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.
Belmarsh
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 360
Assaults: 226
Staff assaults: 129
HMP Belmarsh is a Category A local prison facing significant challenges during the reporting year ending June 2025. The Board noted a concerning rise in violence, strain on staffing impacting key worker sessions and daily regimes, and inadequate provision for vulnerable and seriously ill prisoners due to bed shortages and transfer delays. While staff professionalism and some positive initiatives were observed, persistent issues with property management, infrastructure, and purposeful activity, particularly for young offenders, require urgent attention.
Key concerns identified
- A concerning 14% rise in violence incidents and 22% increase in weapons found.
- Too many vulnerable prisoners (VPs) cannot be accommodated on dedicated spurs, leading to them being held on general spurs and self-isolating.
- Insufficient care and monitoring for prisoners who self-isolate, with poor record-keeping by staff.
- A dramatic fall in key worker sessions and negative impact on daily regime due to high staff sick leave.
- Significant strain on the segregation unit due to multi-unlock CSC prisoners, limited spaces, and management of young adults.
- Seriously ill patients treated outside the in-patient unit (IPU) due to lack of available cells, and severe delays (80 days) for mental health transfers.
- Disturbing cases of medication mismanagement and a failure to provide adequate communication for foreign national prisoners.
- Years of under-investment leading to deterioration of prison infrastructure and ongoing issues with lost prisoner property during transfers.
- Too many vulnerable prisoners (VPs) cannot be accommodated on dedicated spurs, leading to them being held on general spurs and self-isolating.
- Insufficient care and monitoring for prisoners who self-isolate, with poor record-keeping by staff.
- A dramatic fall in key worker sessions and negative impact on daily regime due to high staff sick leave.
- Significant strain on the segregation unit due to multi-unlock CSC prisoners, limited spaces, and management of young adults.
- Seriously ill patients treated outside the in-patient unit (IPU) due to lack of available cells, and severe delays (80 days) for mental health transfers.
- Disturbing cases of medication mismanagement and a failure to provide adequate communication for foreign national prisoners.
- Years of under-investment leading to deterioration of prison infrastructure and ongoing issues with lost prisoner property during transfers.
Belmarsh
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 367
Assaults: 128
Staff assaults: 109
HMP Belmarsh, a Category A local prison, faces significant challenges in providing purposeful activity and rehabilitation opportunities, particularly for HSU and sentenced prisoners, amid rising illicit item seizures and high violence levels. While healthcare provision has improved under a new provider, mental health support, transfers, and bed shortages remain problematic. The Board is concerned about overcrowding, prolonged segregation stays, and the indefinite detention of IPP prisoners, emphasizing the need for increased resources and improved regimes for vulnerable groups.
Key concerns identified
- Inadequate provision of education, skills and work activities, negatively impacting health, wellbeing, and rehabilitation.
- Persistent problems with maintenance and slow repair times for damaged cells.
- Overcrowding across the estate leading to prisoners being held in inappropriate categories and denied access to rehabilitative courses.
- Too many prisoners held in the Segregation Unit for extended periods, sometimes over 100 days, often due to challenging behaviour for which no suitable accommodation exists.
- Limited time out of cell, lack of purposeful activity, and difficulties with family/legal calls for prisoners in the High Security Unit (HSU).
- A marked increase in illicit items, including drugs and mini mobile phones, posing significant safety and security concerns.
- The indefinite detention of IPP prisoners, with no clear progression pathway or realistic possibility of parole, is considered inhumane.
- Long delays in transferring prisoners requiring treatment in secure mental health hospitals and a shortage of in-patient beds in the Healthcare Centre.
- The significant increase in vulnerable prisoners, with some held on houseblocks outside the dedicated unit due to capacity issues.
- Detention of young offenders in an adult prison like Belmarsh, which can be traumatising and negatively impact their mental health.
- Persistent problems with maintenance and slow repair times for damaged cells.
- Overcrowding across the estate leading to prisoners being held in inappropriate categories and denied access to rehabilitative courses.
- Too many prisoners held in the Segregation Unit for extended periods, sometimes over 100 days, often due to challenging behaviour for which no suitable accommodation exists.
- Limited time out of cell, lack of purposeful activity, and difficulties with family/legal calls for prisoners in the High Security Unit (HSU).
- A marked increase in illicit items, including drugs and mini mobile phones, posing significant safety and security concerns.
- The indefinite detention of IPP prisoners, with no clear progression pathway or realistic possibility of parole, is considered inhumane.
- Long delays in transferring prisoners requiring treatment in secure mental health hospitals and a shortage of in-patient beds in the Healthcare Centre.
- The significant increase in vulnerable prisoners, with some held on houseblocks outside the dedicated unit due to capacity issues.
- Detention of young offenders in an adult prison like Belmarsh, which can be traumatising and negatively impact their mental health.
