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.
Pentonville
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 565
Assaults: 444
Staff assaults: 240
HMP Pentonville, a category B local prison, faced significant challenges including severe overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure, and a rise in drug use. While some improvements were noted in safety management, the Board raised serious concerns about inhumane living conditions, inadequate key work provision, and delays in support for vulnerable prisoners. The report highlights the impact of capacity pressures on regime delivery and resettlement efforts, stressing the need for urgent investment in the prison's fabric and resources.
Key concerns identified
- First-night cells were often lacking basic equipment and welfare calls were not always given on arrival.
- Accurate completion of ACCT documents remains an issue, and the documentation is over-complicated.
- There was an insufficient number of Listeners in the prison for most of the year.
- The crumbling fabric of the prison and poor conditions, including vermin infestations and damp cells, remain a serious concern.
- Minimal levels of key work took place, with no proper system for allocation or monitoring.
- Pentonville remains a completely unsuitable environment for prisoners with mobility issues.
- The mosque remained out of use due to extensive flooring damage from an undetected leak.
- An increase in the availability and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS), often resulting in medical emergencies.
- Government-imposed measures to reduce prison overcrowding impacted the offender management unit’s ability to fulfil its remit, causing anxiety and frustration.
- Accurate completion of ACCT documents remains an issue, and the documentation is over-complicated.
- There was an insufficient number of Listeners in the prison for most of the year.
- The crumbling fabric of the prison and poor conditions, including vermin infestations and damp cells, remain a serious concern.
- Minimal levels of key work took place, with no proper system for allocation or monitoring.
- Pentonville remains a completely unsuitable environment for prisoners with mobility issues.
- The mosque remained out of use due to extensive flooring damage from an undetected leak.
- An increase in the availability and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS), often resulting in medical emergencies.
- Government-imposed measures to reduce prison overcrowding impacted the offender management unit’s ability to fulfil its remit, causing anxiety and frustration.
Pentonville
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 610
Assaults: 600
Staff assaults: 180
HMP Pentonville, a Category B local prison, experienced significant challenges in the reporting year, marked by overcrowding with a population of 1,195 against a CNA of 909. The prison saw a 28% increase in violence and a 13% rise in self-harm incidents, alongside chronic issues with infrastructure, pest infestations, and limited time out of cell for prisoners. Staffing shortages impacted key services, and critical concerns included the lack of mental health secure beds and the unsatisfactory conditions of worship areas.
Key concerns identified
- The inhumane conditions due to overcrowding, lack of privacy, and severe infrastructure issues like widespread infestations and plumbing problems.
- The significant increase in violence (28%) and self-harm (13%), exacerbated by understaffing in Safer Custody and inadequate ACCT documentation.
- The unacceptably long periods of cell confinement (22 hours a day for many), hindering rehabilitation and undermining decency.
- Critical healthcare issues including a severe lack of secure hospital beds, leading to unwell prisoners remaining in custody, and pharmacy staff vacancies.
- Persistent staffing pressures and redeployment in key departments like Safer Custody, Equality, and OMU, impacting service delivery and support for prisoners.
- The appalling state of the main mosque roof and the ongoing rat infestation in the kitchen which required ministerial intervention.
- The significant increase in violence (28%) and self-harm (13%), exacerbated by understaffing in Safer Custody and inadequate ACCT documentation.
- The unacceptably long periods of cell confinement (22 hours a day for many), hindering rehabilitation and undermining decency.
- Critical healthcare issues including a severe lack of secure hospital beds, leading to unwell prisoners remaining in custody, and pharmacy staff vacancies.
- Persistent staffing pressures and redeployment in key departments like Safer Custody, Equality, and OMU, impacting service delivery and support for prisoners.
- The appalling state of the main mosque roof and the ongoing rat infestation in the kitchen which required ministerial intervention.
Pentonville
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 487
Assaults: 40
Staff assaults: 16
HMP Pentonville, a Category B local prison, faced significant challenges in 2022-2023, primarily due to overcrowding, antiquated facilities, and staff shortages impacting the regime and key work scheme. While the prison achieved notable successes in disrupting contraband and establishing a Neurodiversity Unit with positive outcomes, concerns persist regarding vulnerable prisoner safety, low time out of cell, and minimal resettlement support for its large remand population. Healthcare services showed improvements in patient access and staffing, but overall infrastructure and staffing levels continue to hinder humane conditions and effective rehabilitation.
