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.
Werrington
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 56
Assaults: 185
Staff assaults: 131
HMYOI Werrington saw a decrease in self-harm and ACCT cases, and improvements in conflict resolution and education delivery. However, the Board remains very concerned about the continued high level of violence, a further increase in self-isolation, and the rise in use of force incidents. Time out of room continues to be poor, and illicit drug ingress remains problematic, alongside significant delays in staff vetting.
Key concerns identified
- The general level of violence, its severity, and the number of fights and assaults remain very concerning.
- A further increase in young people self-isolating, often driven by fear of others, is a significant worry.
- Time out of room continues to be poor, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, despite some improvements.
- The Board is concerned about the increase in the use of force incidents during the reporting year.
- The ingress and circulation of illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, remains a problematic issue.
- Delays in the vetting process for staff and IMB members are significantly impacting operations.
- A further increase in young people self-isolating, often driven by fear of others, is a significant worry.
- Time out of room continues to be poor, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, despite some improvements.
- The Board is concerned about the increase in the use of force incidents during the reporting year.
- The ingress and circulation of illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, remains a problematic issue.
- Delays in the vetting process for staff and IMB members are significantly impacting operations.
Werrington
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 136
Assaults: 154
Staff assaults: 150
HMYOI Werrington's report for 2023-2024 highlights ongoing challenges with violence, inadequate education, and poor time out of room, despite some improvements in conflict resolution and healthcare provision. Staffing shortages in social care and difficulties in monitoring segregation contribute to key concerns. The Board raises several recommendations to the Minister, Youth Custody Service, Local Authority, and Governor to address these issues and improve conditions for young people.
Key concerns identified
- The general level and severity of violence, including fights and assaults, remain a significant concern.
- Educational provision is wholly inadequate due to restricted regime, violence, 'keep-aparts', and contractual issues.
- The inhumane accommodation of young people, legally children, far from family due to YOI Cookham Wood's closure, is a serious issue.
- Time out of room continues to be poor, especially at weekends, falling below pre-pandemic levels.
- Staffing levels in social care are low, impacting workload and support for vulnerable young adults.
- Monitoring of Rule 49 reviews by the IMB is hindered by infrequent submission of paperwork.
- The number of young people self-isolating has increased due to fear of others' behaviour and getting into trouble.
- Educational provision is wholly inadequate due to restricted regime, violence, 'keep-aparts', and contractual issues.
- The inhumane accommodation of young people, legally children, far from family due to YOI Cookham Wood's closure, is a serious issue.
- Time out of room continues to be poor, especially at weekends, falling below pre-pandemic levels.
- Staffing levels in social care are low, impacting workload and support for vulnerable young adults.
- Monitoring of Rule 49 reviews by the IMB is hindered by infrequent submission of paperwork.
- The number of young people self-isolating has increased due to fear of others' behaviour and getting into trouble.
Werrington
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 36
Assaults: 121
Staff assaults: 113
HMYOI Werrington's report ending August 2023 highlights mixed progress. While self-harm and prisoner-on-prisoner assaults decreased, overall violence remained unstable, and serious incidents at height were a significant concern. The Board praised healthcare and resettlement efforts, but educational provision continued to be inadequate, exacerbated by a long-closed library and limited curriculum for higher qualifications. Inadequate time out of room, particularly at weekends, and staffing shortages in social care were also key issues, alongside concerns about the safe co-location of young adults and under-18s.
Key concerns identified
- Serious incidents at height, including young people climbing on netting, bars, or roofs, necessitating escalation to the Youth Custody Service Executive Director.
- The total number of violent incidents, although slightly reduced, remains unstable, with an increase in fights.
- Inadequate time out of room, especially at weekends, which the Board deems neither fair nor humane for young people.
- Educational provision is still inadequate due to curriculum limitations, restricted regime, violence, and 'keep aparts,' further exacerbated by the closure of the main library for over a year.
- Safety concerns regarding housing over-18-year-olds with under-18s, a question directly posed to the Minister.
- Lack of adequate social work cover, particularly for maternity and sick leave, impacting oversight of child-protection paperwork.
- The need to enhance safety measures to reduce the making of protective weapons by young people.
- Challenges in developing positive relationships between young people and staff, with limited meaningful communication observed.
- The total number of violent incidents, although slightly reduced, remains unstable, with an increase in fights.
- Inadequate time out of room, especially at weekends, which the Board deems neither fair nor humane for young people.
- Educational provision is still inadequate due to curriculum limitations, restricted regime, violence, and 'keep aparts,' further exacerbated by the closure of the main library for over a year.
- Safety concerns regarding housing over-18-year-olds with under-18s, a question directly posed to the Minister.
- Lack of adequate social work cover, particularly for maternity and sick leave, impacting oversight of child-protection paperwork.
- The need to enhance safety measures to reduce the making of protective weapons by young people.
- Challenges in developing positive relationships between young people and staff, with limited meaningful communication observed.
