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.
Long Lartin
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 514
Staff assaults: 113
There was a promising start to the year with sufficient staff resources to provide a relatively stable regime, which is so important to prisoners. However by mid-year the prison was experiencing staff recruitment and retention problems. Well intentioned efforts to improve the prison and make Long Lartin a more humane and decent living environment for prisoners, are hampered by bureaucracy.
Key concerns identified
bullet Drones: incursions continue to deliver dangerous illicit items into the prison.
bullet Security systems: much of the existing security systems technology is obsolete and unserviceable, increasing the vulnerability of prisoners and staff.
bullet Unsatisfactory management of infrastructure and maintenance: the Board remains concerned that the Minister’s department is not robustly managing the contract with Amey plc.
bullet Lack of in-cell sanitation on four wings.
bullet Officer shortages.
bullet Security systems: much of the existing security systems technology is obsolete and unserviceable, increasing the vulnerability of prisoners and staff.
bullet Unsatisfactory management of infrastructure and maintenance: the Board remains concerned that the Minister’s department is not robustly managing the contract with Amey plc.
bullet Lack of in-cell sanitation on four wings.
bullet Officer shortages.
Long Lartin
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 664
Assaults: 110
Staff assaults: 109
HMP Long Lartin experienced another challenging year marked by significant safety issues, including increased self-harm, violence, and prolific drone incursions delivering illicit items. The Board continues to raise concerns about the degrading lack of in-cell sanitation in four wings and the severe deterioration of the prison's infrastructure and maintenance. While some positive developments in education and family visits were noted, fundamental problems persist, many of which are long-standing.
Key concerns identified
- Incidents of self-harm have continued to increase and are more prevalent than in other LTHSE prisons, linked to drug availability and lack of purposeful activity leading to violence.
- Outdated and failing security systems, coupled with frequent drone deliveries of illicit items (drugs, weapons, phones), compromise safety and security.
- Four wings lack in-cell sanitation, requiring the undignified 'slopping out' process, which falls below modern standards of decency.
- The prison’s infrastructure and fabric continue to deteriorate, with ineffective maintenance provided by Amey plc, and critical facilities like the kitchen remaining unsuitable.
- Inefficient management of prisoners’ property remains a major source of frustration and anger, leading to mistrust and self-harm.
- Healthcare in-patient facilities are unsuitable for supporting prisoners in poor physical health or providing therapeutic support, contributing to long waiting times for transfers and GP appointments.
- Outdated and failing security systems, coupled with frequent drone deliveries of illicit items (drugs, weapons, phones), compromise safety and security.
- Four wings lack in-cell sanitation, requiring the undignified 'slopping out' process, which falls below modern standards of decency.
- The prison’s infrastructure and fabric continue to deteriorate, with ineffective maintenance provided by Amey plc, and critical facilities like the kitchen remaining unsuitable.
- Inefficient management of prisoners’ property remains a major source of frustration and anger, leading to mistrust and self-harm.
- Healthcare in-patient facilities are unsuitable for supporting prisoners in poor physical health or providing therapeutic support, contributing to long waiting times for transfers and GP appointments.
Long Lartin
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 525
Assaults: 69
Staff assaults: 90
HMP Long Lartin experienced another challenging year ending December 2023, marked by an increased prisoner population and significant staffing shortages, leading to an unpredictable regime and increased prisoner frustration, self-harm, and violence. The prison's infrastructure, particularly in-cell sanitation on four wings and outdated security systems, is severely degraded, compounded by unsatisfactory maintenance services from Amey. Despite improvements in education and library provision and commendable efforts by chaplaincy and gym staff, mental health services are stretched, and purposeful activity and key worker sessions remain limited.
Key concerns identified
- The increased prisoner roll, including many younger prisoners with more non-associates, has adversely affected overall stability.
- Continued uncertainty with daily regimes, due to shortage of experienced staff, has increased prisoner frustration, mental health issues and levels of self-harm.
- Access to mobile phones and drugs, regularly delivered by illegal drones, poses a serious risk to safety and control, fuelling illicit trading, bullying, debt and increased violence.
- Investment is urgently required to upgrade obsolete and faulty security systems and raise the standard of property services’ maintenance to an acceptable level.
- Prisoners spent far too much time locked in their cells due to the unpredictable regime, exacerbated by the very poor state of infrastructure and inadequate maintenance.
- Four wings lack running water and in-cell sanitation, which falls below modern standards of decency for nearly half the prisoner population.
- Continued uncertainty with daily regimes, due to shortage of experienced staff, has increased prisoner frustration, mental health issues and levels of self-harm.
- Access to mobile phones and drugs, regularly delivered by illegal drones, poses a serious risk to safety and control, fuelling illicit trading, bullying, debt and increased violence.
- Investment is urgently required to upgrade obsolete and faulty security systems and raise the standard of property services’ maintenance to an acceptable level.
- Prisoners spent far too much time locked in their cells due to the unpredictable regime, exacerbated by the very poor state of infrastructure and inadequate maintenance.
- Four wings lack running water and in-cell sanitation, which falls below modern standards of decency for nearly half the prisoner population.
Long Lartin
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 412
Assaults: 114
Staff assaults: 70
HMP Long Lartin faced a challenging year ending December 2022, primarily due to severe uniformed staff shortages that limited regime provision and hindered recovery from pandemic restrictions. Key concerns included inadequate infrastructure and maintenance, persistent issues with illicit items and safety, and the degrading conditions in cells lacking running water. Despite these challenges, healthcare provision saw some improvements, and the IMB maintained a productive relationship with prison management.
