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.
Littlehey
PRISON
Littlehey
PRISON
Concerns
Assaults: 83
Staff assaults: 22
HMP Littlehey continues to provide a safe and largely humane environment, with commendations for its compassionate healthcare, dedicated staff, and innovative rehabilitation initiatives like the CRED team. However, the report highlights significant concerns including critical understaffing of the IMB, persistent issues with heating and hot water, a substantial cut to the education budget, and inadequate after-hours social care. Other challenges include property complaints on transfer, unreliable healthcare lifts, and issues with offender behaviour programmes causing parole delays.
Key concerns identified
- The Board's dismay at the refusal to extend a member’s tenure, leading to critically low board membership in 2026, making it impossible to deliver statutory requirements and risking board closure.
- Continued inadequacy of the IMB recruitment process, which remains inappropriate and untimely, hindering recruitment of suitable candidates.
- Persistent high number of property complaints on transfer, causing anguish for prisoners, and the lack of a system to record these as a specific metric.
- Lack of clarity and timeline for funding to bring the heating and hot water systems for Woodlands up to standard, leading to continuous disruption for prisoners.
- Staggering 35% reduction in the training budget at a training prison, leading to loss of activity places and poor provision for work and training.
- Inadequate arrangements for the provision of social care for prisoners after-hours.
- High number of internal complaints (Comp 1s and 1As), with many issues stemming from poor communication that could be resolved by staff or key workers.
- Unreliable and frequently broken lifts in the in-patient healthcare buildings, causing inefficiencies and delays for staff and prisoners.
- Leakage in the workshops' building roof for the entire reporting period, without a clear plan to repair or replace it.
- Impact of national offender behaviour programme changes and a gap in staff training, leading to parole delays for some prisoners.
- Mismatch in prioritising prisoners for offender behaviour programmes between national policy and OMU/parole boards, leading to further delays.
- Continued inadequacy of the IMB recruitment process, which remains inappropriate and untimely, hindering recruitment of suitable candidates.
- Persistent high number of property complaints on transfer, causing anguish for prisoners, and the lack of a system to record these as a specific metric.
- Lack of clarity and timeline for funding to bring the heating and hot water systems for Woodlands up to standard, leading to continuous disruption for prisoners.
- Staggering 35% reduction in the training budget at a training prison, leading to loss of activity places and poor provision for work and training.
- Inadequate arrangements for the provision of social care for prisoners after-hours.
- High number of internal complaints (Comp 1s and 1As), with many issues stemming from poor communication that could be resolved by staff or key workers.
- Unreliable and frequently broken lifts in the in-patient healthcare buildings, causing inefficiencies and delays for staff and prisoners.
- Leakage in the workshops' building roof for the entire reporting period, without a clear plan to repair or replace it.
- Impact of national offender behaviour programme changes and a gap in staff training, leading to parole delays for some prisoners.
- Mismatch in prioritising prisoners for offender behaviour programmes between national policy and OMU/parole boards, leading to further delays.
Littlehey
PRISON
Concerns
Assaults: 79
Staff assaults: 19
HMP Littlehey, a Category C training prison for sex offenders, generally maintained a safe and humane environment with positive developments like a new wing and in-cell phones. Despite commendations for healthcare and resettlement efforts, the IMB remains critically understaffed, hindering its monitoring capacity. Key challenges include persistent cell sharing, poor property transfer management, healthcare resource deficits, and inadequate educational provision, many of which are repeated concerns.
Key concerns identified
- The critically low number of IMB members (three against an establishment of 16) and the inadequate recruitment process, significantly hindering the Board's statutory duties.
- Persistent issues with cell sharing in unsuitable conditions and the estate-wide poor management of prisoner property on transfer, both noted as repeated concerns from previous reports.
- The absence of IT systems for managing internal complaints, contributing to a high volume of paper-based complaints and a significant staff workload.
