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Lack of access to property creates unnecessary frustration for prisoners

Published:

Systemic problems are delaying prisoners’ ability to access their personal property and affecting their well-being, according to a new report, published today.

The findings paper from HM Inspectorate of Prisons reveals that too few prisoners receive their property within the first few days of arriving in jail, leaving many unable to access important items such as clothing, shoes, books and photographs. The delays frequently increase prisoners’ sense of vulnerability at a stressful time, lead them to believe they are being treated unfairly, and make it far more difficult to build positive, trusting relationships with staff.

Regime restrictions, risk management practices and individual prison resources contribute to the problems, which are worse in busy local jails and high security prisons. Prisoners regularly complain that the rules vary between establishments, with some resorting to borrowing items from other prisoners, putting them at risk of debt. There are often delays in processing disability aids and prescribed medication, which can affect prisoners’ physical and mental health.

Accessing stored property, such as smart clothes for court appearances or phone books containing family numbers, can also be problematic. Some prisoners attend court or are released without their house keys, mobile phones or bank cards, with many of these items lost in prison.

Being able to access personal items, such as photographs or books, matters a great deal when you are locked in your cell for long periods of time. The continued, persistent barriers to property access across the estate undermines prisoner well-being, damages their trust in the system and ultimately contributes to more unsafe conditions in our prisons.
Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor

Notes to editors

  1. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
  2. This findings paper draws on evidence from 38 inspections of men’s and women’s prisons published during the annual report period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
  3. A representative survey of prisoners was carried out at the start of each inspection. Analysis was conducted on 6,281 responses from the prisons inspected.
  4. Prisoners’ belongings are either kept by the prisoner, stored at the prison, or stored off-site at the National Distribution Centre (NDC). Valuable personal items such as phones, keys and wallets are kept on site, but not in possession. Local incentives schemes determine what prisoners are allowed to keep in their cell.
  5. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.