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.
Foston Hall
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 2,014
Staff assaults: 1,022
HMP/YOI Foston Hall is a women’s prison and young offender institution. Its capacity is 3241. The Board has noted a rise in self-harm incidents, violence, and use of force.
Key concerns identified
bullet The continuing rise in prisoners who are on short-fixed term recalls, and subject to short sentences has a significant limiting impact on rehabilitation and resettlement.
- bullet It is still the case that prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs are frequently received, or remain too long, at HMP Foston Hall, rather than being accommodated and cared for in hospital or in the community in line with the ambitions of the female offender strategy.
- bullet There is still no evidence that the decision to identify pregnancy as a specific mitigating factor in sentencing decisions has had any impact on the number of pregnant prisoners passing through Foston Hall, including prisoners on short-term recall.
- bullet There are increasing problems with the quality and decency of accommodation, including the longstanding inadequacy of the CSU and D wing and the ongoing health and safety and decency issues on F wing caused by water damage from leaking showers.
- bullet There continues to be a lack of adequate mental health provision for prisoners experiencing less severe but still impactful conditions, including anxiety and depression.
- bullet There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level.
- bullet It is still the case that prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs are frequently received, or remain too long, at HMP Foston Hall, rather than being accommodated and cared for in hospital or in the community in line with the ambitions of the female offender strategy.
- bullet There is still no evidence that the decision to identify pregnancy as a specific mitigating factor in sentencing decisions has had any impact on the number of pregnant prisoners passing through Foston Hall, including prisoners on short-term recall.
- bullet There are increasing problems with the quality and decency of accommodation, including the longstanding inadequacy of the CSU and D wing and the ongoing health and safety and decency issues on F wing caused by water damage from leaking showers.
- bullet There continues to be a lack of adequate mental health provision for prisoners experiencing less severe but still impactful conditions, including anxiety and depression.
- bullet There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level.
Foston Hall
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 1,423
Assaults: 136
Staff assaults: 84
HMP/YOI Foston Hall is deemed a reasonably safe prison for women, with a significant decrease in self-harm incidents and an increase in its operational capacity. However, the report highlights critical concerns including a notable rise in prisoner-on-prisoner violence, increased illicit items entering the prison, and systemic issues with delayed mental health transfers to secure hospitals. Problems with accommodation, the prisoner application system, property access, and persistent missed healthcare appointments continue to impact prisoner welfare, despite positive efforts in regime maintenance and staff-prisoner interactions.
Key concerns identified
- Prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs remain too long at HMP Foston Hall due to delayed transfers to secure hospitals.
- A significant rise in remand, short-sentence, and recalled prisoners has led to an increase in drugs and illicit items, causing debt, bullying, and violence.
- The accommodation in the CSU and D wing remains inadequate, lacking funding for improvements.
- Without a body scanner at reception, staff are hampered from detecting concealed drugs, compromising safety.
- The rise in prisoner-on-prisoner violence is a significant concern.
- Problems persist with the prisoner application system, with responses often late or not received.
- Prisoners experience considerable difficulties and lengthy delays in accessing their property.
- Lack of shelter for prisoners queuing at the medication dispensing hatch in all weathers.
- Missed internal healthcare appointments remain significantly high.
- No social care 'buddies' for prisoners with care needs.
- A significant rise in remand, short-sentence, and recalled prisoners has led to an increase in drugs and illicit items, causing debt, bullying, and violence.
- The accommodation in the CSU and D wing remains inadequate, lacking funding for improvements.
- Without a body scanner at reception, staff are hampered from detecting concealed drugs, compromising safety.
- The rise in prisoner-on-prisoner violence is a significant concern.
- Problems persist with the prisoner application system, with responses often late or not received.
- Prisoners experience considerable difficulties and lengthy delays in accessing their property.
- Lack of shelter for prisoners queuing at the medication dispensing hatch in all weathers.
- Missed internal healthcare appointments remain significantly high.
- No social care 'buddies' for prisoners with care needs.
Foston Hall
PRISON
Concerns
HMP/YOI Foston Hall has shown positive developments in regime provision and some safety initiatives, yet it continues to grapple with persistently high self-harm rates and increased use of force. Staffing shortages have impacted key work and overall experience levels, while healthcare faces challenges with recruitment, missed appointments, and inadequate facilities. The Board highlights significant concerns regarding accommodation decency, delays in parole and mental health transfers, and a lack of analytical focus on protected characteristics, affecting fair treatment and access to services.
Key concerns identified
- High levels of self-harm.
- Increased use of force, disproportionately affecting young adults.
- Inadequate accommodation in CSU and D wing.
- Staffing issues impacting key working and leading to a high proportion of inexperienced officers.
- Delays in parole decisions and failure to meet mental health transfer targets.
- Significant number of missed healthcare appointments and inadequate healthcare facilities (e.g., dispensing hatch, clinical space).
- Problems with property access, unaddressed applications, and ongoing heating/hot water issues.
- Lack of data analysis on protected characteristics and poor quality/timeliness of Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms (DIRFs).
- Homelessness on release and lack of reliable library and accessible education for disabled prisoners.
- Increased use of force, disproportionately affecting young adults.
- Inadequate accommodation in CSU and D wing.
- Staffing issues impacting key working and leading to a high proportion of inexperienced officers.
- Delays in parole decisions and failure to meet mental health transfer targets.
