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.
Morton Hall
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 66
Assaults: 32
Staff assaults: 6
HMP Morton Hall, a Category C prison for foreign national offenders, maintained a population of around 350 in 2024. The Board noted good staff-prisoner relationships, improved access to mental healthcare, and increasing educational and vocational opportunities. However, significant concerns included frequent breakdowns of kitchen and unit appliances, persistent issues with lost or delayed prisoner property transfers, and ongoing delays in Home Office processing for release. The Board also highlighted under-resourced purposeful activity in the segregation unit and the library, and a high number of unemployed prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- Appliances in the main kitchens frequently break down, posing food safety risks and requiring upgrades.
- The transfer of prisoners' property between institutions remains problematic, with unacceptable amounts going missing or experiencing significant delays.
- Delays in Home Office processing for the Early Release Scheme and for prisoners beyond their conditional release date cause frustration and unnecessary pressure on the prison system.
- The library is under-resourced in staffing, leading to frequent closures and reduced service, hindering this essential rehabilitative function.
- A high number of prisoners are unemployed or jobseekers, and attendance at education and workshops is concerningly low.
- There is little purposeful activity and limited educational resources available in the Care and Separation Unit.
- The transfer of prisoners' property between institutions remains problematic, with unacceptable amounts going missing or experiencing significant delays.
- Delays in Home Office processing for the Early Release Scheme and for prisoners beyond their conditional release date cause frustration and unnecessary pressure on the prison system.
- The library is under-resourced in staffing, leading to frequent closures and reduced service, hindering this essential rehabilitative function.
- A high number of prisoners are unemployed or jobseekers, and attendance at education and workshops is concerningly low.
- There is little purposeful activity and limited educational resources available in the Care and Separation Unit.
Morton Hall
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 52
Assaults: 62
Staff assaults: 17
HMP Morton Hall, a Category C prison for foreign national males, completed its transition from an IRC in early 2023 and operated with an average population of 333, below its 353 capacity. The Board found the prison safe and humane, with good officer-prisoner relationships and improved work ethic. Key concerns persist regarding delayed Early Removal Scheme (ERS) deportations, a high number of prisoners leaving on immigration bail, ongoing property transfer issues, and a significant number of unemployed prisoners. The Board raised recommendations concerning these areas to the Minister, Prison Service, and Governor.
Key concerns identified
- Many prisoners eligible for the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) do not leave at the earliest opportunity, delaying deportations and increasing costs.
- HMP Morton Hall routinely operates below its 353 roll capacity, despite reported prison overcrowding elsewhere.
- More than one in ten prisoners leave on immigration bail without their cases being decided, rather than being deported.
- Systems for inter-prison property transfer have not improved, leading to high prisoner frustration and complaints.
- The daily food cost allowance of £2.72 is challenging given inflation, resulting in reliance on carbohydrates and persistent issues with canteen delivery quality and refunds.
- There is a consistently high percentage of prisoners who are unemployed or seeking work, and insufficient meaningful content in some available jobs.
- The library frequently closes due to staff absence, and there is a lack of purposeful activity for prisoners in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
- The absence of a managing chaplain for the entire year adversely impacted chaplaincy support.
- HMP Morton Hall routinely operates below its 353 roll capacity, despite reported prison overcrowding elsewhere.
- More than one in ten prisoners leave on immigration bail without their cases being decided, rather than being deported.
- Systems for inter-prison property transfer have not improved, leading to high prisoner frustration and complaints.
- The daily food cost allowance of £2.72 is challenging given inflation, resulting in reliance on carbohydrates and persistent issues with canteen delivery quality and refunds.
- There is a consistently high percentage of prisoners who are unemployed or seeking work, and insufficient meaningful content in some available jobs.
- The library frequently closes due to staff absence, and there is a lack of purposeful activity for prisoners in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU).
- The absence of a managing chaplain for the entire year adversely impacted chaplaincy support.
Morton Hall
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 38
Assaults: 17
Staff assaults: 6
HMP Morton Hall, a Category C prison for foreign national men, has transitioned from an IRC during its first reporting year (Dec 2021-Dec 2022). It is a safe and humane establishment, effectively meeting health and wellbeing needs, despite operating with an evolving regime and a gradually increasing population. Key challenges include issues with Home Office processing for foreign national prisoners, regime consistency, and ensuring sufficient purposeful activity, all of which the Board highlights in its recommendations.
