Recurring concern
Inadequate supervision and monitoring of prisoners
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Request correctionFirst reported 30 Oct 2013•Latest report 29 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of prison staff supervision, staff-prisoner engagement, welfare checks, observation or equivalent monitoring where these controls are intended to identify or respond to risks to prisoners, including failures arising during or after handover between custodial settings.
Not included
- Excludes illicit drug supply reduction and other substance-control strategies unless the assertion specifically concerns supervision or monitoring of prisoners.
- Excludes generic staffing, accommodation or regime deficiencies that are not directly tied to inadequate prisoner supervision or monitoring.
- Excludes healthcare assessment, treatment and clinical observation concerns unless the assertion concerns custodial supervision or monitoring rather than clinical care.
- Excludes failures of information sharing, reception processing or documentation where the primary unsafe condition is information transfer or administrative processing rather than supervision or monitoring.
- Reports
- 34
- Individual concerns
- 49
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 62
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised2
Welfare-check instructions failing to require visual checks of prisoners
Failure to ensure removal of coverings from cell-door observation panels
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Introduce daily mandatory knowledge-check sessions for operational and non-operational staff, recording attendance, completion and understanding to reinforce ACCT and welfare-check practice.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Reissue the Governor’s Order reminding staff of mandatory instructions for prisoner wellbeing and responding to blocked observation panels.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient staffing capacity for constant observation of prisoners in crisis
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised2
Weak supervision and staff-prisoner engagement
Inadequate welfare observations
This report raised 14 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Escalate concerns about vulnerable patients and recommend enhanced observation where necessary.
Stated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Subject people experiencing prolonged isolation to structured review, including mental-health assessment and ongoing welfare monitoring where required.
Stated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Healthcare services alone cannot mitigate all risks within custody.
Stated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure of landing officers to intervene in poor behaviour at prisoners' cell doors
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to observe and monitor prisoners suspected to be under the influence of illicit substances
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Implement a single agreed UTI protocol standardising responsibilities, observations, escalation routes and handover expectations.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Provide staff guidance on recognising UTI signs, initiating the protocol, completing observations and undertaking follow-up checks.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Appoint a substance misuse lead to conduct daily assurance and visit suspected UTI cases to support consistent protocol adherence.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
-
Action
Assure documentation and observations, record improvement needs, and escalate issues concerning timescales or procedures to senior leaders.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to carry out required observations at the appropriate level and standard
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Action
Introduce quality assurance for ACCT observations through regular CCTV sampling and review, escalation and investigation of discrepancies.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to monitor prisoners' telephone-call volumes for high or unusual patterns
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Action
Assess technically feasible options for adding call-volume monitoring within the ongoing telephony development project.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide equivalent monitoring for prisoners after handover from constant supervision
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Action
Issue staff guidance requiring fully documented risk assessments and recorded risk-management actions for prisoners entering HMP Birmingham under constant supervision.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to keep cell observation panels clear and challenge prisoners who cover them
Delays in entering cells when observation panels are obscured and the prisoner does not respond
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Include blocked observation panels in the Incentives Policy Framework, with warnings, loss of privileges and formal sanctions for continued obstruction.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Communicate required staff actions for blocked observation panels through briefings, notices, governor orders and induction training for new staff and OSGs.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Communicate the importance and consequences of keeping observation panels clear to prisoners through video messages.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Lack of understanding of when and how constant supervision can be used
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Review Eastwood Park procedures for constant supervision and communicate resulting changes through staff briefings.
Stated by Eastwood Park Prison and Young Offender Institution and HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice -
Action
Develop national guidance for prisons on constant supervision.
Stated by Eastwood Park Prison and Young Offender Institution and HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice
Data last updated 7 September 2026