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.
Whatton
PRISON
Concerns
HMP Whatton, a Category C prison for sexual offenders, maintained an average population of 836. The IMB praised the safe environment, positive staff-prisoner relationships, and improvements in education and family contact. Key concerns include the persistent challenges faced by IPP prisoners, critical under-resourcing impacting the estate and services, and delays in transfers to Category D prisons. Outdated healthcare facilities and accessibility issues for prisoners with mobility problems also remain significant areas for development.
Key concerns identified
- The persistent welfare and mental stress of IPP prisoners who struggle to see a future.
- Inadequate resourcing for catering, building repairs, and development, impacting the maintenance of health and safety standards.
- Unreliable access to chaplaincy facilities for prisoners with mobility issues due to a persistent stair lift problem.
- Ongoing issues with follow-on property going missing on transfer, causing stress for prisoners and additional work for staff.
- Outdated healthcare facilities and lengthy queues for medication impacting efficiency and causing delays for purposeful activity.
- The limited availability of category D prison spaces, delaying transfer opportunities for eligible prisoners.
- Uncertainty that prisoners always receive their entitled time out of cell, particularly the unemployed.
- Inadequate resourcing for catering, building repairs, and development, impacting the maintenance of health and safety standards.
- Unreliable access to chaplaincy facilities for prisoners with mobility issues due to a persistent stair lift problem.
- Ongoing issues with follow-on property going missing on transfer, causing stress for prisoners and additional work for staff.
- Outdated healthcare facilities and lengthy queues for medication impacting efficiency and causing delays for purposeful activity.
- The limited availability of category D prison spaces, delaying transfer opportunities for eligible prisoners.
- Uncertainty that prisoners always receive their entitled time out of cell, particularly the unemployed.
Whatton
PRISON
Concerns
HMP Whatton, a Category C training prison for sex offenders, had an average population of 849 during the reporting year. The Board observed generally positive prisoner-staff relationships, improvements in healthcare staffing, and good access to purposeful activity with 758 workspaces. However, key concerns include the unsuitability of B wing accommodation, long waits for specialist courses, the disproportionate number of IPP prisoners, and challenges in securing employment for sex offenders post-release.
Key concerns identified
- The disproportionate number of IPP prisoners at Whatton and the lack of policy review to support their wellbeing and morale.
- The inadequacy and delayed improvements of B wing accommodation, which is not fit for purpose with issues in size, ventilation, heating, and in-cell toilets.
- Long waiting lists and delays for prisoners to access specialist courses, potentially impacting their release dates.
- The difficulty in finding suitable employment placements for prisoners convicted of sexual offences upon release, leading to low employment rates.
- The practice of gathering visitors outside the security area and allowing entry as a group, which may not offer the full amount of time for the actual visit with the prisoner.
- The excessive detention of prisoners with severe mental health problems in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) while awaiting transfer to specialist facilities, with one case noted at 80 days.
- The old and concerning fabric of healthcare facilities, particularly the narrow corridors causing issues for medicine collection queues.
- Staffing shortages in offender management, with only three case workers handling 200 cases when eight are typically required.
- Limited awareness among prisoners of how their allocated activities align with their long-term goals.
- A large percentage of applications from prisoners relating to property lost or not arriving during transfers.
- The inadequacy and delayed improvements of B wing accommodation, which is not fit for purpose with issues in size, ventilation, heating, and in-cell toilets.
- Long waiting lists and delays for prisoners to access specialist courses, potentially impacting their release dates.
- The difficulty in finding suitable employment placements for prisoners convicted of sexual offences upon release, leading to low employment rates.
- The practice of gathering visitors outside the security area and allowing entry as a group, which may not offer the full amount of time for the actual visit with the prisoner.
- The excessive detention of prisoners with severe mental health problems in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) while awaiting transfer to specialist facilities, with one case noted at 80 days.
- The old and concerning fabric of healthcare facilities, particularly the narrow corridors causing issues for medicine collection queues.
- Staffing shortages in offender management, with only three case workers handling 200 cases when eight are typically required.
- Limited awareness among prisoners of how their allocated activities align with their long-term goals.
- A large percentage of applications from prisoners relating to property lost or not arriving during transfers.