- Continued concerns regarding healthcare provision, including the lack of 24-hour on-site services, insufficient resources, weak governance in medicines management, and long waiting times for physiotherapy, podiatry, and optician appointments.
- Inadequate funding for the repair and replacement of gym equipment, along with the unresolved issue of a leaking workshop roof, affecting purposeful activity and the estate.
- Insufficient provision of English, maths, and ESOL education, coupled with the absence of a comprehensive reading strategy, highlighted by an Ofsted inspection.
- Persistent issues with cell sharing in unsuitable conditions and the estate-wide poor management of prisoner property on transfer, both noted as repeated concerns from previous reports.
- The absence of IT systems for managing internal complaints, contributing to a high volume of paper-based complaints and a significant staff workload.
- Continued concerns regarding healthcare provision, including the lack of 24-hour on-site services, insufficient resources, weak governance in medicines management, and long waiting times for physiotherapy, podiatry, and optician appointments.
- Inadequate funding for the repair and replacement of gym equipment, along with the unresolved issue of a leaking workshop roof, affecting purposeful activity and the estate.
- Insufficient provision of English, maths, and ESOL education, coupled with the absence of a comprehensive reading strategy, highlighted by an Ofsted inspection.
Littlehey
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 365
Assaults: 63
Staff assaults: 17
HMP Littlehey is a Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offenses, holding 1,171 prisoners. The Board commended the prison for its generally safe environment, compassionate end-of-life care, and excellent PE regime. Key concerns include persistent overcrowding due to shared cells, long waiting times for specialist healthcare, and significant issues with managing prisoner property transfers between prisons. The report also highlights the over-representation of Black and Muslim prisoners in adjudications and use of force incidents, and ongoing problems with heating infrastructure and the use of temporary freezers.
Key concerns identified
- Too many prisoners are forced to share cells, including those designed as single cells, and this number continues to increase.
- There are concerns about the performance of five London prisons in responding to property complaints from HMP Littlehey prisoners.
- Prisoners who are already very unwell have been transferred to HMP Littlehey, which lacks a 24-hour healthcare facility, raising concerns about their well-being.
- Funds are not available to replace old, rusty, and torn gym equipment, posing potential health and safety risks.
- Several cells on a wing were found to have no internal heating during extreme cold and remain offline.
- Waiting lists for offending behaviour programmes remain long, impacting parole considerations.
- The use of temporary freezers has been ongoing for over three years, despite funding being allocated for replacements.
- Diversity and inclusion data continues to show an over-representation of Black and Muslim prisoners in adjudications and Muslim prisoners in use of force incidents.
- There has been a noticeable increase in the number of complaints at HMP Littlehey, and the Discrimination Incident Report Form (DIRF) process is not operating effectively.
- Maintenance of NHS-owned wheelchairs remains an issue despite the prison workshop being able to repair prison-owned ones.
- The segregation environment is not conducive to helping prisoners with mental health issues improve.
- Food Forums are not regular, and the Prison Council is perceived by prisoners as a "talking forum" rather than action-oriented.
- The Prison Service continues to struggle with properly managing prisoners' property during transfers between prisons.
- The lack of in-cell telephony and faults with shared phones caused significant frustration for prisoners.
- There are concerns about the performance of five London prisons in responding to property complaints from HMP Littlehey prisoners.
- Prisoners who are already very unwell have been transferred to HMP Littlehey, which lacks a 24-hour healthcare facility, raising concerns about their well-being.
- Funds are not available to replace old, rusty, and torn gym equipment, posing potential health and safety risks.
- Several cells on a wing were found to have no internal heating during extreme cold and remain offline.
- Waiting lists for offending behaviour programmes remain long, impacting parole considerations.
- The use of temporary freezers has been ongoing for over three years, despite funding being allocated for replacements.
- Diversity and inclusion data continues to show an over-representation of Black and Muslim prisoners in adjudications and Muslim prisoners in use of force incidents.