Key concerns identified
- Vulnerable prisoners on the VPU are not rigorously separated, compromising their safety.
- Referrals for Challenge, Support and Intervention Plans (CSIP) dropped significantly, potentially increasing violence.
- The antiquated fabric and facilities of the prison are poorly managed by GFSL, directly impacting prisoner experience.
- The regime has normalised only one hour out of cell per day for many prisoners, with even less time at weekends.
- The key worker scheme was virtually extinguished due to staff shortages and security operations.
- Persistent problems with prisoner property on transfer and within the prison cause significant stress.
- Low attendance at education and activities remains a persistent problem, with only 65% engagement.
- Resettlement preparations for the unprecedented 75% remand population are minimal, with many released without a plan.
- Overcrowding forces prisoners into small cells, often in pairs, with unscreened toilets, leading to inhumane conditions.
- Disproportionate use of restraints on Black, Muslim, and young adult prisoners remains a concern.
- The equality officer position was vacant, leading to a backlog of Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms and infrequent meetings.
- The Muslim chaplain is overstretched due to increased demand and recruitment delays.
- Referrals for Challenge, Support and Intervention Plans (CSIP) dropped significantly, potentially increasing violence.
- The antiquated fabric and facilities of the prison are poorly managed by GFSL, directly impacting prisoner experience.
- The regime has normalised only one hour out of cell per day for many prisoners, with even less time at weekends.
- The key worker scheme was virtually extinguished due to staff shortages and security operations.
- Persistent problems with prisoner property on transfer and within the prison cause significant stress.
- Low attendance at education and activities remains a persistent problem, with only 65% engagement.
- Resettlement preparations for the unprecedented 75% remand population are minimal, with many released without a plan.
- Overcrowding forces prisoners into small cells, often in pairs, with unscreened toilets, leading to inhumane conditions.
- Disproportionate use of restraints on Black, Muslim, and young adult prisoners remains a concern.
- The equality officer position was vacant, leading to a backlog of Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms and infrequent meetings.
- The Muslim chaplain is overstretched due to increased demand and recruitment delays.
Pentonville
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 564
Assaults: 327
Staff assaults: 201
Pentonville, a Category B/C YOI, operated with an average population of 1,043 against an operational capacity of 1,000, facing severe overcrowding and infrastructure issues. The reporting year was marked by significant staff shortages, leading to a restricted regime with many prisoners locked in cells for nearly 23 hours a day, hampering rehabilitation efforts. Key concerns include dilapidated buildings, disrupted mental health services, a critical gap in resettlement support for remand prisoners, and an underperforming Offender Management Unit. Positively, the prison saw success with its new drug-free wing and continued effective Covid-19 management.
Key concerns identified
- The lack of privacy and cramped conditions, with men still forced to share cells designed for single occupancy, is exacerbated by the crumbling fabric of the buildings, leading to vermin infestations and recurrent failures of heating and hot water.
- Many prisoners are locked up for almost 23 hours a day under the Structured On-Wing Activity (SOWA) regime, severely limiting opportunities for education, training, and rehabilitation due to wing-based activity.
- Persistent staff shortages and low morale have led to the curtailment of the regime and an almost complete lack of key work, denying prisoners important support and causing significant frustration.
- Mental health services are severely disrupted with a three-month waiting list, and the award-winning wellbeing centre remains massively under-utilised.
- There is a critical gap in resettlement services for remanded prisoners, who now comprise nearly 75% of the population, as many agencies are not contracted to work with them.
- The poor performance of the Offender Management Unit consistently leaves prisoners without basic and crucial information about their sentences, parole, and release dates for weeks or even months.
- Many prisoners are locked up for almost 23 hours a day under the Structured On-Wing Activity (SOWA) regime, severely limiting opportunities for education, training, and rehabilitation due to wing-based activity.
- Persistent staff shortages and low morale have led to the curtailment of the regime and an almost complete lack of key work, denying prisoners important support and causing significant frustration.
- Mental health services are severely disrupted with a three-month waiting list, and the award-winning wellbeing centre remains massively under-utilised.
- There is a critical gap in resettlement services for remanded prisoners, who now comprise nearly 75% of the population, as many agencies are not contracted to work with them.
