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.
Highpoint
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 449
Assaults: 210
Staff assaults: 151
HMP Highpoint, a Category C training and resettlement prison, maintained a population of approximately 1,300 in 2024. While self-harm incidents decreased, there was a concerning rise in assaults on both prisoners and staff, and an increase in use of force and ACCTs opened. Key challenges include persistent issues with property management, the poor performance of the maintenance contractor (GFSL), and the unchecked influx of contraband, all contributing to ongoing safety concerns.
Key concerns identified
- The ongoing loss and delay of prisoners' property during transfers and within the prison, exacerbated by issues with handling parcels.
- The continued poor service and untimely completion of maintenance works by Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL).
- The significant rise in healthcare applications, requiring investigation into underlying reasons.
- The incomplete replacement of external netting, leaving the prison vulnerable to "throwovers" and contraband, impacting prisoner safety and wellbeing.
- The persistent influx of large quantities of drugs and other contraband, contributing to an increase in violent incidents and drug debt.
- Concerns regarding prison overcrowding, which complicates prisoner transfers and contributes to increased violence and unrest.
- The IMB is concerned that one of the constant watch cells is located in the CSU.
- The continued poor service and untimely completion of maintenance works by Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL).
- The significant rise in healthcare applications, requiring investigation into underlying reasons.
- The incomplete replacement of external netting, leaving the prison vulnerable to "throwovers" and contraband, impacting prisoner safety and wellbeing.
- The persistent influx of large quantities of drugs and other contraband, contributing to an increase in violent incidents and drug debt.
- Concerns regarding prison overcrowding, which complicates prisoner transfers and contributes to increased violence and unrest.
- The IMB is concerned that one of the constant watch cells is located in the CSU.
Highpoint
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 585
Assaults: 195
Staff assaults: 128
HMP Highpoint, a large Category C training and resettlement prison, reported around 1,300 prisoners during a year marked by significant increases in self-harm, violence, and assaults on staff. Key concerns included persistent issues with prisoner property management, inadequate maintenance services, and the ongoing challenge of contraband entry. Despite these, the report highlighted positive areas such as effective induction, a strong segregation unit, and robust neurodiversity support, alongside commendations for healthcare provision.
Key concerns identified
- Persistent issues with the loss and delay of prisoners' property, both during transfer between establishments and within HMP Highpoint.
- The maintenance service provided by Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL) continues to be a major concern, with significant backlogs and untimely completion of works.
- The prison remains vulnerable to illicit 'throw-overs' due to unrepaired netting, leading to contraband entry and a negative impact on prisoner health.
- A significant increase was observed in self-harm incidents, violent incidents, and assaults on staff, with drug debt identified as a major driver.
- The bereavement counselling service is frequently oversubscribed, with a shortage of counsellors to meet demand.
- Difficulties with social care referrals are noted due to an officer's redeployment and an 'user unfriendly' online portal.
- The maintenance service provided by Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL) continues to be a major concern, with significant backlogs and untimely completion of works.
- The prison remains vulnerable to illicit 'throw-overs' due to unrepaired netting, leading to contraband entry and a negative impact on prisoner health.
- A significant increase was observed in self-harm incidents, violent incidents, and assaults on staff, with drug debt identified as a major driver.
- The bereavement counselling service is frequently oversubscribed, with a shortage of counsellors to meet demand.
- Difficulties with social care referrals are noted due to an officer's redeployment and an 'user unfriendly' online portal.
Highpoint
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 322
Assaults: 185
Staff assaults: 97
HMP Highpoint, a Category C training and resettlement prison with an operational capacity of 1,270, experienced a decrease in self-harm but a 28% increase in violent incidents during the reporting year. Persistent concerns include significant maintenance backlogs by GFSL, ongoing issues with lost prisoner property, and restricted library access. Despite these challenges, healthcare provision maintained a 'green' rating, and the key worker scheme continued its development.
Key concerns identified
- The continued psychological harm to prisoners serving IPP sentences due to no identified release date.
- Ongoing issues with lost or delayed prisoner property, leading to frustration and negatively impacting wellbeing.
- Persistent poor performance and delays in maintenance work by GFSL, with a significant backlog of repairs.
- Staffing levels and frequent redeployments in the Offender Management Unit lead to high caseloads and impact prisoner support.
- The unaddressed security and safety risk posed by unrepaired netting, increasing opportunities for contraband throwovers.
