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.
Hatfield
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 0
Assaults: 0
Staff assaults: 0
HMP Hatfield, a Category D open men's prison and YOI, maintains a generally safe environment with no self-harm, assaults, deaths, or use of force incidents reported in the year. The IMB commends the prison's strong focus on resettlement, evidenced by high rates of employment (62.85%) and accommodation (99.75%) upon release. While facilities are improving through capital maintenance and healthcare provision is well-managed, concerns remain regarding the negative impact of prison population pressures on the Category D ethos, maintenance issues at the Lakes site, and the suitability assessment process for new prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- Measures to relieve prison population pressures across the estate can and do have a negative impact on the ethos and performance of category D prisons.
- Maintenance at the Lakes is managed by the adjoining prison and is not connected to Hatfield, and their maintenance work is often prioritised over the Lakes.
- Increase in complaints, which could be due to men entering HMP Hatfield when they are not prepared for an open prison regime in taking responsibility for personal problem solving.
- Lack of resettlement preparation.
- Prisoners placed in open prison conditions following the change from two years to five years left in a sentence could possibly account for the increase in illicit mobile phone and drug use, due to a lack of incentives and compliance as there may be more time left to serve.
- Maintenance at the Lakes is managed by the adjoining prison and is not connected to Hatfield, and their maintenance work is often prioritised over the Lakes.
- Increase in complaints, which could be due to men entering HMP Hatfield when they are not prepared for an open prison regime in taking responsibility for personal problem solving.
- Lack of resettlement preparation.
- Prisoners placed in open prison conditions following the change from two years to five years left in a sentence could possibly account for the increase in illicit mobile phone and drug use, due to a lack of incentives and compliance as there may be more time left to serve.
Hatfield
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 0
Staff assaults: 0
HMP Hatfield maintains a high standard as a Category D prison, with a focus on safety, positive staff-prisoner relationships, and excellent resettlement outcomes, including high employment rates post-release. Key concerns persist regarding the impact of wider prison population pressures, maintenance discrepancies at the Lakes site, and delays in estate improvements like the multi-faith centre. The Board notes a recurring issue with prisoners' reluctance to apply to the IMB due to fears of being returned to closed conditions.
Key concerns identified
- The impact of prison population pressures on Category D prisons and their resettlement programmes.
- Prioritisation of maintenance work at Hatfield Lakes site due to management by an adjoining prison.
- Discrepancies in available accommodation quality within the prison, particularly concerning refurbishment at the Lakes.
- Potential difficulty in continuing staff initiatives due to increased prison population changes.
- Ongoing need for continuation of bathroom facilities refurbishment, particularly at the Lakes where some ablutions are not fit for use.
- Ongoing completion of the new 'anti-dash' fence to improve security against illicit items.
- Delay in the commencement of the new multi-faith centre until 2025.
- Prisoners' reluctance to make applications to the IMB and a pervasive belief that complaints or DIRFs lead to return to closed conditions, despite data showing no correlation.
- Prioritisation of maintenance work at Hatfield Lakes site due to management by an adjoining prison.
- Discrepancies in available accommodation quality within the prison, particularly concerning refurbishment at the Lakes.
- Potential difficulty in continuing staff initiatives due to increased prison population changes.
- Ongoing need for continuation of bathroom facilities refurbishment, particularly at the Lakes where some ablutions are not fit for use.
- Ongoing completion of the new 'anti-dash' fence to improve security against illicit items.
- Delay in the commencement of the new multi-faith centre until 2025.
- Prisoners' reluctance to make applications to the IMB and a pervasive belief that complaints or DIRFs lead to return to closed conditions, despite data showing no correlation.
Hatfield
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 0
Assaults: 1
Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Hatfield is recognised as a very safe and effective Category D open prison, excelling in resettlement with a high percentage of prisoners securing and maintaining employment post-release. The Board commends the positive staff-prisoner relationships and well-managed healthcare, while noting improvements in facilities. Key concerns include the negative impact of prison population pressures on open prisons, the unsuitability of the Lakes site, and delays in completing perimeter fencing to mitigate illicit item drops.
Key concerns identified
- 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 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.
Hatfield
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 0
Assaults: 0
Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Hatfield, a Category D resettlement prison, was found to be a safe environment with no recorded self-harm, staff assaults, or prisoner assaults during the reporting year. The prison demonstrated excellence in work and education provision, achieving high employment rates on release, and healthcare was well-managed. However, significant concerns persist regarding the poor and unhygienic condition of ablution facilities across both sites and the lack of funding for their essential refurbishment.
Key concerns identified
- The unacceptable and unhygienic condition of showers and washrooms across both sites.
- A lack of funding allocated for the refurbishment of ablution facilities.
- Maintenance and heating issues at the Lakes site not being prioritised due to management by HMP Lindholme.
- A lack of funding allocated for the refurbishment of ablution facilities.
- Maintenance and heating issues at the Lakes site not being prioritised due to management by HMP Lindholme.
Hatfield
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 1
Assaults: 2
Staff assaults: 1
HMP/YOI Hatfield operated safely and humanely during a challenging year (Apr 2020 - Mar 2021) impacted by COVID-19. The Board found healthcare, education, work provision, and resettlement efforts to be good, despite pandemic restrictions. Staff morale remained high and strong leadership was noted. Key challenges included the impact of COVID-19 on ROTL and family visits, property issues on transfer, and reduced face-to-face service for some healthcare and equality functions.
Key concerns identified
- COVID-19 had a significant impact on ROTL and Parole Boards.
- The age and wear of accommodation units D and E were a long-standing concern, though a replacement project is now planned.
- Property issues for prisoners transferring into Hatfield, with some property occasionally left behind by escort contractors.
- Reduced IMB visits to the establishment due to COVID-19 restrictions, hindering direct monitoring.
- Reduced healthcare provision for routine Long-Term Conditions and delayed hospital outpatient referrals due to COVID-19.
- Cessation of regular dental services and limited access to other healthcare appointments (GP, optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy).
- Suspension of the Equalities and Fairness committee meetings during the pandemic.
- The age and wear of accommodation units D and E were a long-standing concern, though a replacement project is now planned.
- Property issues for prisoners transferring into Hatfield, with some property occasionally left behind by escort contractors.
- Reduced IMB visits to the establishment due to COVID-19 restrictions, hindering direct monitoring.
- Reduced healthcare provision for routine Long-Term Conditions and delayed hospital outpatient referrals due to COVID-19.
- Cessation of regular dental services and limited access to other healthcare appointments (GP, optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy).
- Suspension of the Equalities and Fairness committee meetings during the pandemic.