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.
South and West short term holding facilities
PRISON
Concerns
Staff assaults: 1
The South and West STHF Board was newly formed in January 2023. Members made a total of 139 monitoring visits (often in pairs) between 1 February 2025 and 31 January 2026. BF provided a monthly data sheet listing all people detained in the STHF. Bristol was the busiest site, with 129 detentions for longer than two hours, and Poole the quietest, with only seven detained individuals.
Key concerns identified
- We were concerned that some people at Bristol and Cardiff were held for long periods in the CWA, without being transferred to the more comfortable and private STHF.
- For a second year we were concerned that detained people could not have access to prescribed medication whilst in the STHF. Also, BF officers had inadequate access to health-related support and advice.
- We were again concerned about BF failing to inform us of the use of force either within the agreed timescales or in one case not at all.
- We questioned definitions of vulnerability because of the release of one detained person, a lone woman with no money, no accommodation and limited English.
- We remain concerned that decisions about access to medication and nicotine replacement have taken over 12 months.
- Although few in number, we were concerned about the additional time in detention, waiting for MITIE Care and Custody to arrive to transfer a detained person.
- For a second year we were concerned that detained people could not have access to prescribed medication whilst in the STHF. Also, BF officers had inadequate access to health-related support and advice.
- We were again concerned about BF failing to inform us of the use of force either within the agreed timescales or in one case not at all.
- We questioned definitions of vulnerability because of the release of one detained person, a lone woman with no money, no accommodation and limited English.
- We remain concerned that decisions about access to medication and nicotine replacement have taken over 12 months.
- Although few in number, we were concerned about the additional time in detention, waiting for MITIE Care and Custody to arrive to transfer a detained person.
Cardiff IMB
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 295
Assaults: 214
Overall, HMP Cardiff has seen positive developments in safety, with significant reductions in self-harm and use of force incidents, and successful digital platform implementation. However, the prison continues to grapple with severe staffing shortages, particularly in healthcare, and the physical estate remains in poor condition, affecting prisoners with mobility issues and access to basic amenities. Concerns persist regarding delays in mental health transfers, lack of secure medication storage, and the underperformance of the key worker scheme.
Key concerns identified
- Significant delays in vetting processes are hindering the recruitment of both prison staff and IMB members.
- There are unresolved issues concerning the right-to-work status of some prison staff.
- Parts of the prison estate remain in poor condition, with persistent problems in heating, hot water, and telephones, alongside ongoing closures of buildings marked for demolition.
- The impact of hospital escorts on prison staffing and the daily regime is a growing concern.
- Delays in accessing mental health services, including a reduction in psychiatric sessions and slow transfers to appropriate placements, persist.
- There is a lack of secure storage for 'in possession' medication, increasing the risk of misuse by other prisoners.
- The prison currently lacks a formal and robust social care process, as highlighted by the Health and Social Care Needs Analysis.
- The key worker scheme continues to underperform, and the resolution of discussions around a revised staffing profile to support it has been delayed.
- The prison is largely unsuitable for prisoners with disabilities or limited mobility, contributing to dignity issues like out-of-cell dining in shared cell spaces.
- Concerns about lost prisoner property have increased, particularly during transfers to and from the segregation unit.
- There are unresolved issues concerning the right-to-work status of some prison staff.
- Parts of the prison estate remain in poor condition, with persistent problems in heating, hot water, and telephones, alongside ongoing closures of buildings marked for demolition.
- The impact of hospital escorts on prison staffing and the daily regime is a growing concern.
- Delays in accessing mental health services, including a reduction in psychiatric sessions and slow transfers to appropriate placements, persist.
- There is a lack of secure storage for 'in possession' medication, increasing the risk of misuse by other prisoners.
- The prison currently lacks a formal and robust social care process, as highlighted by the Health and Social Care Needs Analysis.
- The key worker scheme continues to underperform, and the resolution of discussions around a revised staffing profile to support it has been delayed.
- The prison is largely unsuitable for prisoners with disabilities or limited mobility, contributing to dignity issues like out-of-cell dining in shared cell spaces.
- Concerns about lost prisoner property have increased, particularly during transfers to and from the segregation unit.
Cardiff
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 295
Assaults: 214
HMP Cardiff saw a significant reduction in self-harm, use of force, and violence incidents this year, alongside positive developments like the Launchpad project and improved GP services. However, the Board remains concerned about persistent issues such as severe staffing shortages in healthcare, particularly nursing and pharmacy, and delays in mental health transfers. Prison conditions, including heating, water, and accessibility, continue to be problematic, and the key worker scheme needs greater prioritisation amidst ongoing population pressures.
Key concerns identified
- The late arrival of out-of-area prisoners at HMP Cardiff, delaying the reception process (repeated concern).
