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.
North Sea Camp
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 1
Assaults: 5
Staff assaults: 1
HMP North Sea Camp is a Category D open prison providing a safe and humane environment with a new Governor making positive regime and community engagement changes. While healthcare and education services receive commendations, significant concerns persist around inadequate accommodation standards, particularly for double rooms and dormitories, and the lack of on-site residential healthcare for complex needs. The Board also highlights issues with delayed Offender Assessment System (OASys) completion by Community Offender Managers and the ongoing lack of progress for IPP prisoners.
Key concerns identified
- The size of double rooms is unsuitable and does not comply with PSIs when used by two prisoners, making it impossible to fit adequate furniture.
- There are no on-site residential healthcare facilities, meaning prisoners with complex medical or end-of-life conditions must remain on units or be transferred externally.
- Ongoing delays with Community Offender Managers completing OASys assessments for prisoners, causing delays to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) applications.
- Little tangible progress continues to be made regarding the plight of IPP prisoners.
- The quality of some accommodation is poor, and despite proposals, there has been no progress in replacing or converting dormitories to smaller, more suitable rooms.
- Prisoners' property frequently does not arrive in its entirety on transfer, leading to long waits and potential loss of personal and legal documents.
- There are no on-site residential healthcare facilities, meaning prisoners with complex medical or end-of-life conditions must remain on units or be transferred externally.
- Ongoing delays with Community Offender Managers completing OASys assessments for prisoners, causing delays to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) applications.
- Little tangible progress continues to be made regarding the plight of IPP prisoners.
- The quality of some accommodation is poor, and despite proposals, there has been no progress in replacing or converting dormitories to smaller, more suitable rooms.
- Prisoners' property frequently does not arrive in its entirety on transfer, leading to long waits and potential loss of personal and legal documents.
North Sea Camp
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 2
HMP North Sea Camp generally provides a safe and humane environment, with a strong emphasis on humane treatment and a wide range of release preparation programs. Positive developments include improved facilities management, a proactive safer community team, and good healthcare services that receive positive feedback from prisoners. Key concerns include persistent delays in offender management paperwork, the unresolved situation for IPP prisoners, and poor accommodation standards with no plans for replacement or conversion of dormitories. Additionally, issues with prisoner property transfers, lack of on-site end-of-life care, and difficulties for disabled prisoners accessing resettlement opportunities remain.
Key concerns identified
- There are still apparent delays with community offender managers (COMs) updating OASys paperwork, which delays ROTL boards, parole hearings, and can lead to prisoners spending more time in prison than necessary.
- No tangible progress has been made regarding the unresolved situation of IPP prisoners since the abolition of the sentence in 2012.
- There is no provision for in-cell telephony, which hinders the maintenance of family ties, especially as prisoners often arrive from establishments where this is available.
- The quality of some accommodation is poor, and the space allocated to prisoners sharing rooms is inadequate, with no current plan to replace decommissioned ageing units.
- There is no budget allocated to convert dormitories (housing four to six prisoners) into smaller rooms.
- A recurring problem exists with prisoner property not always arriving in its entirety on transfer, leading to long waits or complete loss of items.
- There is no on-site facility for suitable end-of-life care for prisoners with chronic and serious health issues, forcing them to remain on units amidst daily prison life.
- Wheelchair users experience difficulties accessing approved premises for resettlement overnight release (ROR), which can delay their sentence plan and parole board hearings.
- No tangible progress has been made regarding the unresolved situation of IPP prisoners since the abolition of the sentence in 2012.
- There is no provision for in-cell telephony, which hinders the maintenance of family ties, especially as prisoners often arrive from establishments where this is available.
- The quality of some accommodation is poor, and the space allocated to prisoners sharing rooms is inadequate, with no current plan to replace decommissioned ageing units.
- There is no budget allocated to convert dormitories (housing four to six prisoners) into smaller rooms.
- A recurring problem exists with prisoner property not always arriving in its entirety on transfer, leading to long waits or complete loss of items.
- There is no on-site facility for suitable end-of-life care for prisoners with chronic and serious health issues, forcing them to remain on units amidst daily prison life.