Belmarsh
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 337
HMP Belmarsh operates as a Category A men's prison, holding approximately 650 prisoners with an operational capacity of 814. The report highlights both positive developments, such as improved induction processes, a new employment hub, and dedicated staff supporting vulnerable prisoners, alongside significant concerns. Key issues include persistent property loss, prolonged waits for mental health transfers, a restricted regime limiting purposeful activity for many, and staffing challenges impacting key worker provision and educational opportunities. The IMB urges HMPPS and the Governor to address these long-standing issues and improve the daily life and progression pathways for prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- 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.
- 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.
Belmarsh
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 360
HMP Belmarsh experienced a challenging reporting year with improvements in health and wellbeing provision and a commitment to safety, though HMIP noted safety had deteriorated. The prison addressed equality and diversity issues through dedicated leadership and improved data, but concerns remain regarding disparities in outcomes for protected characteristics. Staffing issues, particularly high ‘non-effectives’ despite target numbers, curtailed regimes and impacted key worker compliance, while lost property and prolonged mental health transfer waits persisted as significant and repeated concerns.
Key concerns identified
- Prolonged waits for assessment and transfer of prisoners with severe mental ill-health to appropriate secure settings.
- Frequent loss and inadequate tracking of prisoner property, particularly during transfer, causing significant frustration.
- Lack of purposeful activity and a consistently curtailed regime in the HSU due to staff shortages and redeployments.
- Sub-optimal compliance with the key worker scheme due to staffing levels and reallocations of staff time.
- Disparities in outcomes for prisoners with protected characteristics, such as incentives and segregation, requiring further scrutiny and action.
- The age and condition of some kitchen facilities, and inadequate monitoring of cleaning standards for new showers.
- Frequent loss and inadequate tracking of prisoner property, particularly during transfer, causing significant frustration.
- Lack of purposeful activity and a consistently curtailed regime in the HSU due to staff shortages and redeployments.
- Sub-optimal compliance with the key worker scheme due to staffing levels and reallocations of staff time.
- Disparities in outcomes for prisoners with protected characteristics, such as incentives and segregation, requiring further scrutiny and action.
- The age and condition of some kitchen facilities, and inadequate monitoring of cleaning standards for new showers.
Belmarsh
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 324
Assaults: 200
Staff assaults: 77
HMP Belmarsh faced significant challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to severely restricted regimes and increased pressure on staff. While the Board commended the prison's management of the pandemic and the removal of three-man cells, concerns persist regarding mental health provision, staffing shortages, and the slow reintroduction of purposeful activity. Key areas for development include improving diversity and inclusion, reforming the complaints process, and addressing conditions in the High Security Unit.
Key concerns identified
- Inadequate provision and delays in mental health services, both within and outside the prison.
- The ongoing risk of three-man cells being reintroduced and current unacceptable communal shower conditions.
- Significant staffing shortages impacting key worker support, regime delivery, and business hub efficiency.
- Lack of progress on diversity, inclusion, and equality of outcome, compounded by poor data and reporting.
- Problems with the prisoner complaints process remaining unresolved and property handling issues persisting.
- The limited regime, slow restart of purposeful activity, and lack of in-cell telephony for HSU prisoners.
- The ongoing risk of three-man cells being reintroduced and current unacceptable communal shower conditions.
- Significant staffing shortages impacting key worker support, regime delivery, and business hub efficiency.
- Lack of progress on diversity, inclusion, and equality of outcome, compounded by poor data and reporting.
- Problems with the prisoner complaints process remaining unresolved and property handling issues persisting.
- The limited regime, slow restart of purposeful activity, and lack of in-cell telephony for HSU prisoners.
Belmarsh
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 444
Assaults: 267
Staff assaults: 105
HMP Belmarsh faced a challenging year, dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to significant regime restrictions. Despite this, the prison demonstrated good infection control, and staff were commended for their dedication and innovative approaches. Key concerns remain the dilapidated shower areas, persistent triple occupancy, and inadequate facilities management. While violence decreased, self-harm incidents increased, and purposeful activity and educational provision continue to need improvement, particularly in high-security and segregation units.
Key concerns identified
- Deplorable and unacceptable condition of shower areas, a concern for several years.
- Persistent triple occupancy of cells designed for two, raising safety and decency issues.
- Poor facilities management by GFSL, leading to unacceptable delays in repairs.
- Significant concerns regarding mental health issues and the cessation of face-to-face psychology work during the pandemic.
- Inadequate provision of purposeful activity and education, especially for prisoners in the HSU and segregation unit, hampered by conflicts.
- An unfortunate increase in self-harm incidents compared to the previous year.
- Challenges in managing conflicts due to extensive gang activity, particularly during prisoner movements to and from court.
- Persistent triple occupancy of cells designed for two, raising safety and decency issues.
- Poor facilities management by GFSL, leading to unacceptable delays in repairs.
- Significant concerns regarding mental health issues and the cessation of face-to-face psychology work during the pandemic.
- Inadequate provision of purposeful activity and education, especially for prisoners in the HSU and segregation unit, hampered by conflicts.
- An unfortunate increase in self-harm incidents compared to the previous year.
- Challenges in managing conflicts due to extensive gang activity, particularly during prisoner movements to and from court.