- Ongoing issues with prison conditions, including lack of out-of-cell space for eating, heating and hot water problems, and inadequate accessibility for prisoners with mobility issues (repeated concern).
- The critical need to prioritise a well-functioning key worker scheme.
- Long waiting lists for mental health services, including a reduction from seven to six psychiatric sessions a week.
- Lengthy delays for some prisoners to be transferred to suitable mental health placements.
- Low mental health staffing levels compared to similar prisons, as highlighted by the H&SCNA.
- Staffing shortages, particularly in nursing and pharmacy, exacerbated by vetting delays and recruitment issues.
- The inability of prescribing pharmacists to prescribe due to job-sharing arrangements that prevent in-prison checks.
- Lack of lockable storage for prisoners with ‘in possession’ medication.
- Absence of a formal and robust social care process between the prison and local authority.
- The poor condition of parts of the prison estate, continued closure of buildings marked for demolition, and ongoing problems with basic infrastructure such as heating, hot water, and phones.
- The impact of prisoner hospital escorts on prison staffing and the regime.
- Continued problematic levels of drug use and finds within the prison.
- Ongoing issues with prison conditions, including lack of out-of-cell space for eating, heating and hot water problems, and inadequate accessibility for prisoners with mobility issues (repeated concern).
- The critical need to prioritise a well-functioning key worker scheme.
- Long waiting lists for mental health services, including a reduction from seven to six psychiatric sessions a week.
- Lengthy delays for some prisoners to be transferred to suitable mental health placements.
- Low mental health staffing levels compared to similar prisons, as highlighted by the H&SCNA.
- Staffing shortages, particularly in nursing and pharmacy, exacerbated by vetting delays and recruitment issues.
- The inability of prescribing pharmacists to prescribe due to job-sharing arrangements that prevent in-prison checks.
- Lack of lockable storage for prisoners with ‘in possession’ medication.
- Absence of a formal and robust social care process between the prison and local authority.
- The poor condition of parts of the prison estate, continued closure of buildings marked for demolition, and ongoing problems with basic infrastructure such as heating, hot water, and phones.
- The impact of prisoner hospital escorts on prison staffing and the regime.
- Continued problematic levels of drug use and finds within the prison.
Cardiff
PRISON
South and West short term holding facilities
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 0
Assaults: 0
Staff assaults: 0
This IMB report details monitoring of multiple Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) in the South and West region for the year ending January 2025. Key concerns include inconsistent access to detention records, inadequate healthcare arrangements, and persistent facility issues such as heating and hot water, alongside varied provision of hot food. While the Board notes positive engagement from Border Force staff and some improvements in record-keeping, it highlights areas requiring urgent attention to ensure humane treatment and effective oversight of detained individuals.
Key concerns identified
- 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.
- 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.
Response to the 2023-24 HMP Cardiff IMB
PRISON
Concerns
This document is a response to HMP Cardiff's IMB report for 2023-24. Key concerns addressed include overcrowding, a prisoner death, issues with heating and water systems, and challenges in mental health provision and transfers. The Minister and HMPPS highlighted positive findings such as visible leadership, good staff-prisoner relationships, consistent purposeful activity, and efforts to improve diversity in staff recruitment, alongside plans for estate upgrades and enhanced mental health support.
Key concerns identified
- 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.
- 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.
Cardiff
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 595
Assaults: 135
Staff assaults: 36
HMP Cardiff, a Category B local training prison, maintained a 'Good' HMIP rating despite significant population pressures, with the IMB noting positive staff-prisoner relationships and cell refurbishment efforts. However, the Board expressed serious concerns over rising self-harm, violence, and use of force incidents, alongside persistent overcrowding leading to inhumane eating conditions. Key challenges included inadequate mental health staffing at weekends, a doubling of medication complaints, and poor key worker scheme delivery.
Key concerns identified
- Significant increases in self-harm (63%), violence (57%), and use of force (68%) incidents.
- Persistent overcrowding and unacceptable living conditions, including prisoners eating in shared cells with integral toilets, and issues with heating, hot water, and vermin.
- Doubling of medication/prescription complaints, insufficient weekend mental health team cover, and delays in the health needs analysis.
- Inconsistent delivery of the key worker scheme (11.08% compliance) and underrepresentation of ethnic minority staff.
- Concerns over resettlement planning, specifically for accommodation and employment on release, and the unsuitability of premises for disabled prisoners.
- Persistent overcrowding and unacceptable living conditions, including prisoners eating in shared cells with integral toilets, and issues with heating, hot water, and vermin.
- Doubling of medication/prescription complaints, insufficient weekend mental health team cover, and delays in the health needs analysis.
- Inconsistent delivery of the key worker scheme (11.08% compliance) and underrepresentation of ethnic minority staff.
- Concerns over resettlement planning, specifically for accommodation and employment on release, and the unsuitability of premises for disabled prisoners.