- The poor performance of the Offender Management Unit consistently leaves prisoners without basic and crucial information about their sentences, parole, and release dates for weeks or even months.
Pentonville
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 556
During a reporting year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, Pentonville successfully avoided a widespread deadly outbreak through stringent measures, though two prisoners sadly died. However, the Board found that the highly restricted regime led to inhumane conditions, with prisoners confined to cells for extended periods, impacting mental health and resettlement progression. Key concerns remain around overcrowding, inadequate facilities, the safety of vulnerable prisoners, and persistent violence and drug issues, with limited progress on ACCT quality and disproportionality in disciplinary actions.
Key concerns identified
- Overcrowding and inhumane conditions due to cell sharing.
- Inadequate and unhygienic facilities (showers, heating, vermin).
- Significantly reduced mental health provision.
- Safety of vulnerable prisoners housed outside dedicated unit.
- Persistent violence and drug issues, including high young adult violence, poor drug dog cover, and no MDT.
- Backlog in PPO reports and inquests for deaths.
- Variable quality of ACCT documents and CSIP not fully embedded.
- Lack of timeliness in internal prison communication regarding sentence management.
- Persistent issues with prisoners' property (delays, losses).
- Disproportionate representation of young, Muslim, Black, and mixed ethnicity prisoners in use of force and adjudications.
- Limited access to work, education, and other group activities, compromising resettlement.
- Lack of staff adherence to Body Worn Video Camera (BWVC) activation policy.
- Inadequate and unhygienic facilities (showers, heating, vermin).
- Significantly reduced mental health provision.
- Safety of vulnerable prisoners housed outside dedicated unit.
- Persistent violence and drug issues, including high young adult violence, poor drug dog cover, and no MDT.
- Backlog in PPO reports and inquests for deaths.
- Variable quality of ACCT documents and CSIP not fully embedded.
- Lack of timeliness in internal prison communication regarding sentence management.
- Persistent issues with prisoners' property (delays, losses).
- Disproportionate representation of young, Muslim, Black, and mixed ethnicity prisoners in use of force and adjudications.
- Limited access to work, education, and other group activities, compromising resettlement.
- Lack of staff adherence to Body Worn Video Camera (BWVC) activation policy.
Pentonville
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 682
HMP/YOI Pentonville, a category B/C local prison, faces significant challenges in providing a safe and rehabilitative environment. While staff demonstrated resilience during COVID-19, and some improvements were made in drug reduction and key working, the prison's deteriorating infrastructure, high levels of violence, and persistent issues with regime delivery severely impacted prisoner welfare and resettlement. The Board highlights a lack of investment, poor maintenance, and inadequate staffing as root causes, resulting in concerns about safety, healthcare access, and purposeful activity.
Key concerns identified
- The prison is unsuitable for 21st-century incarceration with no sign of urgent financial investment in its decaying infrastructure.
- Hand-made weapons are regularly found, self-harm increased by 14%, and there were six deaths in custody.
- Use of force governance remains poor, with increased incidents, incomplete reports, and Body-Worn Video Cameras rarely used or failing.
- Persistent plumbing issues across the prison cause frequent lack of hot/cold water, blocked toilets/showers, and leaks, with many cells having inadequately screened toilets and showers in poor repair.
- Education and work attendance is dismal at 56% due to persistent problems in delivering prisoners to activities, negatively affecting purposeful use of time and resettlement progression.
- Healthcare provision faces challenges including cancelled hospital appointments due to escort shortages, inadequate medication supervision, and the award-winning wellbeing centre being underutilised due to regime lockdowns.
- Hand-made weapons are regularly found, self-harm increased by 14%, and there were six deaths in custody.
- Use of force governance remains poor, with increased incidents, incomplete reports, and Body-Worn Video Cameras rarely used or failing.
- Persistent plumbing issues across the prison cause frequent lack of hot/cold water, blocked toilets/showers, and leaks, with many cells having inadequately screened toilets and showers in poor repair.
- Education and work attendance is dismal at 56% due to persistent problems in delivering prisoners to activities, negatively affecting purposeful use of time and resettlement progression.
- Healthcare provision faces challenges including cancelled hospital appointments due to escort shortages, inadequate medication supervision, and the award-winning wellbeing centre being underutilised due to regime lockdowns.