- There has been a noticeable increase in the number of complaints at HMP Littlehey, and the Discrimination Incident Report Form (DIRF) process is not operating effectively.
- Maintenance of NHS-owned wheelchairs remains an issue despite the prison workshop being able to repair prison-owned ones.
- The segregation environment is not conducive to helping prisoners with mental health issues improve.
- Food Forums are not regular, and the Prison Council is perceived by prisoners as a "talking forum" rather than action-oriented.
- The Prison Service continues to struggle with properly managing prisoners' property during transfers between prisons.
- The lack of in-cell telephony and faults with shared phones caused significant frustration for prisoners.
Littlehey
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 452
Assaults: 42
Staff assaults: 24
HMP Littlehey, a Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offenses, held 1,158 prisoners against an operational capacity of 1,180. The reporting year was dominated by pandemic restrictions, severely impacting regime and access to purposeful activity. While the prison maintained safety and saw reductions in self-harm and staff assaults, significant concerns persist regarding overcrowding, delays in estate improvements, and adequate provision of resettlement and diversity initiatives.
Key concerns identified
- Lack of resources for resettlement activities despite significant releases and ongoing parole needs.
- Too many prisoners are forced to share cells, some of which are designed as single cells, a concern repeated from last year.
- Delays in publishing the new prisoners’ property policy framework, making property the most complained about issue.
- Significant delays and questionable planning in replacing G wing, with a planned temporary structure on a sports pitch.
- The continuing use of temporary freezers at HMP Littlehey, ongoing for over two years, creating costs and health and safety risks.
- Delays in rolling out in-cell telephones, causing frustration for prisoners transferring from other establishments.
- Insufficient progress on making improvements for elderly prisoners available across all of HMP Littlehey and maintaining wheelchairs.
- Progress on understanding equality issues and embedding diversity and inclusion has not progressed as anticipated, with potential over-representation of Black and Muslim prisoners in adjudications and use of force incidents.
- PPO investigations identified concerns with safeguarding and procedures that left elderly prisoners in an unsafe condition.
- The segregation unit (CSU) is unsuitable for long-term isolation, especially for those with severe mental health issues, with one cell out of use for two years.
- An upward trend in prisoners not attending appointments (DNAs) for most healthcare services and over 100 psychology clinics cancelled due to staffing.
- Staff facilities in the older Lakeside gymnasium remain in poor repair with potential health and safety implications.
- 23.6% of prisoners (273 individuals) have no assigned activity for any part of the day, indicating a lack of purposeful activity.
- Too many prisoners are forced to share cells, some of which are designed as single cells, a concern repeated from last year.
- Delays in publishing the new prisoners’ property policy framework, making property the most complained about issue.
- Significant delays and questionable planning in replacing G wing, with a planned temporary structure on a sports pitch.
- The continuing use of temporary freezers at HMP Littlehey, ongoing for over two years, creating costs and health and safety risks.
- Delays in rolling out in-cell telephones, causing frustration for prisoners transferring from other establishments.
- Insufficient progress on making improvements for elderly prisoners available across all of HMP Littlehey and maintaining wheelchairs.
- Progress on understanding equality issues and embedding diversity and inclusion has not progressed as anticipated, with potential over-representation of Black and Muslim prisoners in adjudications and use of force incidents.
- PPO investigations identified concerns with safeguarding and procedures that left elderly prisoners in an unsafe condition.
- The segregation unit (CSU) is unsuitable for long-term isolation, especially for those with severe mental health issues, with one cell out of use for two years.
- An upward trend in prisoners not attending appointments (DNAs) for most healthcare services and over 100 psychology clinics cancelled due to staffing.
- Staff facilities in the older Lakeside gymnasium remain in poor repair with potential health and safety implications.
- 23.6% of prisoners (273 individuals) have no assigned activity for any part of the day, indicating a lack of purposeful activity.
