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Welcome to HMI Prisons.

We help to make sure that detention in the UK is humane, decent and prepares people for returning to society.

Chief Inspector: act now to improve woeful levels of activity in prisons and reduce demand for drugs

‘In his final Annual Report, Charlie Taylor describes how long lock up times and poor regimes – which have barely improved since he first took up the role during the pandemic – are causing frustration, boredom and despair. This is fuelling a demand for drugs and contributing to high rates of rates of violence and self-harm. ‘

Graphic on a burgundy gradient background featuring the HM Inspectorate of Prisons logo and a portrait photograph of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor. Next to him is a quote stating "At a cost of £59k a year for each prison place the taxpayer has the right to expect more for their money. In the best jails prisoners live in an environment with clear rules, where they are incentivised to behave. We know that if they are supported to get work on release, recover from drug addiction and maintain meaningful relationships, it is possible to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and, crucially, create fewer victims of crime. For the first time in years, the prison service has some much-needed space in the estate. Now is the time to act and deliver much-needed long-term change.”
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Latest news updates

Chief Inspector: act now to improve woeful levels of activity in prisons and reduce demand for drugs
7 July
Report published 6 July
6 July
How one prison is leading the way on fair treatment and inclusion
30 June

Safety, well-being and hope: The untapped potential of family contact in prisons

Too many jails were failing to get the basics right, making it difficult for families to book visits, get to the establishment, and access financial support. When prisoners first arrived in jail it took too long for family members to find out where they were held and to be able to contact them – at a time when prisoners were often at their most vulnerable.

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A year ago, our ‘Time to care’ thematic report highlighted some inadequate support to help women cope in prison. We raised concerns, including a lack of attention to basic elements of decency and the common use of punitive responses to women in crisis.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons
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Earlier this year we found similarly high levels of women on short, fixed-term recalls at Foston Hall and Eastwood Park. Across England and Wales, between April and June 2025, over half (57%) of women serving a recall were on a very short 14-day recall compared to 37% of recalled men (offender management statistics, June 2025).
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
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‘Everything is after sentencing’: The experiences of remand prisoners

Prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing have poorer outcomes than those serving a sentence, according to a findings paper from HMI Prisons. Despite making up around a fifth of the prison population, too few jails have developed a strategy to manage these men and women.

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Find out more about the different areas of our work

Men’s prisons

We inspect every type of men’s prison in England and Wales, from high security to open prisons, private and public sector. Find out about how we inspect and read our reports on men’s prisons.

Women’s prisons

Women make up less than 4% of the prison population. Read our Expectations for the treatment of and conditions for women, and our reports on women’s prisons.

Children’s detention

We inspect each establishment in which children are detained every year either for a full inspection or an independent review of progress. Read our reports on detention for children.

Immigration detention

Read reports on our inspections of different types of immigration detention: immigration removal centres, short-term holding facilities and escorted flights removing people from the country.