Key concerns identified
- The severe shortage of uniformed staff severely hindered the prison's emergence from Covid-19 restrictions and limited the regime.
- Ageing infrastructure and unsatisfactory maintenance support from the contractor, Amey, created a difficult environment.
- Unreliable faulty security systems, visible rat infestation, and the inability to minimise access to illicit drugs posed constant safety risks.
- Cells on four wings lack running water and sanitation, which falls below modern standards of decency for approximately half of all prisoners.
- Prisoners remain in the Care, Separation and Reintegration Unit (CSRU) for extended periods due to a lack of suitable alternatives.
- The condition of the healthcare centre (HCC), especially the inpatient unit and facilities for disabled prisoners, is inadequate and unsuitable.
- Significant delays persist for transfers of mental health patients to secure hospitals.
- Ageing infrastructure and unsatisfactory maintenance support from the contractor, Amey, created a difficult environment.
- Unreliable faulty security systems, visible rat infestation, and the inability to minimise access to illicit drugs posed constant safety risks.
- Cells on four wings lack running water and sanitation, which falls below modern standards of decency for approximately half of all prisoners.
- Prisoners remain in the Care, Separation and Reintegration Unit (CSRU) for extended periods due to a lack of suitable alternatives.
- The condition of the healthcare centre (HCC), especially the inpatient unit and facilities for disabled prisoners, is inadequate and unsuitable.
- Significant delays persist for transfers of mental health patients to secure hospitals.
Long Lartin
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 370
Assaults: 42
Staff assaults: 51
HMP Long Lartin, a Category A/B dispersal prison, operated under a severely restricted Covid-19 regime throughout 2021, leading to reduced activities and frustrations. While the prison was orderly and staff generally humane, violence increased, and self-harm incidents were high, largely due to a few complex individuals. Significant concerns persist regarding the inhumane night sanitation system, inadequate estate maintenance by Amey, and persistent delays in mental health hospital transfers.
Key concerns identified
- The night sanitation system on four wings remains degrading and inhumane, with an inadequate upgrade process and persistent health risks.
- Segregation in the CSRU involves long periods, often damaging prisoners' mental health, and is not consistently used as a short-term measure.
- Significant delays persist in transferring mentally ill prisoners to secure hospitals due to insufficient capacity, despite previous assurances.
- The contractor Amey consistently fails to provide adequate maintenance, resulting in critical failures of essential equipment and building fabric.
- The prison cannot provide suitable orthopaedic beds or mattresses for prisoners with back pain.
- Inconsistent rules for prisoner property across the LTHSE cause considerable problems and a high volume of complaints.
- A stand-alone designated safety group of officers, including ACCT assessors, is strongly needed to support at-risk prisoners, but staffing shortfalls hinder its implementation.
- The important work of Inclusion (mental health and substance misuse services) needs greater understanding and support from management and staff.
- Segregation in the CSRU involves long periods, often damaging prisoners' mental health, and is not consistently used as a short-term measure.
- Significant delays persist in transferring mentally ill prisoners to secure hospitals due to insufficient capacity, despite previous assurances.
- The contractor Amey consistently fails to provide adequate maintenance, resulting in critical failures of essential equipment and building fabric.
- The prison cannot provide suitable orthopaedic beds or mattresses for prisoners with back pain.
- Inconsistent rules for prisoner property across the LTHSE cause considerable problems and a high volume of complaints.
- A stand-alone designated safety group of officers, including ACCT assessors, is strongly needed to support at-risk prisoners, but staffing shortfalls hinder its implementation.
- The important work of Inclusion (mental health and substance misuse services) needs greater understanding and support from management and staff.
Long Lartin
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 450
Assaults: 57
Staff assaults: 120
HMP Long Lartin, a high-security prison, faced significant challenges in the reporting year, marked by persistent staff shortages that negatively impacted regime provision and purposeful activity, with time out of cell often falling below HMIP expectations. The prison experienced an unacceptably high level of violence and self-harm for much of the year, though figures showed a reduction in the final four months. Long-standing issues, such as the lack of in-cell sanitation in four wings and an overcrowded segregation unit where prisoners with complex needs become 'stuck', remain key concerns for the Board.
Key concerns identified
- Persistent staff shortages negatively impacting safety, regime, and purposeful activity.
- Unacceptably high population in the segregation unit, with prisoners "stuck" for extended periods due to lack of suitable alternatives for complex needs.
- Continued lack of in-cell sanitation and running water in four wings, relying on the inadequate and degrading ‘Nightsan’ system.
- Inadequate purposeful activity and time out of cell for prisoners, consistently below HMIP expectations, leading to boredom and frustration.
- Poor safety data for the initial eight months of the reporting year, including high levels of violence against staff and serious incidents in segregation.
- Serious backlog of jobs by the buildings maintenance contractor (Amey) and a kitchen that is no longer fit for purpose.
- Unacceptably high population in the segregation unit, with prisoners "stuck" for extended periods due to lack of suitable alternatives for complex needs.
- Continued lack of in-cell sanitation and running water in four wings, relying on the inadequate and degrading ‘Nightsan’ system.
- Inadequate purposeful activity and time out of cell for prisoners, consistently below HMIP expectations, leading to boredom and frustration.
- Poor safety data for the initial eight months of the reporting year, including high levels of violence against staff and serious incidents in segregation.
- Serious backlog of jobs by the buildings maintenance contractor (Amey) and a kitchen that is no longer fit for purpose.