- Wheelchair users experience difficulties accessing approved premises for resettlement overnight release (ROR), which can delay their sentence plan and parole board hearings.
North Sea Camp
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 4
Assaults: 1
Staff assaults: 1
HMP North Sea Camp, an open Category D male resettlement prison, maintained a safe and humane environment with generally positive staff-prisoner relationships and good healthcare provision during the reporting year. Key challenges include persistent delays caused by Community Offender Managers impacting ROTL and Parole Board hearings, the insecurity faced by IPP prisoners, and ongoing issues with accommodation quality, property transfers, and routine maintenance due to contract failures. The Board noted diligent efforts in resettlement, purposeful activity, and equality, supported by robust internal programs.
Key concerns identified
- Community offender managers often take a long time to update OASys and complete paperwork for ROTL boards, leading to postponed Parole Board hearings and potentially longer prison stays.
- The situation surrounding Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners requires resolution to alleviate their insecurity, with the Board disappointed by the rejection of a resentencing exercise.
- The quality and allocated space of shared accommodation are poor, with no current plan to replace decommissioned aging units or convert dormitories to smaller rooms.
- Delays in completing routine maintenance jobs and issues with property not arriving in its entirety upon transfer are concerning, with contract failures not consistently resulting in penalties for providers.
- The situation surrounding Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners requires resolution to alleviate their insecurity, with the Board disappointed by the rejection of a resentencing exercise.
- The quality and allocated space of shared accommodation are poor, with no current plan to replace decommissioned aging units or convert dormitories to smaller rooms.
- Delays in completing routine maintenance jobs and issues with property not arriving in its entirety upon transfer are concerning, with contract failures not consistently resulting in penalties for providers.
North Sea Camp
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 1
Assaults: 0
Staff assaults: 1
HMP North Sea Camp is an open Category D male resettlement prison. This report covers the period from March 2021 to February 2022, during which the prison managed a return to a more normal regime following Covid-19 restrictions, demonstrating strong rehabilitative efforts and good healthcare provision. Key concerns persist regarding end-of-life care, inadequate accommodation and accessibility for disabled prisoners, delays in offender management, and issues with contracted maintenance and property transfers.
Key concerns identified
- There is no suitable facility for end-of-life care or on-site residential healthcare for prisoners with chronic and serious health issues.
- The decommissioned Harrison and Llewellin accommodation units lack a replacement plan, and the Selby units are temporary.
- Double rooms in main accommodation units are inadequately sized, often not complying with PSI for two occupants.
- Prisoners using wheelchairs face difficulties with travel and overnight accommodation for ROTL, delaying their progression.
- The Offender Management Unit (OMU) and Community Offender Managers (COMs) cause delays in information provision, OASys assessments, and ROTL paperwork, potentially prolonging sentences.
- Concerns exist regarding the time taken for routine maintenance jobs and issues with the transfer of prisoners’ property by contracted services, with a lack of penalties for contract failures.
- The decommissioned Harrison and Llewellin accommodation units lack a replacement plan, and the Selby units are temporary.
- Double rooms in main accommodation units are inadequately sized, often not complying with PSI for two occupants.
- Prisoners using wheelchairs face difficulties with travel and overnight accommodation for ROTL, delaying their progression.
- The Offender Management Unit (OMU) and Community Offender Managers (COMs) cause delays in information provision, OASys assessments, and ROTL paperwork, potentially prolonging sentences.
- Concerns exist regarding the time taken for routine maintenance jobs and issues with the transfer of prisoners’ property by contracted services, with a lack of penalties for contract failures.
North Sea Camp
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 8
Assaults: 0
Staff assaults: 0
The IMB report for HMP North Sea Camp for 2020-21 highlights an exceptionally difficult year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. While the Board found the prison generally safe and humane with good healthcare, severe regime restrictions led to prisoner confinement and frustration. Key concerns include inadequate and aging accommodation, especially cramped double rooms, slow responses from the Offender Management Unit, and the lack of a dedicated end-of-life care facility.