Cardiff
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 374
Assaults: 180
HMP Cardiff, a Category B local training prison, maintained a relatively safe environment with one death in custody and 374 self-harm incidents, matching the previous year. However, it faced increasing population pressures and a rise in illicit substance use. The Board noted positive developments in healthcare staffing, family services, and education provision, alongside the opening of a Neurodiversity Hub and an Incentivised Substance-Free Living unit. Key concerns include ongoing staffing shortages in offender management, the impact of old infrastructure on living conditions, and significant delays in visits booking and mental health transfers.
Key concerns identified
- 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.
- 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.
Cardiff
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 533
Assaults: 30
Staff assaults: 42
HMP Cardiff maintained a reasonably safe and humane environment during the reporting year despite significant Covid-19 challenges. Self-harm and use of force incidents reduced, and healthcare staffing improved, but a restrictive regime impacted prisoner wellbeing and purposeful activity. Key concerns include a lack of mental health transfer beds, inadequate accommodation on release, and ongoing issues with prison infrastructure and perceived discrimination against BAME prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- An increase in men requiring transfer to mental health establishments.
- Men held in custody on IS91s and their lack of access to Home Office representatives, a repeated concern.
- Ongoing lack of cover for pharmacists and the need for increased GP hours.
- A lack of available and suitable accommodation for men leaving prison, particularly in certain areas, also a repeated concern.
- Annual issues with heating, problems with accessing TV channels, and rats affecting infrastructure in older wings, with heating and TV issues being long-standing.
- Difficulties with access for wheelchair users and those with mobility problems to some areas of the prison, a repeated trend.
- The need for a return to a normal regime as soon as practicable, given the negative impact of restrictions on men's well-being.
- Body worn cameras being affected by the need for servicing and replacement.
- Staffing pressures within the business hub affecting the complaints procedure.
- The disproportionate number of BAME prisoners labelled as dangerous, a concern noted in the last report that remains.
- A perception among BAME prisoners of discrimination in the allocation of work and education.
- Men held in custody on IS91s and their lack of access to Home Office representatives, a repeated concern.
- Ongoing lack of cover for pharmacists and the need for increased GP hours.
- A lack of available and suitable accommodation for men leaving prison, particularly in certain areas, also a repeated concern.
- Annual issues with heating, problems with accessing TV channels, and rats affecting infrastructure in older wings, with heating and TV issues being long-standing.
- Difficulties with access for wheelchair users and those with mobility problems to some areas of the prison, a repeated trend.
- The need for a return to a normal regime as soon as practicable, given the negative impact of restrictions on men's well-being.
- Body worn cameras being affected by the need for servicing and replacement.
- Staffing pressures within the business hub affecting the complaints procedure.
- The disproportionate number of BAME prisoners labelled as dangerous, a concern noted in the last report that remains.
- A perception among BAME prisoners of discrimination in the allocation of work and education.
Cardiff
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 712
HMP Cardiff maintained a reasonably safe environment with low violence, but self-harm incidents increased to 712, with four deaths in custody (three self-inflicted). The COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted the regime, impacting purposeful activity, time out of cell (1.5 hours daily), and overall prisoner wellbeing. Persistent staffing shortages hampered healthcare and mental health services, while disparities for BAME prisoners in areas like segregation and dangerous prisoner labels remained a concern.
Key concerns identified
- The continuing high incidence of self-harm (712 incidents), including three self-inflicted deaths.
- The detention of immigration detainees in custodial settings, including the CSU, and inadequate contact and support from the Home Office.
- Persistent staffing shortages, especially within healthcare and mental health, undermining consistent service delivery.
- The detrimental impact of the prolonged COVID-19 restricted regime on prisoner wellbeing, humane treatment, and opportunities for progression.
- Disparities for BAME prisoners, particularly their over-representation on 'dangerous prisoner' lists and for Black/mixed-race Caribbean prisoners in segregation.
- An increase in use of force incidents and ongoing concerns about officers' inconsistent use of Body-Worn Cameras.
- Physical limitations of the Victorian estate for prisoners with disabilities and a continuing rat problem.
- The detention of immigration detainees in custodial settings, including the CSU, and inadequate contact and support from the Home Office.
- Persistent staffing shortages, especially within healthcare and mental health, undermining consistent service delivery.
- The detrimental impact of the prolonged COVID-19 restricted regime on prisoner wellbeing, humane treatment, and opportunities for progression.
- Disparities for BAME prisoners, particularly their over-representation on 'dangerous prisoner' lists and for Black/mixed-race Caribbean prisoners in segregation.
- An increase in use of force incidents and ongoing concerns about officers' inconsistent use of Body-Worn Cameras.
- Physical limitations of the Victorian estate for prisoners with disabilities and a continuing rat problem.