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.
Kirklevington Grange
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 1
Assaults: 1
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is a category D open prison, located close to the village of Kirklevington, in North Yorkshire, catering for adult men and young adult men. The operational capacity of the prison was 2071 throughout the year. The IMB consider that HMP Kirklevington Grange is a safe environment for both prisoners and staff.
Key concerns identified
bullet Toxicology tests have yet to be finalised thus delaying the investigation by the prisons and Probation Ombudsman, preventing progress towards an inquest.
- Staffing levels at Kirklevington are good, without many peaks of sickness but the Board is concerned at the amount of time it takes to start a new member on site between their initial interview and acceptance.
- Misplaced property is a continuing issue.
- The rapid development cell programme again failed to come to fruition during the reporting year.
- Staffing levels at Kirklevington are good, without many peaks of sickness but the Board is concerned at the amount of time it takes to start a new member on site between their initial interview and acceptance.
- Misplaced property is a continuing issue.
- The rapid development cell programme again failed to come to fruition during the reporting year.
Kirklevington Grange
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 0
Assaults: 0
Staff assaults: 0
HMP Kirklevington Grange is a Category D open prison that performs well across key areas, including safety, healthcare, and resettlement, as evidenced by 'good' HMIP ratings and strong staff-prisoner relationships. Despite positive outcomes in education and employment preparation, the Board highlights ongoing concerns regarding a lack of progress on new accommodation units and persistent issues with property transfers. The prison continues to manage population pressures and policy changes while striving to provide a constructive environment for release preparation.
Key concerns identified
- There is no visible progress on the development of replacement accommodation units under the rapid development cell programme (RDCS).
- Issues with prisoners' property being lost or mislaid on transfer between establishments continue to be a national problem.
- Funding and budgets remain a concern, with a recommendation for more local purchasing autonomy.
- The prison continues to experience bed-bug infestations despite ongoing efforts.
- Support sought for two Jewish prisoners remains outstanding.
- Doubling up in the induction block is perceived as a regressive step by prisoners.
- Government policies are undermining successes in prisoner employment, with men having insufficient time to benefit from opportunities.
- Issues with prisoners' property being lost or mislaid on transfer between establishments continue to be a national problem.
- Funding and budgets remain a concern, with a recommendation for more local purchasing autonomy.
- The prison continues to experience bed-bug infestations despite ongoing efforts.
- Support sought for two Jewish prisoners remains outstanding.
- Doubling up in the induction block is perceived as a regressive step by prisoners.
- Government policies are undermining successes in prisoner employment, with men having insufficient time to benefit from opportunities.
Kirklevington Grange
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 2
Assaults: 2
Staff assaults: 1
HMP Kirklevington Grange, a Category D open prison, is considered a safe environment with positive staff-prisoner relationships and effective healthcare provision. Notable improvements in resettlement and external employment opportunities were observed. However, the Board expressed concerns over an increase in use of force incidents, an ageing estate infrastructure, and diminished chaplaincy services. Further issues include the impact of TPRS transfers on prisoner progression and persistent problems with property loss during inter-establishment transfers, as well as limited accredited vocational training opportunities.
Key concerns identified
- The increase in use of force incidents (7 in 2023 vs 2 in 2022) is a trend the Board will monitor.
- The prison's ageing accommodation infrastructure restricts the use of electrical items and their capacity.
- Chaplaincy services have been diminished due to recruitment issues.
- Prisoners transferred under the Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation System (TPRS) often have insufficient time remaining to fully engage with Category D resettlement and training opportunities.
- There are ongoing issues with prisoner property being mislaid or going missing during transfers between establishments, particularly from privately managed prisons.
- Opportunities for prisoners to gain accredited vocational training and qualifications within the prison's industries are limited.
- The prison's ageing accommodation infrastructure restricts the use of electrical items and their capacity.
- Chaplaincy services have been diminished due to recruitment issues.
- Prisoners transferred under the Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation System (TPRS) often have insufficient time remaining to fully engage with Category D resettlement and training opportunities.
- There are ongoing issues with prisoner property being mislaid or going missing during transfers between establishments, particularly from privately managed prisons.
- Opportunities for prisoners to gain accredited vocational training and qualifications within the prison's industries are limited.
Kirklevington Grange
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 4
Assaults: 3
Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is a well-run Category D open prison providing a safe and humane environment with high standards of healthcare and strong staff-prisoner relationships. The IMB noted significant efforts in preparing prisoners for resettlement, including good access to work and education, contributing to low complaint levels. Key challenges include delays in new accommodation block construction, persistent issues with property transfers between prisons, and addressing the poor literacy skills of some incoming prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- No definite date for the construction of three new accommodation blocks, keeping the prison's capacity below optimal levels.
