A stark and unflinching report from the independent monitoring board (IMB) has laid bare the grim reality of prison conditions in England and Wales. Inmates are held for extended periods in overcrowded and unsanitary environments, often living alongside vermin. They are not fed adequately and face significant obstacles in accessing medical care. Many prisoners have no opportunity to learn skills or participate in education.
Gangs and Violence
Gangs reportedly control entire wings, roaming cells to collect drug debts with threats of violence. Toilets remain broken for weeks. Men, women, and children spend most of their days locked up with no activities. Leaving a cell risks attack, often with weapons. The report concludes that failures once considered serious are at risk of becoming normalized.
Specific Incidents
The report highlights several cases: a man at HMP Garth in Lancashire died in a cell fire after an alarm apparently failed to sound; at HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire, a man was warned he might lose his leg after being bitten during a spider infestation; and at HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire, a spike in self-harm occurred during hot weather because managers lacked funds to buy fans.
There has been a steady increase in drug addiction among inmates, seen as a way to escape monotony and fear.
Government Response
The crisis predates Keir Starmer's government, which took office in summer 2024. On day one, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced early release schemes and diverted prisoners to police cells. She warned the entire criminal justice system was close to collapse, and without prison places, criminals might act with impunity. Disaster was temporarily averted, but the threat of the prison population exceeding 89,800 continues.
Further reforms include ditching thousands of jury trials, having magistrates try more serious cases, and dropping the automatic right to appeal for many accused. However, prisoners still live in bleak conditions.
The IMB report notes that guards, often inexperienced, seem unable to cope and sometimes collude with prisoners. At HMP Manchester, inmates were reportedly informed in advance of cell searches, contributing to instability.
Two years ago, campaigners hailed the appointment of Lord James Timpson as prisons minister. A longstanding advocate for ex-offenders, he aimed to hold individuals accountable and provide tools to rebuild lives. But independent monitors say their concerns lead to little action from central government.
The report states: 'Despite repeated warnings in previous IMB reports at both national and local levels, the same problems persist with striking frequency. This recurring pattern raises unavoidable questions about effectiveness, accountability and the system’s capacity to correct its course.'
