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.
Wetherby
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 699
Staff assaults: 32
HMYOI Wetherby saw a significant reduction in its young person population to 119 by August 2025. The Board welcomed the YCS Roadmap and initial positive changes towards a child-centred environment. However, key concerns persist regarding escalating violence, the inadequate regime and conditions on the Benbow separation unit, and severe constraints on mental health service delivery due to unsuitable facilities. Staffing challenges, including vetting delays and loss of experienced officers, also impact the establishment's ability to provide consistent care.
Key concerns identified
- Violent assaults and the carrying of improvised weapons remain a significant problem, with young people feeling unsafe.
- The separation wing, Benbow, is considered unfit for purpose, offering a minimal regime with young people spending up to 23 hours in their rooms.
- CAMHS service delivery is severely constrained by a lack of dedicated, private rooms for therapeutic work and systemic operational barriers.
- Education provision required significant improvement due to challenges in recruiting and retaining teaching staff, and a curriculum that disengaged young people.
- There are unacceptable delays in local authorities securing suitable accommodation and providing financial support for looked-after children upon release, sometimes up to the day of release.
- Delays in staff vetting contribute to high vacancies, and the recent retirement of 19% of experienced officers represents a significant loss of expertise.
- The separation wing, Benbow, is considered unfit for purpose, offering a minimal regime with young people spending up to 23 hours in their rooms.
- CAMHS service delivery is severely constrained by a lack of dedicated, private rooms for therapeutic work and systemic operational barriers.
- Education provision required significant improvement due to challenges in recruiting and retaining teaching staff, and a curriculum that disengaged young people.
- There are unacceptable delays in local authorities securing suitable accommodation and providing financial support for looked-after children upon release, sometimes up to the day of release.
- Delays in staff vetting contribute to high vacancies, and the recent retirement of 19% of experienced officers represents a significant loss of expertise.
Wetherby
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 1,163
Staff assaults: 24
The IMB report for HMYOI Wetherby covers a year of accelerated change and leadership transition. The Board acknowledges some improvements, particularly in staff morale, healthcare provision, and initial efforts to improve the regime. However, significant concerns persist regarding violence, limited time out of cell, and a disappointing education provision. Staffing issues, including redeployment of specialist teams and high sickness, also remain a challenge alongside ongoing concerns about support for vulnerable young people.
Key concerns identified
- Persistent violence and the presence of improvised weapons, leading to staff and young people sustaining injuries during restraints.
- An unpredictable and limited regime, poor communication, and inadequate time out of cell, especially for separated young people.
- Significant shortfalls in education provision due to recruitment/retention issues, substantial lost hours, and lack of access to teaching staff for young people.
- Inadequate support for vulnerable young people, including those serving long sentences, looked-after children, and remanded young people who cannot access interventions.
- Staffing challenges such as the frequent redeployment of specialist intervention teams (e.g., Conflict Resolution, MMPR, CuSP), high sickness rates, and concerns about staff mental health and support.
- Continuing issues with estate maintenance, including areas in urgent need of refurbishment (e.g., Keppel, healthcare department) and unsuitable, grim rooms on Benbow.
- An unpredictable and limited regime, poor communication, and inadequate time out of cell, especially for separated young people.
- Significant shortfalls in education provision due to recruitment/retention issues, substantial lost hours, and lack of access to teaching staff for young people.
- Inadequate support for vulnerable young people, including those serving long sentences, looked-after children, and remanded young people who cannot access interventions.
- Staffing challenges such as the frequent redeployment of specialist intervention teams (e.g., Conflict Resolution, MMPR, CuSP), high sickness rates, and concerns about staff mental health and support.
- Continuing issues with estate maintenance, including areas in urgent need of refurbishment (e.g., Keppel, healthcare department) and unsuitable, grim rooms on Benbow.
Wetherby
PRISON
Concerns
HMYOI Wetherby experienced a challenging reporting year ending August 2023, marked by periods of severe instability, high violent behaviour, and increasing contraband finds. While the Board commended improvements in the estate, healthcare provision, and some excellent resettlement initiatives, significant concerns persist regarding the unpredictable regime, insufficient time out of cell, and the inadequate conditions on B wing. Staffing issues, including high turnover and an imbalance in officer demographics, continue to impact regime delivery, alongside national policy impacts such as Operation Safeguard and the high number of young people on remand with limited support.