- Persistent issues with property transfers between prisons, often resulting in long delays and lost belongings for prisoners.
- Many incoming prisoners have very poor literacy and numeracy skills (E3 or below), and there is insufficient tutor provision and funding to address this.
- Showers and toilets in F, A, B, and C units remain shabby and cramped despite recent overhauls.
- Problems with the contracted food supplier failing to deliver basic ordered items, causing prisoner dissatisfaction.
- Lack of clear information and support for IPP prisoners regarding changes to their sentences.
- Persistent issues with property transfers between prisons, often resulting in long delays and lost belongings for prisoners.
- Many incoming prisoners have very poor literacy and numeracy skills (E3 or below), and there is insufficient tutor provision and funding to address this.
- Showers and toilets in F, A, B, and C units remain shabby and cramped despite recent overhauls.
- Problems with the contracted food supplier failing to deliver basic ordered items, causing prisoner dissatisfaction.
- Lack of clear information and support for IPP prisoners regarding changes to their sentences.
Kirklevington Grange
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 2
Assaults: 7
Staff assaults: 1
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is a Category D open prison operating in a year significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. The report highlights the prison's successful management of the pandemic, leading to a safe environment, high ROTL success, and good healthcare provision. Key concerns include reduced operational capacity, delays in new accommodation, issues with property transfers, and difficulties with prisoners obtaining debit cards, alongside an altered perception of the open regime due to restrictions.
Key concerns identified
- Reduced Category D capacity due to unit closures and delays in new build.
- Lost or delayed prisoner property during transfer between establishments.
- Ongoing issues with prisoners obtaining debit/credit cards for use on release.
- Prisoners' perception that complaining may lead to return to closed conditions.
- New admissions feeling Kirklevington Grange does not feel like a Category D establishment due to restrictions and the perimeter fence.
- Increased waiting times for mental health group sessions and outside appointments due to Covid-19 restrictions.
- Difficulties with video calls for family contact due to technical failures.
- Woodwork workshop remaining closed due to staffing issues.
- Lost or delayed prisoner property during transfer between establishments.
- Ongoing issues with prisoners obtaining debit/credit cards for use on release.
- Prisoners' perception that complaining may lead to return to closed conditions.
- New admissions feeling Kirklevington Grange does not feel like a Category D establishment due to restrictions and the perimeter fence.
- Increased waiting times for mental health group sessions and outside appointments due to Covid-19 restrictions.
- Difficulties with video calls for family contact due to technical failures.
- Woodwork workshop remaining closed due to staffing issues.
Kirklevington Grange
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 1
Assaults: 3
Staff assaults: 0
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange, an open category D prison, operated during 2020 under significant COVID-19 constraints. The Board commended staff for their response to the pandemic, maintaining a safe environment with no deaths and improved healthcare. However, key concerns include the urgent need for capital investment in the aging estate, persistent issues with prisoner property transfers, long waiting times for mental health services, and the negative impact of COVID-19 restrictions on prisoner regime, education, and resettlement opportunities.
Key concerns identified
- The old estate is in need of substantial maintenance, leading to the closure of three units and a significant reduction in operational capacity.
- Prisoner property continues to be mislaid or lost during transfer, despite some improvements from the previous year.
- Illicit drugs remain an issue within the prison, requiring careful monitoring.
- Prisoners experience boredom, especially at weekends, exacerbated by poor in-room television reception and reduced activities due to COVID-19.
- There is a long waiting time of nine weeks to see a psychiatrist.
- Lower-level learners were significantly disadvantaged by COVID-19 restrictions, leading to reduced motivation and higher withdrawal rates from education.
- Very poor information technology infrastructure caused frustration and failed contacts for monitored video calls ('Purple Visits').
- Changes in HSBC bank policy prevented prisoners from obtaining a bank card before release, causing difficulties for resettlement.
- Prisoner property continues to be mislaid or lost during transfer, despite some improvements from the previous year.
- Illicit drugs remain an issue within the prison, requiring careful monitoring.
- Prisoners experience boredom, especially at weekends, exacerbated by poor in-room television reception and reduced activities due to COVID-19.
- There is a long waiting time of nine weeks to see a psychiatrist.
- Lower-level learners were significantly disadvantaged by COVID-19 restrictions, leading to reduced motivation and higher withdrawal rates from education.
- Very poor information technology infrastructure caused frustration and failed contacts for monitored video calls ('Purple Visits').
- Changes in HSBC bank policy prevented prisoners from obtaining a bank card before release, causing difficulties for resettlement.