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.
Hindley
PRISON
Concerns
Assaults: 350
Staff assaults: 98
The Board is increasingly concerned about the prison not always feeling safe, due to rising levels of violence, affecting both prisoners and staff, and the availability of illicit substances. The national problem of overcrowding in prisons impacted on HMP/YOI Hindley, which was operating at very near or full capacity throughout the year. As highlighted in previous annual reports, the Board remains concerned about the insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation
Key concerns identified
bullet The increased number of assaults on both prisoners and staff.
bullet Drugs, mobile devices and weapons continuing to be readily available.
bullet The lack of security and searching at the main gate.
bullet Insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation.
bullet The introduction of early release schemes to manage the national capacity crisis in prisons at relatively short notice meant that many men left Hindley unprepared for their release.
bullet Drugs, mobile devices and weapons continuing to be readily available.
bullet The lack of security and searching at the main gate.
bullet Insufficient number of available activity places, which support progress towards successful rehabilitation.
bullet The introduction of early release schemes to manage the national capacity crisis in prisons at relatively short notice meant that many men left Hindley unprepared for their release.
Hindley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 558
Assaults: 315
Staff assaults: 72
HMP/YOI Hindley, a Category C prison, operated at or near its 600 operational capacity throughout 2024, housing adult and young adult males. The Board noted some positives like improved healthcare provision and staff-prisoner relationships, particularly in wellbeing areas. However, significant concerns remain, primarily regarding rising violence, high drug availability, and self-harm incidents. Unacceptable staff absence led to extended lockdowns and a severe lack of purposeful activity, while the physical estate continues to be unfit for purpose with no plans for refurbishment.
Key concerns identified
- Rising levels of violence, self-harm incidents, and use of force.
- The pervasive issue of drug availability, high positive MDT rates, and insufficient main gate security.
- Extended periods of lockdown (up to 23 hours per day) due to unacceptably high staff absence levels.
- A significant deficit in purposeful activity places, leaving many men idle and impacting their rehabilitation.
- Concerns regarding overcrowding and the poor condition of existing, often unfit-for-purpose, accommodation, exacerbated by plans for a three-tier system post-expansion.
- The ongoing situation of IPP prisoners held long beyond their tariff, impacting their mental health and hope for release.
- The pervasive issue of drug availability, high positive MDT rates, and insufficient main gate security.
- Extended periods of lockdown (up to 23 hours per day) due to unacceptably high staff absence levels.
- A significant deficit in purposeful activity places, leaving many men idle and impacting their rehabilitation.
- Concerns regarding overcrowding and the poor condition of existing, often unfit-for-purpose, accommodation, exacerbated by plans for a three-tier system post-expansion.
- The ongoing situation of IPP prisoners held long beyond their tariff, impacting their mental health and hope for release.
Hindley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 54
Staff assaults: 72
HMP/YOI Hindley, a Category C training and resettlement prison for adult males and young adults, operated near its 600 operational capacity during the reporting period. The Board noted positive developments in leadership presence, communication, and some healthcare provision, which was rated good by HMIP. However, significant concerns persist, particularly regarding escalating violence, high self-harm rates (up 87%), and widespread drug availability. Persistent staff shortages lead to redeployment, impacting purposeful activity, key worker sessions, and overall regime delivery. The Board also highlights issues with outdated accommodation, delays in adjudications, and the need for improved support for complex mental health needs and disabled prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- Increase in violence affecting prisoners and staff.
- Continuing availability of drugs and high positive MDT results.
- High rates of self-harm, an 87% increase this year.
- Overcrowding, with the prison operating at near or full capacity.
- Rising staff sickness/absence and high staff turnover.
- Insufficient purposeful activity places, exacerbated by staff shortages and prisoner non-attendance.
- Concerns about the emerging three-tier accommodation standard due to expansion plans and lack of funding for older wings.
- Specialist activities and key work sessions are frequently cancelled or staff redeployed due to shortages.
- Delays in holding inquests for deaths in custody remain a concern.
- Lack of meaningful data on disabilities and very poor physical facilities for disabled prisoners.
- Complex mental health needs of prisoners in CSU, questioning the suitability of placement.
- Adjudications are often poorly prepared, leading to delays and cases collapsing.
- Continuing availability of drugs and high positive MDT results.
- High rates of self-harm, an 87% increase this year.
- Overcrowding, with the prison operating at near or full capacity.