- Significant number of missed healthcare appointments and inadequate healthcare facilities (e.g., dispensing hatch, clinical space).
- Problems with property access, unaddressed applications, and ongoing heating/hot water issues.
- Lack of data analysis on protected characteristics and poor quality/timeliness of Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms (DIRFs).
- Homelessness on release and lack of reliable library and accessible education for disabled prisoners.
Foston Hall
PRISON
Concerns
HMP/YOI Foston Hall faced significant challenges in the reporting year, primarily due to acute staff shortages which severely impacted the regime, leading to frequent curtailments and long periods of cell confinement. Key concerns included high levels of self-harm and violence, inadequate accommodation, and slow progress in healthcare provision and resettlement outcomes. Despite these difficulties, the Board commended staff dedication and noted some improvements, such as the opening of better quality accommodation and enhanced chaplaincy services.
Key concerns identified
- High levels of self-harm and prisoner-on-prisoner violence remain serious concerns.
- Acute staff shortages severely impact the regime, leading to frequent curtailments and long periods of cell confinement.
- There is inadequate accommodation, particularly in D wing and CSU, and issues with slow repairs and access to laundry facilities.
- Healthcare faces challenges with staff recruitment, missed appointments, and significant delays in mental health transfers to secure hospitals.
- Progress on equalities and support for foreign national prisoners and those with protected characteristics is slow.
- Education delivery and resettlement outcomes (employment, accommodation) are poor due to staff shortages and regime restrictions.
- Acute staff shortages severely impact the regime, leading to frequent curtailments and long periods of cell confinement.
- There is inadequate accommodation, particularly in D wing and CSU, and issues with slow repairs and access to laundry facilities.
- Healthcare faces challenges with staff recruitment, missed appointments, and significant delays in mental health transfers to secure hospitals.
- Progress on equalities and support for foreign national prisoners and those with protected characteristics is slow.
- Education delivery and resettlement outcomes (employment, accommodation) are poor due to staff shortages and regime restrictions.
Foston Hall
PRISON
Concerns
HMP/YOI Foston Hall faced significant challenges in the reporting year ending November 2021, primarily from persistent Covid-19 restrictions and severe staffing pressures. The IMB acknowledged the dedication of staff and noted improvements in areas like induction and welfare checks. However, serious concerns remain regarding the prison's high self-harm rates, inadequate mental health provision, unsuitable accommodation, and the impact of staff shortages on regime delivery and prisoner resettlement.
Key concerns identified
- The continued high level of self-harm, remaining the highest in the female estate, despite new strategies.
- Inadequate mental health provision, resulting in significant unmet need and delays in transfers to secure hospitals.
- Persistent issues with accommodation, including longstanding problems on D wing, serious shortcomings in G wing, the cramped CSU, and insufficient space for healthcare services and confidential interviews.
- Significant staffing pressures across the prison and healthcare, leading to frequent regime curtailments and impacting service delivery.
- An increase in violent incidents, particularly assaults on staff, and a high, erratic level of use of force, with concerns about body worn camera use.
- The rising number of prisoners being released without an address due to cessation of Covid-19 homelessness funding, and fragmented resettlement support following probation reform.
- Inadequate mental health provision, resulting in significant unmet need and delays in transfers to secure hospitals.
- Persistent issues with accommodation, including longstanding problems on D wing, serious shortcomings in G wing, the cramped CSU, and insufficient space for healthcare services and confidential interviews.
- Significant staffing pressures across the prison and healthcare, leading to frequent regime curtailments and impacting service delivery.
- An increase in violent incidents, particularly assaults on staff, and a high, erratic level of use of force, with concerns about body worn camera use.
- The rising number of prisoners being released without an address due to cessation of Covid-19 homelessness funding, and fragmented resettlement support following probation reform.
Foston Hall
PRISON
Concerns
Assaults: 31
Staff assaults: 72
HMP/YOI Foston Hall operated under severe COVID-19 restrictions for most of the year, leading to drastic regime changes, including confinement to cells for most of the day. Despite significant staff commitment and efforts by healthcare and resettlement services, key concerns persist regarding persistently high self-harm, staff assaults, and use of force, alongside infrastructure issues in D wing and the CSU. The report highlights the inhumane impact of the restricted regime and the challenges in maintaining essential services and progression opportunities.
Key concerns identified
- The persistently high levels of self-harm, assaults on staff, and the rising level of use of force.
- The failure of two wings to meet critical fire safety requirements, leading to their decommissioning.
- Prison Service-wide restrictions resulting in women being confined to their cells for most of the day, apart from 30 minutes’ exercise, for several months, which is considered inhumane.
- IPP prisoners remaining in custody several years beyond their tariff date.
- Accommodation in D wing and the healthcare unit requires considerable improvement.
- The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) has serious underlying physical size and layout limitations despite refurbishment.
- There is a lack of suitable interview rooms across the prison for welfare and rehabilitative work.
- The failure of two wings to meet critical fire safety requirements, leading to their decommissioning.
- Prison Service-wide restrictions resulting in women being confined to their cells for most of the day, apart from 30 minutes’ exercise, for several months, which is considered inhumane.
- IPP prisoners remaining in custody several years beyond their tariff date.
- Accommodation in D wing and the healthcare unit requires considerable improvement.
- The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) has serious underlying physical size and layout limitations despite refurbishment.
- There is a lack of suitable interview rooms across the prison for welfare and rehabilitative work.