'Progress undermined' at prison as issues persist

The running of an adult prison is still being affected by issues that it previously faced as a young offender institution, an independent board says.

In April 2023, while a young offender institution, an urgent notification was issued to Cookham Wood in Rochester, Kent, about the poor physical condition of the estate and demoralised staff.

Cookham Wood became an adult prison in August 2024 and its independent monitoring board (IMB) says in its 2024-25 annual report, published on Friday, these issues continue to impact how it is run.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says an independent review of the prison system is being carried out to tackle long-standing issues and make prisons better.

This included building safer prisons, reducing reoffending and better protecting the public.

The chair of the IMB for Cookham Wood says the prison has "considerable potential to deliver positive resettlement and rehabilitation outcomes".

"Regrettably, progress has been undermined by erratic healthcare provision while opportunities have been missed for men to engage in purposeful activity which would prepare them better for release back into the community," they said.

The board said men also reported items had been lost during transfers into the prison and it had seen example of inventory lists arriving with few or no details recorded.

However, the board said Cookham Wood was showing "encouraging signs of adaptation to life as an adult prison".

The IMB added men had reported feeling safe with very little violence, and the amount of time being spent outside of their cells being "good", averaging five and a half hours a day.

Staff also worked hard to provide a positive, welcoming environment for families on visiting days, and positive tests for illicit substances remained low with increases addressed quickly and effectively.

The MoJ said: "We inherited a prison system in crisis, with overcrowding, violence, drugs and serious and organised crime.

"This report recognises the hard work of staff at HMP Cookham Wood, whose efforts are helping to put this prison on a more stable footing."

The MoJ added it was committed to expanding opportunities for education, training and purposeful activity and was continuing to complete building and infrastructure improvements.

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