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Reports published 13 July

Published:

Reports published on HMP Featherstone and Border Force short-term holding facilities.

HMP Featherstone

Type of inspection: Independent review of progress

Dates of inspection: 1–3 June 2026.

Summary of findings: Levels of violence had reduced, as had self-harm which had fallen by 54%. Prisoners reported feeling safe and progress in safeguarding, social care and public protection was good. However, poor living conditions and the continued availability of illicit drugs remained concerns, with drug misuse still posing a major challenge despite increased security measures. More positively, the prison had implemented an impressive and well-led system for managing Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for prisoners with mobility needs.

Points to note: While leaders had taken appropriate actions to increase the breadth of vocational training prisoners could study, including a comprehensive review of the courses offered, they had been slow to put in place appropriate processes to recognise the occupational and wider skills that prisoners developed in industries provision.

Read the report: Featherstone IRP

Border Force short-term holding facilities

Type of inspection: full inspection

Dates of inspection: 7–15 April 2026.

Summary of findings: Border Force had made some progress across its short-term holding facilities (STHFs), but significant weaknesses remained. Safeguarding practices were often inconsistent, detainees still could not access their prescribed medication, and some were held for too long. The Port of Felixstowe remained unsuitable and there was still no timetable for its replacement. More positively, conditions had improved in several STHFs and there had been no recorded self-harm or violence in the previous year.

Points to note: A new Immigration Detention Record was beginning to improve consistency in detainee care and safeguarding, while regular support visits from specialist Border Force staff helped to share good practice across sites. In Portsmouth, staff invited children’s social care services to visit the STHF to improve understanding of the needs of children held in detention.

Read the report: Border Force STHFs