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Reports published 24 August

Published:

HMP Risley

Type of inspection: Full inspection

Dates of inspection: 11–21 May 2026

Summary of findings: Despite a period of transition, including changes in leadership and the prison’s role, Risley was calm and levels of violence had been declining for the last two years. Prisoners got good amounts of time out of cell and relationships with staff were mostly positive, although they were undermined by some officers making derogatory comments. Ageing infrastructure was contributing to some poor living conditions, and more needed to be done to improve responses to prisoner complaints and applications and make sure all of the men were treated fairly.

Points to note: There were too few places in work and education activities, and too much provision consisted of low level or unaccredited work that did not support progression. A significant number of prisoners were released homeless and without employment.

Read the report: HMP Risley

HMP Altcourse

Type of inspection: independent review of progress

Dates of inspection: 6–8 July 2026

Summary of findings: Leaders had strengthened oversight, governance and use of data, particularly in health care, where investment had improved staffing and access to care. Leaders had also improved food provision and there was reasonable progress in education, skills and work, including increasing the number of activity places, allocating prisoners to education and work more quickly and better recording of prisoners’ skills and qualifications. However, fair treatment work remained underdeveloped, mental health transfers to hospitals were too slow, public protection arrangements were fragile, and too many prisoners were still released homeless.

Points to note: The prison was operating under significant population pressures, with nearly a third of prisoners on licence recall. Although leaders demonstrated a much better understanding of the risks facing the jail, drug use remained too high, violence had not reduced and self-harm rates remained among the highest for reception prisons.

Read the report: HMP Altcourse