News

Today (27 October 2025) Elisabeth Davies, National Chair of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), wrote to the Minister of State for Prisons, Lord Timpson, to raise serious concerns about the current trajectory of use of force practices across the prison estate and the implications of recent expansions to the weapons available to prison officers.

The 2024-25 annual report for HMP/YOI Sudbury is now published.

The 2024-25 annual report for HMP Stafford is now published.

The 2024-25 annual report for Buckley Hall is now published.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Swaleside has raised concerns about high levels of violence and the widespread availability of illicit substances in its 2024-25 annual report (published 14 October 2025). The Board reports that a significant proportion of prison officers have less than one year’s experience, which has adversely affected staff-prisoner relationships and undermined the stability of the prison regime.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Wandsworth is pleased to note in its 2024-25 annual report (published 10 October 2025), that positive new leadership and a sense of strategic direction has enabled the prison to begin to address long-term problems.

The 2024-25 annual report for HMP Thameside is now published.

The 2024-25 annual report for HMP Whitemoor is now published.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at Norwich prison has highlighted that the failing infrastructure of the prison and high levels of violence and drug use are undermining the positive rehabilitation work undertaken by prison staff.

The 2024-25 annual report of the North West and Midlands STHF is now published.