Lowlights

The findings of IMBs across prisons in England and Wales paint a stark picture of the human cost of the crumbling prison estate. Prisoners routinely live in conditions that can only be described as appalling. Flooded corridors, cramped filthy cells, leaks of raw sewage, and rat and insect infestations in kitchens, showers and on wings – these are the environments in which prisoners are expected to be reformed and rehabilitated. And prisoners face these conditions in all areas, whether they are working, eating, sleeping or receiving medical care.

The following examples are highlighted in the report:

Vermin and waste mismanagement led to unhygienic, sometimes dangerous, conditions across the estate

IMBs described cockroach infestations, biting flies infesting showers, dead rodents rotting on the wings, and cells taken out of use due to bedbugs. 

• At HMP Pentonville, the Board escalated its concerns over a rat infestation in the kitchens to environmental health after their repeated reports to HMPPS went unresolved, ultimately leading to its closure.
• At HMP Hollesley Bay, a prisoner was bitten by a rat.

Deferred maintenance and delayed repairs created serious safety implications

IMBs reported faulty windows and grilles that increased the risk of illicit items entering prisons, faulty fire alarms, a lack of in-cell sanitation in some prisons and environmental hazards such as leaking sewage and flooding. 

• At HMPs Long Lartin and The Mount (among others), broken or outdated windows made it easier for drones to bring drugs and weapons into the prison.
• At HMP Pentonville, a prisoner was killed in 2016 by a weapon believed to have been smuggled in through a window, and two prisoners escaped through their windows soon after. Eight years later the identified necessary replacement of 800 insecure windows has yet to be completed.
• At HMYOI Feltham, the leaking roof of the care and separation unit resulted in the use of buckets to catch water contaminated with ferrous oxide, which could easily be knocked over when officers escorted men to cells under restraint.
• At Cookham Wood YOI, the fire alarm system showed such frequent faults that staff ceased reporting them, putting lives at risk.

Prisoners with physical disabilities faced obstacles to everyday life.

IMBs reported that disabled prisoners were frequently held in locations where they could not move around the prison, with routinely broken lifts and a shortage of accessible cells.

•  At HMPs Wymott and Lancaster Farms, disabled prisoners found it difficult to access work or education.

• At HMP Birmingham, a broken lift prohibited one prisoner from seeing his family as he could not reach the visits hall, and at Downview a prisoner with mobility issues was forced to navigate the stairs to reach the pharmacy.
• At HMP High Down, prisoners who were reliant on step-free access were unable to attend appointments with practitioners requiring fixed equipment, such as the dentist and optician.

Conclusion

In her conclusion, IMB National Chaire, Elisabeth Davies was keen to clarify that this dismal custodial environment is not restricted to older buildings:

“While much of the public discourse around prison maintenance has centred on prisons built in the Victorian era, the need for investment extends well beyond these facilities. You only have to step into some prisons before being struck by the urgent need for significant investment. The problem, however, is not only the lack of funding, but also the inefficient spending of what little money there is, and the lack of autonomy afforded to Governors to implement solutions.

Prisoners are enduring appalling conditions across the board, yet they often lack the motivation to submit complaints, as the dire state of things has become normalised for those most affected. Whether they are eating, working, sleeping, or receiving medical care, the shocking level of neglect reported by local IMBs across the country, and the impact of this on those living in these conditions, cannot be ignored.”