Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Frankland
Complaint category:
Categorisation, progression & release preparation
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
A prisoner complained that he was not receiving regular keywork sessions in breach of national policy.
The investigation found that both national and local policy stipulate a minimum number of keyworker sessions that should be delivered to prisoners across a defined period. Frankland accepted they were not delivering this, but staffing levels meant they were unable to safely deliver this part of the regime. They had in place a regime management plan to ensure the delivery of key aspects of the regime, and a plan to safely return to a full regime when resources allowed. This plan was endorsed by the Prison Group Director.
Recommendations/outcome:
We upheld this complaint on the basis that the prison was not delivering key national policy. However, we did not make recommendations as the issue is known to senior staff inside and outside the prison who have a plan in place to manage it.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Garth
Complaint category:
Medical
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
A prisoner complained that he suffered a confirmed heart attack, and that there was an undue delay in dispatching him to the hospital, he was left alone in a locked cell, and that he was double cuffed with the cuffs only being removed at the insistence of the Consultant when he finally arrived at hospital.
The Investigation found that there was a long delay between the prisoner being diagnosed with a heart attack and departing prison, and that on arrival at the hospital he was subject to an immediate procedure. There had been no investigation into any of this despite the prisoner raising a formal complaint.
Recommendations/outcome:
We recommended an apology to the prisoner, and that the prison conduct a local investigation, focussing on the delay in dispatch and why he was left alone. We also recommended the prison review staff awareness of the emergency first aid policy, and that the healthcare department are aware of their responsibilities to contribute to reviews of healthcare emergencies.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Swaleside
Complaint category:
Work, pay & money
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
A prisoner complained that staff at HMP Swaleside inappropriately downgraded him to basic IEP and removed him from his wing carer role after powder was found in his cell in November 2025. He said no wrongdoing had been established and alleged discriminatory treatment.
IPCI found that the IEP downgrade was procedurally flawed, as it occurred before testing and could not be shown to have been authorised in line with policy. IPCI also found that the prisoner’s initial removal from the wing carer role was not procedurally fair, as it relied on the flawed downgrade and was not properly recorded. These elements of the complaint were upheld.
Recommendations/outcome:
The Governor should ensure that IEP downgrades, particularly from enhanced to basic, are properly authorised, clearly recorded, and supported by a retained rationale. Decisions to remove prisoners from positions of trust or work roles should also be clearly documented, including the basis for the decision and its relationship to IEP status or adjudication outcomes. Staff should be reminded to distinguish between suspicion, investigation and established findings, and to apply the Incentives Policy Framework consistently and fairly.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP/YOI Aylesbury
Complaint category:
Categorisation, progression & release preparation
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
The prisoner complained that he was refused Category D conditions after his recategorisation review wrongly recorded that he had been found guilty of the offences that led to his recall.
Recommendations/outcome:
IPCI found that the prisoner’s reports had not been updated ahead of his recategorisation review to reflect him being found not guilty of recall offences, although it was updated for the next review. IPCI was satisfied that the decision to refuse Category D was not unreasonable and further risk reduction work was needed. However, we were concerned he had not been given the opportunity to submit representations for his review and was not informed of the result until a few weeks later, contrary to the Security Categorisation Framework Policy. Whilst we were satisfied that Aylesbury had subsequently put measures in place to ensure prisoners were able to submit representations for their reviews, we reminded them of the need to ensure review decisions were communicated to prisoners as soon as possible.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Haverigg
Complaint category:
Administration
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
The complainant was alleged to have made homophobic comments which he denied. IPCI concluded Haverigg had conducted a thorough investigation into the incident but there was insufficient detail in local policies to be able to conclude whether the sanctions taken against the complainant (loss of job and move of accommodation) were fair and proportionate.
Recommendations/outcome:
IPCI recommended that Haverigg review their local policy and ensure it is in line with the national Incentives Policy Framework. We also recommended that Haverigg review their local process for removal from employment and activities, and develop a local policy so this is communicated clearly to prisoners.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Wymott
Complaint category:
Accommodation, food, education & other facilities
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
The prisoner complained that his sink and bed were faulty. He said the sink was repaired immediately but his bed was not. It was eventually repaired nearly 12 months later.
Recommendations/outcome:
There had been some issues with the reporting and logging of the complaint which led to the delays. We recommended the prison apologise to the prisoner for the delay in repairing his bed and review the process for logging such repairs, ensuring they are carried out in a timely manner.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Stocken
Complaint category:
Categorisation, progression & release preparation
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
The prisoner complained that relevant reports had not been updated which meant that the prison was using outdated information about him. He said this outdated information led to the prison requiring him to complete risk reduction work which would duplicate work he had already done and that this impeded his progression.
Recommendations/outcome:
Regarding the delay in updating the prisoner’s reports, we found that the prison had not complied with HMPPS policy. However, the prison provided us with an adequate explanation, so we did not make a formal recommendation. Regarding risk reduction work, we found that the prison followed HMPPS policy and did not uphold this aspect.
Upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Stocken
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
The prisoner complained that some of his property, including personal paperwork, went missing after a transfer. Clothing was recovered but some of the paperwork ended up with another prisoner, representing a data breach.
Recommendations/outcome:
We recommended the prison apologise to the prisoner for the poor handling of his property. Additionally, we asked the prison to review its procedures for handling property generally. In the event of a suspected loss or compromise of data, the prison should ensure staff understand the procedures and any required actions.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Lowdham Grange
Complaint category:
Administration
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
The complainant raised concerns that a request to attend his grandmother’s funeral was refused. IPCI partially upheld the complaint because the prison had not clearly documented their decision or rationale.
Recommendations/outcome:
The prison agreed to offer a more expansive explanation detailing the reasons for refusing the application. They also said they would update the form that is currently used to include representations from the prisoner, and any evidence of in loco parentis, to ensure the decision-making process is clearly documented.
Partially upheld complaint against the Governor of HMP Full Sutton
Complaint category:
Property
Month investigation completed:
April
Year investigation completed:
2026
The complainant said that property he valued at £1,500 was taken from his cell during association on a given date. He felt that staff had not made sufficient effort to recover his belongings and said that they should view the CCTV as this would identify who was responsible.
Full Sutton advised that it was not possible as they did not have the resources to devote to this. By his own admission the complainant confirmed that he frequently allowed other prisoners to enter his cell when he was absent to use his cue stick. The prison advised that prisoners did have the option of asking staff to lock their cells in their absence.
10 items, which included nine electrical items, were reported as missing but 2 items were recovered during checks and returned to the complainant. However, the complainant’s request to retain the CCTV footage was overlooked by Full Sutton and the complaint was partially upheld on that basis.
Recommendations/outcome:
The substantive complaint about missing property could not be upheld because IPCI findings established that the complainant acknowledged routinely allowing other prisoners into his cell while he was absent. However, the complaint was partially upheld because Full Sutton overlooked the complainants request to retain the CCTV footage.