Key concerns identified
- The stability of Wetherby was severely compromised in March and April 2023 due to multiple factors, including high levels of violent behaviour among young people and against staff.
- Increasing finds of drugs, phones, and improvised weapons highlight ongoing security challenges and the ease with which contraband enters the establishment.
- The lack of a predictable regime and frequent cancellations of educational classes or activities cause significant frustration and uncertainty for young people, leading to excessive time in rooms.
- Conditions on B wing, which houses both newly arrived (FNIC) and separated young people, are unsatisfactory, with mouldy showers, dirty cells, and poor repair.
- Too many young people are held on remand due to court delays, receiving limited support or interventions, which is a national priority concern.
- Operation Safeguard, which keeps 18-year-olds at Wetherby until 19, creates frustration among these young people and impacts the establishment's stability.
- Significant staffing issues persist, including high officer turnover (8% within six months, 12% within a year), and concerns about the experience of new, predominantly female officers.
- Local authorities frequently financially disadvantage "looked after" young people through late or absent payments, and suitable accommodation on release remains a challenge.
- The Board remains concerned about the suitability of placing girls at Wetherby in their current accommodation and the lack of progress on this long-term issue.
- Increasing finds of drugs, phones, and improvised weapons highlight ongoing security challenges and the ease with which contraband enters the establishment.
- The lack of a predictable regime and frequent cancellations of educational classes or activities cause significant frustration and uncertainty for young people, leading to excessive time in rooms.
- Conditions on B wing, which houses both newly arrived (FNIC) and separated young people, are unsatisfactory, with mouldy showers, dirty cells, and poor repair.
- Too many young people are held on remand due to court delays, receiving limited support or interventions, which is a national priority concern.
- Operation Safeguard, which keeps 18-year-olds at Wetherby until 19, creates frustration among these young people and impacts the establishment's stability.
- Significant staffing issues persist, including high officer turnover (8% within six months, 12% within a year), and concerns about the experience of new, predominantly female officers.
- Local authorities frequently financially disadvantage "looked after" young people through late or absent payments, and suitable accommodation on release remains a challenge.
- The Board remains concerned about the suitability of placing girls at Wetherby in their current accommodation and the lack of progress on this long-term issue.
Wetherby
PRISON
Concerns
Assaults: 215
Staff assaults: 100
HMYOI Wetherby faced significant challenges during the reporting year, including persistent staffing shortages which severely impacted the regime, leading to limited time out of cell, particularly in evenings. The Board noted concerning levels of violence, self-harm, and the continued problem of weapon creation. Additionally, there were unacceptable delays in transferring young people with complex mental health needs and significant evidence of racism. Despite these challenges, the Board commended positive staff-young person relationships, good physical healthcare provision, and welcome investments in the estate and engaging educational programs.
Key concerns identified
- Chronic staffing shortages impacting regime delivery, safety, and consistency.
- Persistent high levels of violence, self-harm incidents (especially on Keppel), and lack of solutions for weapon creation.
- Unacceptable delays in transferring young people with complex mental health needs to secure hospital beds.
- Limited time out of cell, particularly in evenings and weekends.
- Significant evidence of racism and concerns about the accuracy of equality data.
- Issues with education provision including lost hours, staff retention challenges, and inadequate provision in segregation and specific wings.
- Persistent high levels of violence, self-harm incidents (especially on Keppel), and lack of solutions for weapon creation.
- Unacceptable delays in transferring young people with complex mental health needs to secure hospital beds.
- Limited time out of cell, particularly in evenings and weekends.
- Significant evidence of racism and concerns about the accuracy of equality data.
- Issues with education provision including lost hours, staff retention challenges, and inadequate provision in segregation and specific wings.
Wetherby
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 646
Assaults: 72
Staff assaults: 100
This report highlights HMYOI Wetherby's effective management of the Covid-19 pandemic and positive staff-prisoner relationships, alongside significant improvements in facilities and family contact. However, it raises serious concerns, particularly the chronic shortage of secure mental health beds, delays in transferring young adults, and persistent issues with maintenance. The Board also notes challenges in staffing stability, ACCT application, and high levels of violence, urging action from the Minister, Youth Custody Service, and Governor.
Key concerns identified
- The acute and persistent lack of secure mental health hospital beds, leading to deteriorating mental health for young people in custody.
