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Reports published 29 June

Published:

HMP Isle of Wight

Type of inspection: Full inspection

Dates of inspection: 16–26 March 2026

Summary of findings: Levels of self-harm were high, and drug use, violence and use of force against prisoners had all increased. The prison’s ageing infrastructure was causing problems across both of its sites and HMPPS had failed to provide enough investment to make necessary improvements. The management of health care was not good enough, too many men spent long periods locked up with nothing to do, and too few were getting the support they needed to progress in their sentences.

Points to note: There was some good help to prepare prisoners for release: a resettlement course focused on those who had been in custody for a long time and a dedicated unit helped those who had experienced trauma to address their offending behaviour.

Read the report: HMP Isle of Wight

HMP Liverpool

Type of inspection: independent review of progress

Dates of inspection: 18–20 May 2026

Summary of findings: Staff-prisoner relationships remained a strength, staffing stability had improved and leaders had prioritised key work for the highest-risk men. Support for those in crisis had improved and there had been a reduction in self-harm. Despite work to tackle illicit drug use, the positive mandatory drug test rate was still the third highest for reception prisons, though it had fallen from 46% to 35%. Living conditions on older wings were poor and unemployed prisoners got just two hours a day out of their cells. Ofsted found insufficient progress in education, skills and work.

Points to note: Most patients waiting for mental health beds were not transferred within the 28-day national guideline. However, an NHS Prison Pathway Team project to widen opportunities for access to NHS secure beds was a promising initiative, and prison staff had established good practices in supporting patients during transfer to hospital and before they returned to prison.

Read the report: HMP Liverpool