News

The 2021-22 annual report for HMP Ashfield is now published.

The impact of staff shortages, uncertainty over the prison’s future, and a slow recovery from Covid restrictions, have made the past year a challenging one at HMP Dartmoor, says the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) in its annual report for 2021/22. Staff shortages affected outcomes for prisoners in key areas The length of time that prisoners were locked up in their cells, and the reduced access to activities and education, family communications, showers and association were considered by the Board to be neither fair nor humane.

The 2021-22 annual report for HMP/YOI Bronzefield is now published.

The following ministerial responses to annual reports are now available to view: Birmingham, Coldingley, Downview, Portland, Preston, Stocken, Stoke Heath, Swinfen Hall

On 12 December 2022, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB)  wrote to Dominic Raab expressing their grave concerns about the increasing numbers of prisoners being sent to Pentonville by the local courts in response to the increasing Operational Capacity (OpCap) sanctioned by HMPPS.  When Pentonville was designed in 1842 the OpCap (or then equivalent) was 520. The current OpCap is 1155, and this is due to rise to 1170 over the next few weeks, with a plan ultimately to increase it to 1205. This poses a serious risk to safety, security, the proper running of the planned regime and effective rehabilitation.

The 2021-22 annual report for HMP Altcourse is now published.

The following ministerial responses to annual reports are now available to view: Belmarsh, Berwyn, Isle of Wight, Lincoln, Littlehey, Manchester, New Hall, North Sea Camp, Pentonville, Peterborough, Rochester, Stafford, Standford Hill, Styal, Usk and Prescoed, Wandsworth, Warren Hill, Wealstun, Whatton, Winchester, Woodhill, Wymott