Whatton
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 333
Assaults: 49
Staff assaults: 17
HMP Whatton, a Category C training prison, had an average population of 802 against an operational capacity of 817. While staff maintained a safe environment and implemented a normal daily regime, the Board highlighted concerns including increased assaults, high self-harm incidents, and significant delays in transferring mentally unwell prisoners to secure care. Substandard B wing accommodation and inadequate resettlement support for released prisoners were also noted.
Key concerns identified
- Increased levels of assaults on both staff and prisoners.
- Increased levels of self-harm remain a concern, with a number of chronic and acute self-harmers responsible for a high proportion of incidents.
- Prisoners released from HMP Whatton, a training prison, are at a disadvantage regarding resettlement support due to lack of dedicated staffing or finance, despite approximately 200 prisoners being released annually into the community.
- The substandard accommodation in the B wings, containing some of the smallest cells in the prison estate and deemed unfit for purpose, continues to be a concern, with no funding available for replacement and pipework replacement delayed by 12 months.
- Healthcare services continue to be under great pressure, particularly due to ongoing shortages of specialist healthcare staff and the poor condition of healthcare accommodation.
- A significant backlog of prisoners awaiting accredited offending behaviour programmes remains a concern, impacting sentence plans, parole hearings, and release dates.
- Changes in the parole system and high rejection rates of Parole Board recommendations are causing significant anguish among prisoners, particularly those with sexual offence convictions, regarding potential delays to Category D transfers and release.
- Progression for IPP prisoners remains a significant concern, with increased anxiety following the government's rejection of Justice Select Committee recommendations on re-sentencing and licence periods.
- Delays in transferring prisoners needing secure psychiatric care to hospital, exceeding the proposed 28-day statutory limit, continue to be an issue.
- The Eureka key security system has been unserviceable for over three years, awaiting replacement.
- Key working has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, and there are concerns that not all prison staff prioritize it adequately.
- The new property framework for prisoners’ property has shown no evidence of meeting its objectives in improving transfers between establishments, leading to continued losses and distress.
- Increased levels of self-harm remain a concern, with a number of chronic and acute self-harmers responsible for a high proportion of incidents.
- Prisoners released from HMP Whatton, a training prison, are at a disadvantage regarding resettlement support due to lack of dedicated staffing or finance, despite approximately 200 prisoners being released annually into the community.
- The substandard accommodation in the B wings, containing some of the smallest cells in the prison estate and deemed unfit for purpose, continues to be a concern, with no funding available for replacement and pipework replacement delayed by 12 months.
- Healthcare services continue to be under great pressure, particularly due to ongoing shortages of specialist healthcare staff and the poor condition of healthcare accommodation.
- A significant backlog of prisoners awaiting accredited offending behaviour programmes remains a concern, impacting sentence plans, parole hearings, and release dates.
- Changes in the parole system and high rejection rates of Parole Board recommendations are causing significant anguish among prisoners, particularly those with sexual offence convictions, regarding potential delays to Category D transfers and release.
- Progression for IPP prisoners remains a significant concern, with increased anxiety following the government's rejection of Justice Select Committee recommendations on re-sentencing and licence periods.
- Delays in transferring prisoners needing secure psychiatric care to hospital, exceeding the proposed 28-day statutory limit, continue to be an issue.
- The Eureka key security system has been unserviceable for over three years, awaiting replacement.
- Key working has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, and there are concerns that not all prison staff prioritize it adequately.
- The new property framework for prisoners’ property has shown no evidence of meeting its objectives in improving transfers between establishments, leading to continued losses and distress.
Whatton
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 302
Assaults: 34
HMP Whatton, a Category C training prison for sexual offenders, commendably maintained a fair and humane routine amidst Covid-19 restrictions, with staff efforts appreciated. Despite improvements in areas like the complaints system and a decrease in self-harm, significant concerns persist regarding the impact of prolonged 22-hour cell lockdowns on prisoner wellbeing, the substandard B wing accommodation, and backlogs in accredited programmes and transfers. Healthcare faced staffing and facility challenges but delivered community-equivalent services.
Key concerns identified
- Mental and emotional wellbeing of prisoners due to prolonged isolation in cells.
- Substandard and unfit accommodation in the B wings.
- Backlog of prisoners waiting to complete accredited programmes impacting sentence plans and parole.
- Delays in transferring Category D prisoners to suitable prisons.
- Persistent issues with loss of prisoners’ property during transfers, with inadequate tracking and complaint responses.
