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Chief Inspector: living conditions unacceptable in far too many prisons

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Too many prisoners are being held in unacceptable conditions, according to a new report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons. ‘Fit for purpose or falling apart? A review of living conditions in prison’, reveals that overcrowding, poor sanitation, deteriorating infrastructure and long delays to essential maintenance are causing persistent problems across the prison estate, rendering much of it inadequate.

The report analysed inspections of 40 prisons and more than 6,400 prisoner surveys. Around half of the prisoners surveyed lived in accommodation built before the 1980s that had never been significantly refurbished since its construction. Conditions were often particularly poor in the older, Victorian reception prisons, where population pressures and high turnover made it difficult to carry out repairs and improvements. Mould, broken windows, inadequate ventilation, damaged flooring, and a lack of basic furniture and storage were common. Poor ventilation contributed to overheating in jails during the summer, while unreliable heating systems left many cold during the winter.

A small number of prisons still relied on night sanitation systems, requiring prisoners to be unlocked one at a time to use toilets during the night, and often resorting to using buckets or bags in their cells instead. In many jails, in-cell toilets were next to prisoners’ beds and were broken, lacked lids and offered little privacy. Shower facilities were frequently in poor condition, with mould, damaged cubicles and inadequate screening common in older accommodation. Only 49% of prisoners held in Victorian and pre-1930s buildings described communal showers as clean, compared with 88% in more modern, temporary units.

In some jails prisoners could frequently not get clean clothing or bedding, and laundry facilities were not always adequate for the size of population, with washing machines regularly breaking down. Worn, damaged mattresses were not always replaced, and inspectors found some prisoners spending their first night in dirty cells without basic items such as bedding and pillows.

In the year to March 2026, 24% of prisoners across England and Wales were held in overcrowded conditions, rising to more than half of prisoners in reception jails. This had implications for the safety of prisoners and staff: Ministry of Justice analysis found that in the 12 months from January to December 2022, prisoners in overcrowded cells were 19% more likely than those in non-overcrowded cells to be involved in assaults.

Despite the challenges, inspectors found examples of prisons maintaining high standards through strong leadership, effective cleaning regimes and involving prisoners in maintenance work. At Berwyn, prisoners worked alongside maintenance teams, while at Lewes and Haverigg prisoners helped to carry out refurbishment projects that improved conditions and reduced costs.

“The provision of decent, clean, well-maintained accommodation is a fundamental test of a prison system, but this report shows that standards fall short of acceptable in many jails. Improving procurement and maintenance systems, reducing overcrowding and upholding basic standards of decency must be priorities if prisons are to be places that rehabilitate rather than simply warehouse prisoners.”
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor

Notes to editors

  1. A copy of this report, published on 3 November 2026, can be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/
  2. 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.
  3. This findings paper draws on evidence from inspections published during the annual report period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, comprising 40 adult prisons, of which 35 were men’s and five were women’s. A representative survey of prisoners was carried out at the start of each inspection.
  4. Analysis was conducted on 6,404 responses from the adult men’s and women’s prisons. A comparative analysis was conducted which compared the responses of prisoners who were in prisons of different functional type, buildings of different ages and their experience with living conditions. Thematic analysis of the prisoner responses to the open questions at the end of the questionnaire was also conducted. All relevant comments were systematically reviewed by a researcher, and themes identified.
  5. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.