Werrington
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 37
Assaults: 105
Staff assaults: 124
The IMB has grave concerns about HMYOI Werrington, deeming it unsafe for both young people and staff due to a significant increase in violence, including assaults and weapon making. Low staffing levels and sickness led to a severely restricted regime, particularly at weekends, with young people spending excessive time locked in their rooms. Education provision was inadequate, and staff-young person relationships deteriorated.
Key concerns identified
- Increased violence towards both young people and staff.
- Severely restricted regime and excessive time young people spend in their rooms.
- Low staffing levels impacting regime, education, and staff morale.
- Inadequate education provision due to curriculum, facilities, and staff apprehension.
- Breakdown in staff-young person relationships and poor officer-learner interactions.
- Difficulties for the IMB in monitoring crucial processes like ACCT and Rule 49 reviews.
- Severely restricted regime and excessive time young people spend in their rooms.
- Low staffing levels impacting regime, education, and staff morale.
- Inadequate education provision due to curriculum, facilities, and staff apprehension.
- Breakdown in staff-young person relationships and poor officer-learner interactions.
- Difficulties for the IMB in monitoring crucial processes like ACCT and Rule 49 reviews.
Werrington
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 37
Assaults: 10
Staff assaults: 17
HMYOI Werrington operated with significant challenges during the reporting year, marked by the ongoing pandemic, major refurbishment, and a sharp increase in violence and disruption in the latter months. The Board raised serious safety concerns, noting restricted time out of room and staff shortages led to inhumane treatment. While healthcare was proactive and efficient, education struggled amidst disruptions, and the Board highlighted issues with the use of Rule 49 and long remand waiting times.
Key concerns identified
- YOI Werrington has been unsafe for young people and staff since July 2021, with a sharp increase in violence.
- Young people are not treated humanely due to restricted time out of room and staff shortages.
- The educational provision is considered inadequate, partly due to facilities and outbreaks of violence.
- Rule 49 is being used for young people who cannot be found suitable placement in a group, raising questions about its correct use and fairness.
- Young people are not allowed to display photographs of themselves with their family in their rooms due to security issues.
- There are unacceptably long waits at court for institutional allocation, with some young people waiting over four hours.
- The Board is concerned about the regular outbreaks of violence, exemplified by the hostage-taking incident in the art room and the high number of fashioned weapons found.
- The lack of a conventional route for solving problems after the conflict resolution team was disbanded.
- A worrying lack of trained negotiators at Werrington.
- Many young people's rooms are not fit for habitation, lacking basics like curtains, clean toilets, and walls.
- The laundry process still results in significant lost property.
- The virtual campus for online education has not commenced, and learners are not allowed their own email addresses.
- Young people could be held for many months without trial, raising concerns about their innocence and the length of remand periods.
- Young people are not treated humanely due to restricted time out of room and staff shortages.
- The educational provision is considered inadequate, partly due to facilities and outbreaks of violence.
- Rule 49 is being used for young people who cannot be found suitable placement in a group, raising questions about its correct use and fairness.
- Young people are not allowed to display photographs of themselves with their family in their rooms due to security issues.
- There are unacceptably long waits at court for institutional allocation, with some young people waiting over four hours.
- The Board is concerned about the regular outbreaks of violence, exemplified by the hostage-taking incident in the art room and the high number of fashioned weapons found.
- The lack of a conventional route for solving problems after the conflict resolution team was disbanded.
- A worrying lack of trained negotiators at Werrington.
- Many young people's rooms are not fit for habitation, lacking basics like curtains, clean toilets, and walls.
- The laundry process still results in significant lost property.
- The virtual campus for online education has not commenced, and learners are not allowed their own email addresses.
- Young people could be held for many months without trial, raising concerns about their innocence and the length of remand periods.
Werrington
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 95
HMP/YOI Werrington's IMB report for 2019-2020 highlights a year of significant operational changes, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the young people's regime. The Board commended strong leadership and improvements in child-focused care, equality, and in-cell communication, along with effective healthcare provision and a 100% post-release accommodation rate. Key concerns remain around rising assaults, persistent challenges in education, delays in transferring 18-year-olds, and the need for investment in converting old buildings into secure schools.
Key concerns identified
- The continued rise in assaults on staff and violence between young people is a significant concern.
- Challenges in education persist, including low attainment, poor engagement, inconsistent behaviour management, and safety concerns in classrooms without CCTV.
- Delays in transferring 18-year-olds to the adult estate impede progression.
- A lack of investment to convert inadequate old buildings into effective secure schools is highlighted.
- There are limited opportunities to prepare young people for life after custody, specifically regarding financial integration and family days for all.
- The property disclaimer process is flawed, and lost property issues remain.
- Challenges in education persist, including low attainment, poor engagement, inconsistent behaviour management, and safety concerns in classrooms without CCTV.
- Delays in transferring 18-year-olds to the adult estate impede progression.
- A lack of investment to convert inadequate old buildings into effective secure schools is highlighted.
- There are limited opportunities to prepare young people for life after custody, specifically regarding financial integration and family days for all.
- The property disclaimer process is flawed, and lost property issues remain.