- Rising staff sickness/absence and high staff turnover.
- Insufficient purposeful activity places, exacerbated by staff shortages and prisoner non-attendance.
- Concerns about the emerging three-tier accommodation standard due to expansion plans and lack of funding for older wings.
- Specialist activities and key work sessions are frequently cancelled or staff redeployed due to shortages.
- Delays in holding inquests for deaths in custody remain a concern.
- Lack of meaningful data on disabilities and very poor physical facilities for disabled prisoners.
- Complex mental health needs of prisoners in CSU, questioning the suitability of placement.
- Adjudications are often poorly prepared, leading to delays and cases collapsing.
Hindley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 423
Assaults: 222
Staff assaults: 78
HMP/YOI Hindley was deemed a safe environment with reduced violent incidents, but persistent staffing shortages led to extended lockdowns, negatively impacting prisoner wellbeing and mental health. The Board noted an increase in use of force and concerns over delays in parole hearings and inquests. While healthcare was satisfactory, low purposeful activity engagement and a lack of a clear incentives scheme remain significant issues.
Key concerns identified
- The continued impact of uncertainties and delays in parole board hearings for indeterminate sentence prisoners.
- Significant delays in holding inquests, causing distress to families and staff.
- No funding to upgrade existing accommodation to an acceptable level, creating a two-tier experience.
- Weaknesses in staff selection, induction, or initial training, contributing to a high attrition rate.
- High staff turnover and extended periods of lockdown, significantly impacting prisoner mental health and quality of life.
- Low attendance and frequent cancellation of work or training sessions, hindering preparation for release.
- Lack of an effective, comprehensive, and clear incentives scheme and payments policy.
- Significant delays in holding inquests, causing distress to families and staff.
- No funding to upgrade existing accommodation to an acceptable level, creating a two-tier experience.
- Weaknesses in staff selection, induction, or initial training, contributing to a high attrition rate.
- High staff turnover and extended periods of lockdown, significantly impacting prisoner mental health and quality of life.
- Low attendance and frequent cancellation of work or training sessions, hindering preparation for release.
- Lack of an effective, comprehensive, and clear incentives scheme and payments policy.
Hindley
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 375
Assaults: 432
Staff assaults: 60
HMP/YOI Hindley is deemed overall safe, though violence and self-harm increased, particularly among young adults. Prisoners are generally treated humanely despite challenges from Covid-19 restrictions, which often led to 23-hour lock-ins. While health needs are met satisfactorily, concerns persist regarding lost property, outdated accommodation, and resettlement support. The Board commends staff efforts and welcomes planned prison expansion.
Key concerns identified
- Increased violence and self-harm, especially among young adults.
- Cramped, outdated accommodation and kitchens, exacerbated by prolonged 23-hour lock-ins.
- Persistent and significant problem with lost prisoner property during transfers.
- Inadequate information, advice, and guidance for resettlement due to new contracts and Covid-19.
- Ongoing issue with litter accumulation creating health, safety, and security risks.
- Outdated and unreliable body-worn camera technology impacting incident monitoring.
- Cramped, outdated accommodation and kitchens, exacerbated by prolonged 23-hour lock-ins.
- Persistent and significant problem with lost prisoner property during transfers.
- Inadequate information, advice, and guidance for resettlement due to new contracts and Covid-19.
- Ongoing issue with litter accumulation creating health, safety, and security risks.
- Outdated and unreliable body-worn camera technology impacting incident monitoring.
Hindley
PRISON
Concerns
Staff assaults: 63
The reporting year was largely dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant regime restrictions. Despite these challenges, the Board found HMP/YOI Hindley to be a generally safe and humane environment, commending staff efforts in managing the pandemic and maintaining positive staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns remain around the cramped and unfit accommodation, the consistency of resettlement support, and the increased availability of illicit substances.
Key concerns identified
- The cramped, unfit-for-purpose cells in the original wings (A-D) and kitchen.
- Unacceptable levels of litter, health and safety risks, and security issues stemming from current window designs.
- Inconsistent and insufficient information, advice, and guidance for prisoners being released.
- The continued lack of an updated and understandable Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme.
- The apparently increased availability of illicit substances within the prison.
- Unacceptable levels of litter, health and safety risks, and security issues stemming from current window designs.
- Inconsistent and insufficient information, advice, and guidance for prisoners being released.
- The continued lack of an updated and understandable Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme.
- The apparently increased availability of illicit substances within the prison.