- Restricted library access continues to negatively impact prisoner education and progression opportunities.
- An unwelcome 28% increase in violent incidents during the reporting year.
- Inconsistent activation of body-worn video cameras during use of force incidents.
- The Listener scheme, important for self-harm prevention, has still not restarted due to staff training issues.
- Ongoing issues with lost or delayed prisoner property, leading to frustration and negatively impacting wellbeing.
- Persistent poor performance and delays in maintenance work by GFSL, with a significant backlog of repairs.
- Staffing levels and frequent redeployments in the Offender Management Unit lead to high caseloads and impact prisoner support.
- The unaddressed security and safety risk posed by unrepaired netting, increasing opportunities for contraband throwovers.
- Restricted library access continues to negatively impact prisoner education and progression opportunities.
- An unwelcome 28% increase in violent incidents during the reporting year.
- Inconsistent activation of body-worn video cameras during use of force incidents.
- The Listener scheme, important for self-harm prevention, has still not restarted due to staff training issues.
Highpoint
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 357
Assaults: 108
Staff assaults: 95
HMP Highpoint is a male Category C training and resettlement prison. The reporting year saw a positive reduction in self-harm and violence, with staff commended for humane Covid management. Key concerns include persistent issues with property transfers, under-resourcing in contracted services like mental health and education, poor maintenance by GFSL, and the ongoing security vulnerability from unrepaired netting.
Key concerns identified
- Loss or delay of prisoners’ property during transfer between establishments remains an issue.
- Lack of stable funding strategies for therapeutic initiatives like music/drama.
- Poor service by GFSL for works maintenance, impacting the challenging prison environment.
- Significant under-resourcing and recruitment/retention issues in contracted areas like education tutors and mental health providers.
- Prisoner progression severely affected by Covid restrictions, impacting D category applications, Parole Board hearings, and offending behaviour programmes, with no 'catch-up' strategy.
- Damaged security netting, un-repaired for over a year, creates a vulnerability to throw-overs and contraband.
- Restricted library access negatively impacts prisoner education and progression opportunities.
- The key worker scheme has not been reintroduced as originally conceived due to Covid restrictions.
- Lack of stable funding strategies for therapeutic initiatives like music/drama.
- Poor service by GFSL for works maintenance, impacting the challenging prison environment.
- Significant under-resourcing and recruitment/retention issues in contracted areas like education tutors and mental health providers.
- Prisoner progression severely affected by Covid restrictions, impacting D category applications, Parole Board hearings, and offending behaviour programmes, with no 'catch-up' strategy.
- Damaged security netting, un-repaired for over a year, creates a vulnerability to throw-overs and contraband.
- Restricted library access negatively impacts prisoner education and progression opportunities.
- The key worker scheme has not been reintroduced as originally conceived due to Covid restrictions.
Highpoint
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 499
Assaults: 156
Staff assaults: 111
HMP Highpoint successfully navigated the Covid-19 pandemic, with prisoners adapting well and staff ensuring a fair and humane regime, leading to reductions in violence and self-harm. In-cell telephones and video visits significantly aided family contact. However, the Board raised concerns regarding the withdrawal of JobCentrePlus services, persistent issues with prisoner property transfers, and the quality of maintenance from Gov Facility Services Limited. Challenges also remain in ensuring timely mental health record transfers between establishments.
Key concerns identified
- Withdrawal of JobCentrePlus services since March 2020, impacting resettlement support.
- Ongoing issues with lost or delayed prisoner property, particularly during transfers between establishments.
- The poor quality and timeliness of works maintenance provided by Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL).
- Persistent problems with the repair and maintenance of kitchen equipment, affecting the provision of diet.
- Lack of a coordinated procedure for transferring prisoner mental health records between establishments.
- Inconsistent and insufficient hours allocated to the Equalities Officer post.
- Loss of access to library computers for prisoners, highlighting a need for in-cell educational devices.
- Ongoing issues with lost or delayed prisoner property, particularly during transfers between establishments.
- The poor quality and timeliness of works maintenance provided by Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL).
- Persistent problems with the repair and maintenance of kitchen equipment, affecting the provision of diet.
- Lack of a coordinated procedure for transferring prisoner mental health records between establishments.
- Inconsistent and insufficient hours allocated to the Equalities Officer post.
- Loss of access to library computers for prisoners, highlighting a need for in-cell educational devices.