- Inadequate and unsuitable healthcare accommodation impeding provision.
- Delays in transferring prisoners to secure mental health hospitals.
- Substandard and unfit accommodation in the B wings.
- Backlog of prisoners waiting to complete accredited programmes impacting sentence plans and parole.
- Delays in transferring Category D prisoners to suitable prisons.
- Persistent issues with loss of prisoners’ property during transfers, with inadequate tracking and complaint responses.
- Inadequate and unsuitable healthcare accommodation impeding provision.
- Delays in transferring prisoners to secure mental health hospitals.
Whatton
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 496
Assaults: 22
Staff assaults: 11
HMP Whatton operated under severe Covid-19 restrictions for most of the reporting year, with prisoners confined to cells for 22 hours daily and many activities suspended. Despite these challenges, the Board commended staff for their fair and humane approach, and prisoners largely understood the restrictions. Key concerns include the unsustainable restrictive regime, poor healthcare accommodation, delays in mental health transfers, and a backlog in offending behaviour programmes impacting resettlement.
Key concerns identified
- The national lockdown regime, confining prisoners to their cells for 22 hours per day, is unsustainable and cannot be regarded as fair and humane treatment.
- Substandard accommodation in the B wings remains unfit for purpose and has been regularly criticised.
- The standard of accommodation in the healthcare centre is a significant concern, being cramped, damp, and not fit for purpose for the aging prisoner population.
- Delays in transferring prisoners with severe mental health issues to secure hospital accommodation, with one prisoner held for over 98 days.
- The provision of accredited programmes and resettlement support has been curtailed or suspended, leaving prisoners unprepared for release and creating a backlog that impacts sentence plans and parole hearings.
- Persistent issues with the loss of prisoners' property during transfers, with no reliable tracking system.
- Delays in the timely notification of approved premises for released prisoners, often only days before release, hindering employment and resettlement.
- Substandard accommodation in the B wings remains unfit for purpose and has been regularly criticised.
- The standard of accommodation in the healthcare centre is a significant concern, being cramped, damp, and not fit for purpose for the aging prisoner population.
- Delays in transferring prisoners with severe mental health issues to secure hospital accommodation, with one prisoner held for over 98 days.
- The provision of accredited programmes and resettlement support has been curtailed or suspended, leaving prisoners unprepared for release and creating a backlog that impacts sentence plans and parole hearings.
- Persistent issues with the loss of prisoners' property during transfers, with no reliable tracking system.
- Delays in the timely notification of approved premises for released prisoners, often only days before release, hindering employment and resettlement.
Whatton
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 366
Assaults: 52
Staff assaults: 13
HMP Whatton, a Category C prison for sexual offenders, is generally safe and treats prisoners fairly, but faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic with 23-hour cellular confinement. Major concerns include the substandard B wing and healthcare facilities, delayed mental health transfers, and issues with prisoner property and resettlement planning. The Board praised staff's handling of the pandemic and the quality of education and mental health teams.
Key concerns identified
- Prolonged 23-hour cellular confinement due to COVID-19 is unsustainable and inhumane.
- Substandard accommodation in B wings, which are tiny, non-compliant, and have retro-fitted toilets close to beds.
- Healthcare facility accommodation is inadequate, non-compliant, and suffering from a significant maintenance backlog despite repeated rejected funding bids.
- Delays in mental health transfers to secure hospitals for seriously ill prisoners, with one prisoner held for over 107 days.
- Frequent loss of prisoners' property during transfers and lack of a reliable tracking system.
- Untimely notification of approved premises for released high-risk prisoners, hindering resettlement and employment opportunities.
- Ageing fire and general alarm systems require urgent replacement, and poor condition of roads/pathways poses health and safety risks.
- Substandard accommodation in B wings, which are tiny, non-compliant, and have retro-fitted toilets close to beds.
- Healthcare facility accommodation is inadequate, non-compliant, and suffering from a significant maintenance backlog despite repeated rejected funding bids.
- Delays in mental health transfers to secure hospitals for seriously ill prisoners, with one prisoner held for over 107 days.
- Frequent loss of prisoners' property during transfers and lack of a reliable tracking system.
- Untimely notification of approved premises for released high-risk prisoners, hindering resettlement and employment opportunities.
- Ageing fire and general alarm systems require urgent replacement, and poor condition of roads/pathways poses health and safety risks.