- Unacceptable delays in transferring young people aged 18 and over to the adult estate, causing heightened anxiety and management challenges.
- Lengthy and continuing delays in essential maintenance work, including cell repairs and the kitchen floor, raising concerns about cleanliness.
- A significant lack of permanence and stability within the senior management team, impacting leadership continuity.
- Concerns about the accuracy and understanding of the ACCT process, with persistent errors and non-mandatory training.
- High levels of violence between young people and against staff, compounded by a concerning number of weapons finds and inconsistent activation of body-worn cameras.
- Male prisoners' disquiet over perceived preferential treatment of female prisoners, and inadequate access to Barnardo's advocacy support.
- Unacceptable time out of cell for vulnerable young people on Keppel unit, and ongoing issues with temperature extremes and meal delivery on Anson wing.
- Unacceptable delays in transferring young people aged 18 and over to the adult estate, causing heightened anxiety and management challenges.
- Lengthy and continuing delays in essential maintenance work, including cell repairs and the kitchen floor, raising concerns about cleanliness.
- A significant lack of permanence and stability within the senior management team, impacting leadership continuity.
- Concerns about the accuracy and understanding of the ACCT process, with persistent errors and non-mandatory training.
- High levels of violence between young people and against staff, compounded by a concerning number of weapons finds and inconsistent activation of body-worn cameras.
- Male prisoners' disquiet over perceived preferential treatment of female prisoners, and inadequate access to Barnardo's advocacy support.
- Unacceptable time out of cell for vulnerable young people on Keppel unit, and ongoing issues with temperature extremes and meal delivery on Anson wing.
Wetherby
PRISON
Concerns
HMYOI Wetherby, a YOI for up to 360 young people, held 197 at the end of May 2020, with 33% on remand. While the Board welcomed the new Enhanced Support Unit and improvements to the estate and staff morale, significant concerns persist. These include acute shortages of secure mental health beds leading to indefinite waits for transfers, persistent staffing vacancies in healthcare, and the unacceptable lack of daily exercise and time out of cell for young people. Violence and self-harm remain problematic, alongside issues with restraint techniques and BWC usage.
Key concerns identified
- Lack of secure mental health hospital beds and indefinite waits for transfer for complex YP.
- Increasing levels of violence among YP nationally.
- Lengthy delays for YP on remand awaiting trial.
- Transfers of YP from distant STCs/YOIs to Wetherby, impacting family links and support networks.
- Protracted delays for 18+ YP awaiting transfer to the adult estate.
- Increasing number of Restricted Status (RS) YP, with provision almost at capacity.
- Unacceptable lack of daily exercise and insufficient time out of cell for YP.
- Inconsistent delivery and prioritisation of Custody Support Plan (CuSP) sessions.
- Misapplication of Managing and Minimising Physical Restraint (MMPR) techniques and failure to use Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) appropriately.
- Significant increase in self-harm incidents.
- Unacceptable late arrivals of YP to reception, sometimes in the early hours, and the continued use of untrained staff in reception.
- Long waiting times for non-urgent dental appointments (6-8 weeks).
- High vacancy rates in healthcare (44% primary care, 55% CAMHS), leading to staffing difficulties.
- Lack of quarterly meetings for the drug misuse strategy, indicating potential oversight.
- Increasing levels of violence among YP nationally.
- Lengthy delays for YP on remand awaiting trial.
- Transfers of YP from distant STCs/YOIs to Wetherby, impacting family links and support networks.
- Protracted delays for 18+ YP awaiting transfer to the adult estate.
- Increasing number of Restricted Status (RS) YP, with provision almost at capacity.
- Unacceptable lack of daily exercise and insufficient time out of cell for YP.
- Inconsistent delivery and prioritisation of Custody Support Plan (CuSP) sessions.
- Misapplication of Managing and Minimising Physical Restraint (MMPR) techniques and failure to use Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) appropriately.
- Significant increase in self-harm incidents.
- Unacceptable late arrivals of YP to reception, sometimes in the early hours, and the continued use of untrained staff in reception.
- Long waiting times for non-urgent dental appointments (6-8 weeks).
- High vacancy rates in healthcare (44% primary care, 55% CAMHS), leading to staffing difficulties.
- Lack of quarterly meetings for the drug misuse strategy, indicating potential oversight.