression and public safety.
- Insufficient national budget allowance for prisoners’ daily food, affecting quantity.
- No additional support or training provided despite the prison being designated a 'cluster death site'.
- Urgent need for staff recruitment to address vacancies, minimize redeployment, and ensure service continuity (complaints clerk, social worker).
- Need for increased focus on diversity in recruitment.
Altcourse
PRISON
Concerns
Assaults: 252
Staff assaults: 96
HMP Altcourse was judged a safe prison during the reporting year, demonstrating low levels of self-harm and violence despite pandemic restrictions. The Board noted significant improvements in food quality and strong staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns include the persistent delays in transferring seriously mentally ill prisoners, issues with property, and the uncertain future and low morale of the resettlement service following a contract change.
Key concerns identified
- The transfer of seriously mentally ill prisoners to appropriate healthcare facilities continues to be a problem, with one particular prisoner spending over 300 days in segregation this year.
- The use of rigid handcuffs will no longer be recorded as a use of force nationally, despite the Board considering it a physical intervention that should be monitored.
- Persistent national issues with prisoner personal property, a continuing complaint reported in previous annual reports, exacerbated during limited family contact.
- Low staff morale and uncertainty within the resettlement function due to the change in provider to Seetec Interventions Alliance, with concerns about unsupported prisoner releases.
- The potential impact on prison stability from the placement of ‘out of area’ prisoners, possibly leading to a clash of cultures.
- The frequent flooding of the newly installed kitchen flooring despite remedial work.
- The lack of recruitment for a permanent replacement librarian after the long-standing post holder retired.
- The succession of four complaints clerks in one year, leading to concerns about continuity and consistency in this crucial role.
- The use of rigid handcuffs will no longer be recorded as a use of force nationally, despite the Board considering it a physical intervention that should be monitored.
- Persistent national issues with prisoner personal property, a continuing complaint reported in previous annual reports, exacerbated during limited family contact.
- Low staff morale and uncertainty within the resettlement function due to the change in provider to Seetec Interventions Alliance, with concerns about unsupported prisoner releases.
- The potential impact on prison stability from the placement of ‘out of area’ prisoners, possibly leading to a clash of cultures.
- The frequent flooding of the newly installed kitchen flooring despite remedial work.
- The lack of recruitment for a permanent replacement librarian after the long-standing post holder retired.
- The succession of four complaints clerks in one year, leading to concerns about continuity and consistency in this crucial role.
Altcourse
PRISON
Concerns
HMP Altcourse maintained safety and humane treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, with low levels of self-harm and violence. Staff and prisoner morale remained high due to positive staff attitudes and good communication, despite severe regime restrictions. Key concerns include the challenges of housing an aging prison population, delays in mental health transfers, and persistent issues with prisoner property and food quality.
Key concerns identified
- The increasing age profile of prisoners requires more age-appropriate accommodation and specialised healthcare, but implementation of the prison's strategy is hampered by finite finance and lack of an overarching national strategy.
- The mixed healthcare inpatient facility creates an uneasy environment due to differing needs of physical and mental health patients, compounded by long delays in transferring mental health patients to secure units.
- Delays in scheduling Coroner inquests cause anxiety for staff, witnesses, and families.
- Mislaid personal property during inter-prison transfers remains a persistent national problem, despite being a subject of discussion.
- Many men convicted of sexual offences continue to be unable to access treatment programmes, as they are considered unfit for transfer to appropriate prisons.
- Despite recent improvements, food quality lacks consistency, and timely maintenance of kitchen equipment (designed for 750 prisoners, current capacity 1164) remains a concern.
- The mixed healthcare inpatient facility creates an uneasy environment due to differing needs of physical and mental health patients, compounded by long delays in transferring mental health patients to secure units.
- Delays in scheduling Coroner inquests cause anxiety for staff, witnesses, and families.
- Mislaid personal property during inter-prison transfers remains a persistent national problem, despite being a subject of discussion.
- Many men convicted of sexual offences continue to be unable to access treatment programmes, as they are considered unfit for transfer to appropriate prisons.
- Despite recent improvements, food quality lacks consistency, and timely maintenance of kitchen equipment (designed for 750 prisoners, current capacity 1164) remains a concern.