HMP Birmingham
Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Birmingham by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (6–16 October 2025).
What we found (Back to top)
Birmingham was being targeted by organised crime gangs, who used drones and other methods to get large quantities of drugs and contraband into the jail. Unsurprisingly, illicit drug use was high, as were rates of violence and self-harm. Unemployed prisoners, who made up 40% of the population, got very little time out of cell. Concerningly, a recent change in policy by the local police force meant acutely mentally unwell men, including those who were having psychotic episodes, were not being diverted to other services and ended up in the prison.
Points to note: More positively, an inter-wing football league ran weekly, fostering positive staff-prisoner relationships and a sense of community through teamwork.
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