The prison was given a full inspection in December 2024, the full report can be read on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website, just follow the links below. In their latest report the inspectors said:
HMP & YOI Forest Bank is a category B reception and resettlement prison for adult men and young adults in Salford, Greater Manchester, run by Sodexo Justice Services, holding 1,463 prisoners against a baseline certified normal capacity of 1,061. Inspectors rated safety and purposeful activity both Not Sufficiently Good, improvements from Poor, and respect and preparation for release both Reasonably Good, unchanged, describing a fragile prison with a risky and complex population, an inexperienced staff team and the ever-present threat of drugs.
Violence against staff had reduced to the lowest level of any reception prison, and a Restorative Approach introduced in early 2023 had generated more than 400 referrals, over half leading to mediation. Unemployed prisoners got 4.5 hours out of cell on weekdays, better than at comparable prisons, around half of those who found work stayed in it, and around 40% of prisoners regularly used the gym.
Concerns remained significant. Around 30% of prisoners said they felt unsafe, and prisoner-on-prisoner assault levels were among the highest of any prison in England and Wales. Self-harm incidents numbered 1,087 over the year, involving 369 prisoners, the positive drug test rate was 38%, and around half of prisoners said it was easy to get illicit drugs or diverted medication. Some 44% of prisoners were locked up during the working day and only 30% were in purposeful activity, complaints were rarely upheld, and hospital escort appointments were frequently rearranged, with unacceptable delays to unplanned A&E attendance.
Charlie Taylor
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
March 2025
To read the full reports, go to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website or follow the links below:
- Inspection report (PDF), Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP & YOI Forest Bank by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (9–20 December 2024, published 24 March 2025)
- Easy read summary of the 2024 inspection report
- Action plan, HM Prison and Probation Service action plan in response to the 2024 inspection of HMP & YOI Forest Bank