IMB Annual Reports

bullet Insufficiency of staff, attributed to recruitment and retention difficulties
bullet High levels of deliberate self-harm (DSH) compared with comparable prisons
bullet Violence levels remained consistently high
bullet Use of force continued to rise, disproportionately affecting ethnic minority prisoners.
bullet Food provision across the adult estate, with limited choice and inconsistent portions
bullet Complaints procedure and property-handling systems lacked transparency and effectiveness

- The maintenance contract with Amey is viewed as expensive and ineffective, hampering necessary repairs such as TV signal updates, laundry facilities, and toilets.
- Significant problems with property during transfers, including bags failing to arrive with men and valuables not being sent.
- Increasing numbers of long-term residents are being transferred out of Buckley Hall against their will, disrupting family ties and progression.
- The policy prohibiting birthday parcels sent by family members is detrimental to men without sufficient funds to purchase items from the catalogue.
- There is an ongoing delay in introducing the promised 'handyman scheme'.
- Incidents of self-harm are high, with 81 reported in the final quarter of the reporting year.
- Accommodation and facilities are tired, with poor quality repairs, frequent shower outages, and an inconsistent television signal.
- Overcrowding is an issue, with cells being small for two people, leading to men being sent to CSU for refusing to share.
- Persistent hygiene concerns in the serveries, where food is often left uncovered overnight.
- Rats are a significant problem, exacerbated by rubbish bags left in unsecured cabinets outside wings.
- Cooking equipment on most landings is unhygienic and unsafe, and a dedicated wing kitchen proposal is stalled due to population pressures.
- The waste compactor has been out of use for much of 2025, leading to expensive and insufficient skip usage.

- There were 19 deaths in custody, including 5 believed to be drug-related.
- Food complaints were constant, covering both quality and quantity, with kitchen facilities designed for a smaller population.
- The number of keyworkers remained lower than required, leading to prisoners complaining about lack of contact.
- Persistent issues with inter-prison transfers meant prisoners' property was often not transferred with them.
- Mental health provision had issues, particularly with ADHD assessments, and there were significant delays in accessing secure mental health beds.
- Waiting times for GP appointments and emergency ambulances were frequently excessive, compounded by a shortage of nursing staff.
- Education was restricted at times due to regime constraints, and there was a decline in the quality of education and purposeful activities in the YOI early in the year.
- The uncertainty of release dates for IPP prisoners caused significant anxiety and negatively impacted their mental health and progression.
- Violence levels in the YOI continued to fluctuate, with an increase observed during April-June 2024.

- The ongoing loss and delay of prisoners' property during transfers and within the prison, exacerbated by issues with handling parcels.
- The continued poor service and untimely completion of maintenance works by Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL).
- The significant rise in healthcare applications, requiring investigation into underlying reasons.
- The incomplete replacement of external netting, leaving the prison vulnerable to "throwovers" and contraband, impacting prisoner safety and wellbeing.
- The persistent influx of large quantities of drugs and other contraband, contributing to an increase in violent incidents and drug debt.
- Concerns regarding prison overcrowding, which complicates prisoner transfers and contributes to increased violence and unrest.
- The IMB is concerned that one of the constant watch cells is located in the CSU.

- Eleven deaths in custody occurred during the reporting period.
- There was a substantial increase in illicit item finds and failed mandatory drug tests.
- Constant complaints were received regarding the quality and quantity of food.
- Mental health provision was inadequate, with excessive waiting lists, insufficient nursing staff, and long waits for ambulance transfers.
- Staffing shortages led to key workers being below required numbers and impacted the OMU.
- Education was frequently limited due to regime restrictions and issues with the new provider, Novus Gower.
- Prisoners serving IPP sentences faced significant anxiety due to uncertainty about release dates.
- Issues persisted with prisoner property transfers, with items not always accompanying prisoners.
- The complaints system was often ineffective, with many complaints not receiving timely responses.

- Healthcare became a challenged function due to the departure of the onsite nurse.
- The new education provider, Novus Gower, was ill-prepared, leading to inadequate teacher numbers and children reporting boredom and disinterest in lessons.
- A low uptake of library books, with only 290 taken out during the year, was noted as a concern.

- Drugs continued to enter the prison despite lengthy lockdowns and limited social visits.
- Staff shortages significantly impacted prisoners due to restricted regimes and lack of communication.
- Healthcare faced ongoing challenges with staff shortages, limited external mental health support, and protracted waiting lists.
- There was a high level of failed healthcare appointments, indicating a need to review the system.
- Complaints regarding food quality, quantity, and choice continued, necessitating a review of catering provision.
- The library service's effectiveness needs examination to restore previous levels of uptake.
- Disproportionality in use of force figures for young adults and BAME prisoners requires investigation to identify underlying causes.

- High levels of self-harm among a small number of prisoners with complex mental health needs, who remain at the establishment due to lack of specialist provision.
- Inconsistent key worker contact, with prisoners sometimes unaware of their key worker or not receiving regular meetings.
- Persistent issues with accommodation decency, including broken toilet screens, lack of toilet seats in double cells, poor ventilation in some cells, and drainage problems.
- Delays and lack of communication regarding prisoner complaints, especially those related to previous prisons or property transfers.
- Significant issues with prisoner property management, including losses or delays during transfers and confusion over parcels.
- Challenges in mental healthcare provision, including staffing levels and difficulties transferring prisoners with severe mental illness to specialist units.
- Delays in reintroducing offending behaviour programmes, hindering progression for prisoners seeking re-categorisation.