Key concerns identified
- Many prisoners eligible for Early Removal Scheme (ERS) do not leave at the earliest opportunity.
- Prisoners held under Immigration Act powers post-sentence (IS91) do not receive timely notification from the Home Office.
- The slow increase in prisoner population led to frequent regime adjustments and limited purposeful activity for much of the year.
- Systems for interprison property transfer need improvement.
- The daily food cost allowance is insufficient given inflation and reliance on carbohydrates.
- Librarian services lack absence relief cover, leading to library closures.
- Canteen goods quality is an issue, with bad fruit/mouldy cheese and delays in refunds.
- Prisoners' work ethic and punctuality for work need improvement.
- Roll reconciliation processes delay prisoner access to planned activities.
- Prisoners held under Immigration Act powers post-sentence (IS91) do not receive timely notification from the Home Office.
- The slow increase in prisoner population led to frequent regime adjustments and limited purposeful activity for much of the year.
- Systems for interprison property transfer need improvement.
- The daily food cost allowance is insufficient given inflation and reliance on carbohydrates.
- Librarian services lack absence relief cover, leading to library closures.
- Canteen goods quality is an issue, with bad fruit/mouldy cheese and delays in refunds.
- Prisoners' work ethic and punctuality for work need improvement.
- Roll reconciliation processes delay prisoner access to planned activities.
Morton Hall IRC
IRC
Concerns
This final report covers the last 203 days of Morton Hall IRC's operation before its closure on 23 July 2021. The Board found the centre largely safe with professional staff and well-delivered healthcare, but noted concerns regarding slow lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and significant delays in bail releases. Staff managed the closure process exceptionally well, ensuring fair and humane treatment of detainees.
Key concerns identified
- Continued significant delays in detainees being released from the centre even after a judge had awarded bail.
- Covid-19 restrictions on well-being, faith, and recreational facilities were not lifted at the same pace as in the wider community or non-HMPPS IRCs.
- The £1 per hour rate of pay for paid activities, unchanged since 2008, is derisory.
- Covid-19 restrictions on well-being, faith, and recreational facilities were not lifted at the same pace as in the wider community or non-HMPPS IRCs.
- The £1 per hour rate of pay for paid activities, unchanged since 2008, is derisory.
Morton Hall IRC
IRC
Concerns
Self-harm: 62
Assaults: 26
Staff assaults: 16
Morton Hall IRC demonstrated a professional ethos and effective COVID-19 response in 2020, significantly reducing drug incidents and maintaining overall safety. However, the Board expressed concerns over persistent self-harm and assault incidents, prolonged detention times for some individuals, and delays in bail releases. Operational challenges included the continued closure of key facilities like the gym and faith centre, a low £1/hour pay rate for detainee work, and ongoing issues with night transfers between IRCs.
Key concerns identified
- Incidents of self-harm, assaults, and altercations remain a concern.
- Some detainees remain in detention for too long a time, and there are continued delays in releasing detainees, particularly those granted bail or classified as Level 3 Adults at Risk.
- Gymnasium facilities and the faith centre remained closed even when open elsewhere, impacting wellbeing.
- Education is not counted as 'purposeful activity' for pay, creating a disincentive for detainee engagement.
- The £1 per hour pay rate for cleaning activities is considered too low and unfair, a concern repeated from the previous year.
- Delays persist in the contractor Amey's response to kitchen equipment breakdowns.
- Night moves between Immigration Removal Centres continue, which the Board believes is unnecessary.
- Some detainees remain in detention for too long a time, and there are continued delays in releasing detainees, particularly those granted bail or classified as Level 3 Adults at Risk.
- Gymnasium facilities and the faith centre remained closed even when open elsewhere, impacting wellbeing.
- Education is not counted as 'purposeful activity' for pay, creating a disincentive for detainee engagement.
- The £1 per hour pay rate for cleaning activities is considered too low and unfair, a concern repeated from the previous year.
- Delays persist in the contractor Amey's response to kitchen equipment breakdowns.
- Night moves between Immigration Removal Centres continue, which the Board believes is unnecessary.