Key concerns identified
- No facility for suitable end-of-life care or on-site residential healthcare for an aging population.
- Accommodation is decades old and requires more than periodic repairs, with many double rooms being inadequately sized and not compliant with PSI standards.
- Difficulties for wheelchair users in accessing approved premises for resettlement overnight release (ROR), delaying ROTL and parole hearings.
- Offender Management Unit (OMU) is slow to respond to prisoner requests, lacks face-to-face contact, and is perceived as inadequately preparing prisoners for release.
- Confinement of prisoners to small, often shared, cells for most of the day due to Covid-19 restrictions, leading to frustration and deemed inhumane by many.
- Delays in routine maintenance and issues with the transfer of prisoners’ property, linked to contract failures without apparent penalties for providers.
- Offender managers in the probation service are slow to update OASys and complete paperwork for ROTL boards, causing delays to parole and extended prison stays.
- Significant areas of the prison remain inaccessible to prisoners with physical disabilities, especially wheelchair users, requiring central budget allocation for improvements.
- The need for budget allocation to convert dormitories into smaller two-person rooms to prevent multi-occupancy when the prison returns to full capacity.
- Accommodation is decades old and requires more than periodic repairs, with many double rooms being inadequately sized and not compliant with PSI standards.
- Difficulties for wheelchair users in accessing approved premises for resettlement overnight release (ROR), delaying ROTL and parole hearings.
- Offender Management Unit (OMU) is slow to respond to prisoner requests, lacks face-to-face contact, and is perceived as inadequately preparing prisoners for release.
- Confinement of prisoners to small, often shared, cells for most of the day due to Covid-19 restrictions, leading to frustration and deemed inhumane by many.
- Delays in routine maintenance and issues with the transfer of prisoners’ property, linked to contract failures without apparent penalties for providers.
- Offender managers in the probation service are slow to update OASys and complete paperwork for ROTL boards, causing delays to parole and extended prison stays.
- Significant areas of the prison remain inaccessible to prisoners with physical disabilities, especially wheelchair users, requiring central budget allocation for improvements.
- The need for budget allocation to convert dormitories into smaller two-person rooms to prevent multi-occupancy when the prison returns to full capacity.
North Sea Camp
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 22
Assaults: 6
Staff assaults: 0
HMP North Sea Camp is an open Category D prison noted for its rehabilitative culture and generally humane treatment of residents. The Board commends improvements in healthcare and positive staff-resident relationships, alongside community engagement. However, significant concerns remain regarding delays in Offender Management paperwork, inadequate accommodation conditions (including continued use of dormitories), and a lack of specific facilities for end-of-life and dementia care for the prison's increasing elderly population. These issues, alongside property transfer problems and laundry machinery breakdowns, require urgent attention and capital investment.
Key concerns identified
- Delays by Offender Managers in completing OASys and ROTL paperwork, affecting parole and causing anxiety.
- Significant difficulties for wheelchair users in obtaining suitable Approved Premises for ROR, hindering resettlement.
- Lack of an on-site palliative care unit and no national policy/resources for dementia care for the increasingly elderly population.
- Persistent problems with property transfers between prisons, leading to lost belongings and compensation claims.
- Accommodation is outdated, cramped, and dormitories remain in use, requiring major refurbishment and not meeting PSI standards for double rooms.
- Out-of-service laundry machinery and inability to issue bus warrants further impede daily life and resettlement.
- Resident confusion and angst regarding periodic changes to the pay regime and the need to sustain improved OMU staff conduct.
- Significant difficulties for wheelchair users in obtaining suitable Approved Premises for ROR, hindering resettlement.
- Lack of an on-site palliative care unit and no national policy/resources for dementia care for the increasingly elderly population.
- Persistent problems with property transfers between prisons, leading to lost belongings and compensation claims.
- Accommodation is outdated, cramped, and dormitories remain in use, requiring major refurbishment and not meeting PSI standards for double rooms.
- Out-of-service laundry machinery and inability to issue bus warrants further impede daily life and resettlement.
- Resident confusion and angst regarding periodic changes to the pay regime and the need to sustain improved OMU staff conduct.