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.
Leyhill
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 22
Assaults: 13
HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, is undergoing significant expansion to increase its operational capacity. While the IMB commends its focus on prisoner safety, humane treatment, and efforts in education and resettlement, it raises concerns regarding delayed parole for IPP prisoners, the lack of approved premises, and persistent issues with unreliable telephony. The Board emphasizes the need to maintain current standards during the expansion and address staffing and property transfer challenges.
Key concerns identified
- Delay in mobile phone pilot scheme and lack of equivalent communication devices
- Lack of spaces in approved premises leading to delays in parole/release
- IPP prisoners remaining incarcerated beyond their indicative tariff dates
- Unreliability and regular failures of BT PIN phones
- Food budget not keeping pace with inflation
- Inefficiency and increased workload of Community Offender Managers (COMs) impacting resettlement
- Need to increase facilities and staffing levels proportionally to the proposed rise in operational capacity
- Property transfer issues and failure to apply volumetric limits consistently across establishments
- Increasing complaints involving intimidation and bullying of vulnerable prisoners
- Delay in providing an emergency call bell system in wings for less able and elderly prisoners
- ISFL drug testing failing to reflect local drugs of choice (Subutex and ketamine)
- Lack of spaces in approved premises leading to delays in parole/release
- IPP prisoners remaining incarcerated beyond their indicative tariff dates
- Unreliability and regular failures of BT PIN phones
- Food budget not keeping pace with inflation
- Inefficiency and increased workload of Community Offender Managers (COMs) impacting resettlement
- Need to increase facilities and staffing levels proportionally to the proposed rise in operational capacity
- Property transfer issues and failure to apply volumetric limits consistently across establishments
- Increasing complaints involving intimidation and bullying of vulnerable prisoners
- Delay in providing an emergency call bell system in wings for less able and elderly prisoners
- ISFL drug testing failing to reflect local drugs of choice (Subutex and ketamine)
Leyhill
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 13
Assaults: 6
HMP Leyhill is a Category D open prison that demonstrated humane treatment, effective healthcare, and improved ROTL processes during the reporting year. The prison's population was 449 against an operational capacity of 460. Key challenges include a persistent lack of Approved Premises delaying releases, an inadequate food budget, and the impact of a changing prisoner demographic on safety and increased drug finds. Staffing pressures also affected healthcare, education, and social video calling provision.
Key concerns identified
- A persistent lack of spaces in Approved Premises delays prisoner release.
- The food budget has not kept pace with inflation, impacting meal provision.
- Delays in the release and resettlement of IPP prisoners are a significant injustice.
- Inefficiency and staff shortages in the external probation service (COMs) hinder progression.
- The absence of in-cell telephony negatively impacts family contact and privacy.
- Facilities and staffing levels need to increase in proportion to the planned rise in operational capacity.
- A changing population demographic (younger, fewer sexual offenders) is linked to increased bullying, intimidation, and drug/alcohol finds.
- Property transfer and storage issues continue to cause frustration and misplaced items.
- Long waiting lists persist for some healthcare services, despite overall positive feedback.
- Concerns from HMIP regarding the quality and suitability of education, skills, and work provision for employment on release.
- Staff shortages limit the availability of vocational training courses and secure social video calling.
- The food budget has not kept pace with inflation, impacting meal provision.
- Delays in the release and resettlement of IPP prisoners are a significant injustice.
- Inefficiency and staff shortages in the external probation service (COMs) hinder progression.
- The absence of in-cell telephony negatively impacts family contact and privacy.
- Facilities and staffing levels need to increase in proportion to the planned rise in operational capacity.
- A changing population demographic (younger, fewer sexual offenders) is linked to increased bullying, intimidation, and drug/alcohol finds.
- Property transfer and storage issues continue to cause frustration and misplaced items.
- Long waiting lists persist for some healthcare services, despite overall positive feedback.
- Concerns from HMIP regarding the quality and suitability of education, skills, and work provision for employment on release.
- Staff shortages limit the availability of vocational training courses and secure social video calling.
Leyhill
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 5
Assaults: 12
Staff assaults: 1
HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, faces a complex transition with reduced capacity due to construction and a changing demographic towards a younger population. While safety, healthcare uptake, and education attendance are positive, significant concerns persist regarding resettlement delays for IPP prisoners due to a lack of approved premises and inefficiencies in external probation. Alarm systems, staffing levels, and the increasing presence of illicit items also require urgent attention, alongside challenges in food budgeting and healthcare screening for new arrivals.
Key concerns identified
- Lack of spaces in approved premises leading to incarceration beyond release dates
- Delays in IPP prisoner resettlement and the inefficiency of external probation services
- Inability of prisoners to raise an alarm in their rooms and general alarm system functionality issues
- Staffing challenges, including high new staff numbers, detached duty, and external probation service shortages
- Changing prison population demographics, with an increase in younger prisoners, OCG members, and illicit items like steroids, syringes, and mobile phones
- Food budget not keeping pace with inflation, leading to prisoner complaints about portion size
- Delays in IPP prisoner resettlement and the inefficiency of external probation services
- Inability of prisoners to raise an alarm in their rooms and general alarm system functionality issues
- Staffing challenges, including high new staff numbers, detached duty, and external probation service shortages
- Changing prison population demographics, with an increase in younger prisoners, OCG members, and illicit items like steroids, syringes, and mobile phones
- Food budget not keeping pace with inflation, leading to prisoner complaints about portion size
Leyhill
PRISON
Concerns
HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, maintained a safe and humane environment despite Covid-19 challenges. While healthcare and education provisions were generally positive, significant concerns persisted regarding the slow resettlement of IPP prisoners, a lack of Approved Premises delaying releases, and a perceived reduction in rehabilitation services post-Catch 22. The Board also highlighted issues with lost property during transfers and limited external work opportunities, though noted improvements in ROTL provision towards the year's end.
