IMB report is a stark reminder of the risks to the life of those in our closed institutions

The ballooning prison population has meant that prisoners are being kept in “inhumane” conditions, while severely mentally unwell men and women continue to face unacceptable delays to receiving the treatment they so desperately need. The report also finds that time out of cell and purposeful activity remain “significantly low”, while the key work scheme is “almost non-existent” – all of which we know are key to promoting good mental wellbeing and preventing self-inflicted deaths among prisoners.

Further, the report finds that children in the youth estate are spending up to 23 hours a day in their rooms while a “high number” of over 18s are being held in the youth estate to free up spaces in adult prisons – contributing to a “lack of stability” and “[risking] the safety of younger boys”. We are deeply concerned that this increased pressure on the youth estate risks diminishing the dedicated, child-centred care that is needed to keep children in custody safe. We raised these concerns with senior officials earlier this year, highlighting that there must be no further extension of the interim arrangements to hold over 18s in the youth estate.

The report also highlights very worrying practices across the immigration detention estate. These include the continued detention of people – some for “many months” – after their release or bail has been authorised, a lack of consistency in the use of interpretation and translation services, and a lack of timely access to hospital appointments and medication. Concerningly, the processes to safeguard vulnerable people are found to be “ineffective” while the number of people at risk of suicide and self-harm has increased. You can read the IMB report here.

Responding to the report, Lynn Emslie, IAPDC Chair, said:

“This report highlights a catalogue of failures in the systems and processes in place to keep people safe across the prison, youth custody, and immigration detention estates. We know the basics that are needed to keep people in detention safe. These include a full complement of staff, robust safeguards to identify and manage vulnerabilities, consistent and purposeful activity, and access to timely mental and physical healthcare. Yet, staffing shortfalls and ever-increasing prison and immigration detention numbers have meant that too many people are being let down and too many lives are needlessly lost.

“We call on the Government and senior operational leaders to take heed of the findings of this report – and countless others – which demonstrate that an urgent step change in long-term strategy, policy development, and whole systems thinking is needed. My Panel colleagues and I are clear on the need for the establishment of a non-negotiable redline that custody numbers will never be permitted to exceed safe capacity. Without this, we will continue to see the very high number and rates of premature deaths, suicides, and self-harm.”