HMIP Inspection of Millsike

HMP Millsike is a very new prison, and as such it has not yet received a full inspection from HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), nor has it had an Independent Review of Progress. Comparable new-build resettlement prisons have typically received their first review around 18–24 months after opening, so an HMIP visit to Millsike is expected at some point, but nothing has yet been announced.

In the meantime, the site’s Independent Monitoring Board – a separate, statutory panel of local volunteers who monitor day-to-day treatment of prisoners – has been unusually vocal for such a new prison. In December 2025, less than a year after opening, the Board wrote directly to the Prisons Minister to raise serious concerns, including:

  • Doors and gates left open months after opening, and safety checks not always being carried out or recorded properly.
  • High rates of self-harm and violence between prisoners, with cell bells sometimes going unanswered for over an hour.
  • Prisoners locked in their cells for up to 23 hours a day at times, especially at weekends, with roll checks taking several hours.
  • Long delays at reception, in property being passed to prisoners, and in responses to complaints.
  • Disruption to healthcare, including missed medication and missed hospital appointments.

Mitie, which runs the prison, has said it welcomes the Board’s scrutiny, that opening a new prison inevitably brings early operational challenges, and that it is committed to working through the issues raised.

HMP Millsike

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