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© Copyright, Independent Monitoring Boards 2026.

Progress at HMP The Mount limited by inadequate support from the Prison Service, say independent monitors

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HMP The Mount

HMP The Mount has continued to make progress during the reporting year, says the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) in its latest annual report (published 5 August 2026), with generally good relationships between prison management and prisoners, and the introduction of a progressive regime designed to facilitate a pathway for prisoners throughout, and beyond, their sentence.

Despite ongoing and varied challenges, similar to those faced by many prisons, the Governor, the management team and the staff have worked hard to improve matters, but need more support to better address issues such as:

  • The continued ingress of illicit items, specifically drugs, which results in addiction, debt and further crime. Despite better local police co-operation, the Board believes these issues will persist, as gangs’ technological capabilities, finance and determination surpass those of HMPPS.
  • The offender management unit was, yet again, significantly short of staff, leaving more than 20% of prisoners still waiting to be assigned a Prison Offender Manager (POM). POMs assess risk, create sentence plans and help bridge the gap between prison and community teams to prepare men for safe resettlement. This unit was put under further pressure by the introduction of early release schemes and the replacement of standard (indeterminate) recall with a fixed 56-day term, significantly increasing churn and workloads.
  • The frequent delays in prisoners receiving their property after transfer was a source of much frustration for men. The Board remains of the view that the Prison Service should adopt the recommendations contained in the learning lessons bulletin of March 2025 from the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman.

In the opinion of the Board, the support from HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice is inadequate, with many of the fundamental issues unaddressed and exacerbated by action or inaction.

The Mount IMB Chair, Simon Clarke said:

“We have seen improvements at HMP The Mount since the Board’s last annual report and commend the Governor and his staff on the progress that has been achieved in challenging circumstances. It remains the case, however, that the fundamental issues affecting HMP The Mount, and prisons more widely, are simply not being addressed – with the same message echoed in the 2025 IMB national annual report. Until a broader and more strategic approach to the role of prisons in the UK is taken and the prison population crisis has been addressed, it is unlikely that outcomes for prisoners will show any material signs of improvement.”