Littlehey
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 316
Assaults: 34
Staff assaults: 31
HMP Littlehey operated as a Category C training prison for sex offenders, holding 1,098 prisoners under severe COVID-19 restrictions for 11 months of the reporting period. The Board found the prison generally safe and humane, noting a decrease in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults but an increase in staff assaults and a high number of deaths in custody. Key concerns include the proposal for new double cells, persistent issues with shared accommodation, long mental health waiting times, and a significant lack of purposeful activity for prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- The plan to replace G Wing with double cells contravenes Ministry of Justice strategy regarding safety and decency, and suitable accommodation for the aged and disabled is a significant consideration.
- Too many prisoners are still forced to share cells, including those designed for single occupancy.
- Property remains the most complained about area, with HMPPS not publishing the promised policy framework and other prisons being slow to respond to transfer-related property complaints.
- The prison needs to further develop its understanding of equality issues, especially the over-representation of different groups in adjudications and use of force.
- There is a high number of deaths in custody, requiring a focus on learning points and ensuring adequate numbers of trained family liaison officers.
- The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is unsuitable for long-term isolation, especially for prisoners with severe mental health issues.
- Mental health waiting times significantly increased to 42 days, and there are insufficient disability cells given the prison's age profile.
- A significant number of prisoners (26.6%) have no assigned activity, spending nearly all day locked in cells, and there is a backlog of OASys reports delaying sentence planning and access to interventions.
- Too many prisoners are still forced to share cells, including those designed for single occupancy.
- Property remains the most complained about area, with HMPPS not publishing the promised policy framework and other prisons being slow to respond to transfer-related property complaints.
- The prison needs to further develop its understanding of equality issues, especially the over-representation of different groups in adjudications and use of force.
- There is a high number of deaths in custody, requiring a focus on learning points and ensuring adequate numbers of trained family liaison officers.
- The Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is unsuitable for long-term isolation, especially for prisoners with severe mental health issues.
- Mental health waiting times significantly increased to 42 days, and there are insufficient disability cells given the prison's age profile.
- A significant number of prisoners (26.6%) have no assigned activity, spending nearly all day locked in cells, and there is a backlog of OASys reports delaying sentence planning and access to interventions.
Littlehey
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 254
Assaults: 66
Staff assaults: 16
HMP Littlehey remains a safe, fair, and decent Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offenses, despite facing significant challenges. Key issues include persistent overcrowding, ongoing structural and heating problems, and inadequate provision for older prisoners and those with mental health needs, often leading to inappropriate CSU placements. The Board notes improvements in social care and equality monitoring, but highlights concerns regarding regime curtailments for staff training, slow responses to property complaints, and a backlog in offender management.
Key concerns identified
- The prison continues to face overcrowding, with two prisoners housed in cells designed for one.
- Ongoing structural and facilities issues, including heating failures and a significant maintenance backlog, undermine morale and impact the regime.
- Property consistently goes missing during prisoner transfers, and responses to related complaints from other establishments are extremely slow.
- The regime is frequently curtailed for fortnightly staff training days, reducing opportunities for education, purposeful activity, and healthcare access.
- There is a lack of suitable accommodation for prisoners with mental health issues or developmental disorders, often leading to their inappropriate placement in the Care and Separation Unit.
- A significant backlog of OASys reports, coupled with low prisoner engagement in sentence plans and limited accredited interventions, hinders effective risk reduction and resettlement preparation.
- Ongoing structural and facilities issues, including heating failures and a significant maintenance backlog, undermine morale and impact the regime.
- Property consistently goes missing during prisoner transfers, and responses to related complaints from other establishments are extremely slow.
- The regime is frequently curtailed for fortnightly staff training days, reducing opportunities for education, purposeful activity, and healthcare access.
- There is a lack of suitable accommodation for prisoners with mental health issues or developmental disorders, often leading to their inappropriate placement in the Care and Separation Unit.
- A significant backlog of OASys reports, coupled with low prisoner engagement in sentence plans and limited accredited interventions, hinders effective risk reduction and resettlement preparation.