- Significant staff shortages negatively impacting the regime and purposeful activity.
- Persistent issues with gang culture and violence, contributing to the prison's reputation.
- Suboptimal education provision throughout the year and inadequate resettlement support for released prisoners.
- High use of PAVA and the ineffectiveness of the CSIP programme in managing violent tendencies.
- Outdated property management system leading to frequent complaints, and issues with family parcels.
- Insufficient support for foreign national and less literate prisoners, including underutilisation of translation services.

- Staffing capacity issues are critically impacting the regime, healthcare access, and prisoner movement, exacerbated by the need for escorts for the female cohort.
- There is a pressing national need for more specialist psychiatric facilities to manage prisoners with severe mental health problems, who are currently held in unsuitable conditions.
- Decency issues persist in the residential houses, including insufficient toilets and bathrooms, overcrowding, and a general poor state of repair, despite some refurbishment efforts.
- The ban on incoming parcels causes significant distress to prisoners, as the provided alternatives are inadequate in terms of choice, size, and cost.
- There are ongoing concerns about changes to Through the Gate Services contracts, with new external partners lacking requisite experience in post-release accommodation.
- The incentives scheme lacks consistent interpretation and application, making it difficult to monitor its impact and perceived benefits for prisoners.

- The continuous segregation of a prisoner with an acquired brain injury remains a profound concern, highlighting a lack of suitable specialist facilities for women in the prison system.
- High levels of self-harm and violence persist despite efforts, exacerbated by the number of women with complex mental health issues inappropriately placed in the criminal justice system.
- Staffing levels were critically under-resourced throughout the year, leading to extended lock-up times for prisoners and negatively impacting their mental and physical health.
- Longstanding dampness on two residential wings remains unaddressed since 2018, rendering some cells unfit for occupation.
- The quality and availability of food were inconsistent, particularly during the early lockdown period, leading to widespread prisoner dissatisfaction.
- The management of prisoner property was extremely poor, resulting in missing parcels, long backlogs for swaps, and significant distress for prisoners.

- Drugs and mobile phones continued to enter the prison, affecting stability and leading to bullying and debt.
- The government's decision not to prioritise prisoner and staff vaccinations was seen as prolonging an inhumane regime and contributing to mental health problems.
- Excessive waiting lists developed for dental, optician, and podiatrist services, and secondary mental health care was withdrawn.
- Transfers to Parc occurred without prior Covid-19 testing or isolation from originating prisons, posing infection risks.
- Insufficient telephones hindered healthcare staff's ability to provide appropriate services.
- Issues persisted with prisoners not wearing correct clothing in serveries and equipment cleanliness.

- The lack of a stronger national commitment to young adult prisoner rehabilitation, supported by research and sufficient resourcing, is a key strategic concern.
- An urgent need for more emergency mental health beds for prisoners, to prevent seriously mentally ill individuals from being inappropriately held in prison, particularly in segregation.
- HMPPS's post-pandemic rebalancing of priorities risks diminishing focus on prisoner outcomes in favour of risk management as prisoner numbers rise.
- Education and training provision has been poor and lacked clear national targets and business-like contract management for third-party providers.
- The impact of gang culture, exacerbated by a lack of professional mediation training, severely curtails opportunities for prisoners to engage in out-of-cell activities.
- Persistent issues with property management, including loss during transfers and restrictions on family parcels.

- The escalating number of self-harm incidents, reaching an average of 220 per month in the reporting year, places a high level of risk on the prison.
- A high and increasing percentage (77%) of sentenced prisoners are released without safe and secure accommodation, exacerbated by the removal of in-prison accommodation services.
- The prison is continuously used as a 'place of safety' for women with serious, complex, and enduring mental health conditions, exerting severe pressure on healthcare and residential staff.
- Significant volumes of drugs continue to enter the prison despite 100% searching and swabbing of incoming mail and parcels.
- The severe Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, amplified by staff absences and inexperienced officers, have compromised the humane treatment of prisoners and limited their time out of cell.
- Canteen prices at HMP/YOI Bronzefield are up to 15% more expensive than comparable prisons.

- The dilapidated and intrinsically unsafe Victorian building fabric, particularly the Care and Separation Unit (CSU), which remains unfit for purpose and without secured funding for replacement despite repeated promises.
- High rates of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and assaults on staff, reflective of endemic violence in local male prisons.
- Insufficient provision of escorts and runners for healthcare appointments, leading to high 'did not attend' (DNA) rates for GP and dental services and compromising medical provision.
- Overcrowding, with many cells designed for single occupancy housing two prisoners, leading to cramped conditions and lack of privacy.
- Continued issues with drug misuse, including parcels thrown over walls and letters soaked in new psychoactive substances.
- Lack of accessible facilities for physically disabled prisoners, including reception, education classrooms, and only one wheelchair-accessible cell.
- Lengthy and indefinite detention of an immigration detainee in the CSU, with inadequate support for asylum applications due to language barriers and lack of legal aid.