Key concerns identified
- The speed of resettlement for prisoners serving IPP sentences, many of whom have spent far longer in custody than recommended in their indicative tariffs.
- The lack of spaces in approved premises, leading to many prisoners facing incarceration beyond their release dates.
- The quality of rehabilitation services following the closing of the community rehabilitation company.
- The recurring problem of property lost or mislaid during transfer from other prisons.
- The limited opportunities for prisoners to experience external work placements.
- The need to build on recent improvements in the provision of opportunities for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL).
- The lack of spaces in approved premises, leading to many prisoners facing incarceration beyond their release dates.
- The quality of rehabilitation services following the closing of the community rehabilitation company.
- The recurring problem of property lost or mislaid during transfer from other prisons.
- The limited opportunities for prisoners to experience external work placements.
- The need to build on recent improvements in the provision of opportunities for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL).
Ashfield
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 67
Assaults: 13
Staff assaults: 3
HMP Ashfield is judged to be a well-managed Category C prison for sex offenders, maintaining high standards and humane treatment despite significant COVID-19 challenges. The prison effectively managed the pandemic, achieving low infection rates and progressively easing restrictions to maximize purposeful activity. Key concerns include persistent difficulties in securing suitable accommodation for released prisoners, a severe reduction in offending behaviour programme places, and issues with mental health support and equality and diversity monitoring.
Key concerns identified
- Difficulties in securing appropriate and timely accommodation for prisoners released, especially for those convicted of sexual offences.
- Severe reduction in Offending Behaviour Programme (OBP) places due to COVID-19, causing anxiety and potential parole delays for prisoners.
- Concerns about the planned reduction of Category D places at HMP Leyhill and the limited geographical availability of other open prisons for sex offenders.
- The prison does not routinely collect ethnicity data for behaviour warnings, hindering investigation into perceived disproportionality for BAME prisoners.
- Ineffective Diversity and Equality Action Team (DEAT) meetings due to untimely scheduling and insubstantial minutes.
- Lack of access to neurodiverse specialists, impacting support for prisoners with conditions like ADHD, Asperger's, and autism.
- Significant decline in prisoner satisfaction with catering quality and portion sizes since the change of supplier.
- Severe reduction in Offending Behaviour Programme (OBP) places due to COVID-19, causing anxiety and potential parole delays for prisoners.
- Concerns about the planned reduction of Category D places at HMP Leyhill and the limited geographical availability of other open prisons for sex offenders.
- The prison does not routinely collect ethnicity data for behaviour warnings, hindering investigation into perceived disproportionality for BAME prisoners.
- Ineffective Diversity and Equality Action Team (DEAT) meetings due to untimely scheduling and insubstantial minutes.
- Lack of access to neurodiverse specialists, impacting support for prisoners with conditions like ADHD, Asperger's, and autism.
- Significant decline in prisoner satisfaction with catering quality and portion sizes since the change of supplier.
Leyhill
PRISON
Concerns
HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, maintained a safe and humane environment despite COVID-19 challenges during the reporting year. The Board commended the prison's response to the pandemic, its healthcare provision, and diverse purposeful activities. Key concerns persist regarding the unfair treatment and delayed resettlement of IPP prisoners and those awaiting approved premises, as well as recurring issues with prisoner property management and the need to restore creative arts programmes.
Key concerns identified
- Delays in resettlement for IPP prisoners due to disproportionately long custody.
- Unfairness caused by a shortage of approved premises, delaying ROTL and release.
- Recurring problem of property lost or mislaid during transfer.
- Inadequate facilities for the storage of prisoners’ property.
- Need to reinstate and reinvigorate creative arts teaching post-COVID-19 restrictions.
- Unfairness caused by a shortage of approved premises, delaying ROTL and release.
- Recurring problem of property lost or mislaid during transfer.
- Inadequate facilities for the storage of prisoners’ property.
- Need to reinstate and reinvigorate creative arts teaching post-COVID-19 restrictions.
Leyhill
PRISON
Concerns
HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, has demonstrated strong performance driven by a new community-focused dynamic, leading to improvements in facilities and resident engagement. However, the Board highlights persistent issues including significant delays in ablution refurbishment, the slow progression of IPP sentences, and insufficient approved premises hindering Release on Temporary Licence. Concerns also remain regarding night-time staffing levels and the recurring problem of lost prisoner property during transfers.
Key concerns identified
- Delay in refurbishment of ablutions in residential units (ongoing since 2016), leading to deteriorating conditions inconsistent with humane treatment.
- Delays in the swift progression to conclusion for many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP).
- Lack of spaces in approved premises causing delays in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and hindering resettlement.
- Unsatisfactory night-time staffing levels, raising concerns about the speed of response in acute incidents.
- A recurring problem with property being lost prior to prisoners' arrival at Leyhill, which is unsettling during a crucial resettlement phase.
- Delays in the swift progression to conclusion for many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP).
- Lack of spaces in approved premises causing delays in Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and hindering resettlement.
- Unsatisfactory night-time staffing levels, raising concerns about the speed of response in acute incidents.
- A recurring problem with property being lost prior to prisoners' arrival at Leyhill, which is unsettling during a crucial resettlement phase.