Prisoners are safe and being treated fairly at HMP Haverigg

In its 2024-25 annual report published on 15 April 2026, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Haverigg has found that despite an increase in the prisoner population, levels of drug misuse, self-harm, violence and use-of-force have remained consistently low and there was no evidence to suggest that prisoners are unsafe.

The IMB is pleased to report that:

• New accommodation facilities of a good standard were put in place, some of which are particularly suited to prisoners with limited mobility.
• Healthcare services are considered to be of a good standard for dealing with an ageing cohort of prisoners, some of whom have complex physical, mental and social needs.
• More than 99% of prisoners who were released from Haverigg went into suitable accommodation, either a home or approved premises, and approximately 80% of those who could work were in employment six weeks after release.

However, it also notes that:

• Despite early work on a fire safety improvement programme, and pending further approvals, it will be two or three years before buildings are brought to an acceptable level of fire safety.
• Planning for the release of prisoners with health and social care needs, those who have served long sentences or those who are not from the Cumbrian area, is complex. This can involve significant multi-agency work and sometimes results in late decisions and uncertainty for prisoners as they near release dates.

The IMB Haverigg Chair Phil Bishop said:

“Board members are generally pleased with what we found during our monitoring visits. We remain of the view that there are many opportunities for prisoners to learn new skills and actively take responsibility for their progression. We believe HMP Haverigg is a place where prisoners are safe, they are treated fairly and humanely by officers and staff, and there is a strong focus on successful rehabilitation.”