Unacceptable waits for secure mental health beds continue at HMP Oakwood

In its 2024-25 annual report, published on 27 August 2025, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Oakwood has found that all transfers to secure mental health facilities exceeded the 28-day stipulated time frame. Although these prisoners are monitored on a weekly basis, the lack of available beds means that some prisoners remain in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) for extended periods where there is no provision or resource for enhanced mental health support.

The IMB notes that:

• There were 91 incidents of violence against staff (with 22 regarded as serious but none requiring hospitalisation) compared with 82 the previous year; although small in number, this still represents an 11% increase.
• Property was, again, both the biggest concern for complaint in the prison complaints system and in applications received by the Board.
• Issues continue to be raised by prisoners about food quality and portion size.
• Around 110 men are released from Oakwood each month, with one in eight released homeless.

However, it is also pleased to report that:

• The number of self-harm incidents stabilised this reporting year, having increased by 22% the previous year.
• The visits and intervention team provided 9,700 hours of enhanced interventions, and offered almost 29,000 hours for social visits, an increase of 13% from the previous year, with 7,000 social video calls. They also offered 200 hours of parenting classes.
• Most prisoners we spoke to very much appreciated the efforts of their tutors and valued the educational opportunities available at the prison.

HMP Oakwood IMB Chair, Barbara Evans, said:

“The Board is of the view that generally the prison continues to provide a supportive environment for prisoners. There are a range of new initiatives, particularly in relation to the visits and intervention team, that enable the prisoners to maintain links with family and friends which plays an important part in the chances of successful reintegration into the community. However, the Board remains concerned about property being lost or delayed during transport. On occasion irreplaceable personal items are lost. The Board yet again urges the Ministry of Justice to consider how this can be improved. The Board is also concerned about mentally ill prisoners being left in the prison Care and Separation Unit awaiting hospital placements, which is entirely inappropriate.”