News

Acutely mentally unwell women were being held in cells with scratches and bloodstains on the wall, evidence of previous occupants’ distress, an inspection report into HMP/YOI Eastwood Park has found.

Children in custody feel safer than ever before but are isolated from their friends and families and are continuing to receive inadequate education post-pandemic, a new report confirms.

At every inspection, HMI Prisons assesses the progress of the prison against four areas – safety, respect, purposeful activity and rehabilitation and release planning – and awards a score: four for good; three for reasonably good; two for not sufficiently good; and one for poor.

Reports on unannounced inspections of HMP Maidstone and HMP Wealstun

Last month, we published "Thematic review: The experiences of adult black male prisoners and black prison staff". One of the recommendations for building trust put forward by prisoners and staff was making and sharing food together. In this blog, lead inspector Hindpal Singh Bhui shares his experience of visiting a prison to see how this can work in practice.

A prison that houses high-risk sex offenders is failing to prepare effectively for their release into the community, a new report confirms. HMP Isle of Wight releases one or two high risk prisoners per month, but evidence from the inspection suggested that these prisoners were not always identified or discussed at a multidisciplinary forum ahead of their release to make sure risk management plans were robust.

Reports on independent reviews of progress at HMP Brixton and HMP Winchester

In line with the national trend across the prison estate, HMP Norwich was struggling to provide meaningful work, education, and activities for the 700 prisoners it held.

Inspectors monitoring an escort and removal flight to Zimbabwe found that generally detainees were treated well by staff. Three women and six men were on the flight in September, which was the first inspected since removals to Zimbabwe restarted in 2021 after an interval of several years.

Blog from Hindpal Singh Bhui, lead inspector for the thematic review into the experiences of adult black male prisoners and black prison staff.