Overcrowding, poor sanitation and ageing infrastructure continue to undermine rehabilitation efforts across the prison estate
Thousands of prisoners across England and Wales are being held in accommodation that fails to meet basic standards of decency, according to a major new report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons.
The report, Fit for Purpose or Falling Apart? A Review of Living Conditions in Prison, examined inspection findings from 40 prisons alongside feedback from more than 6,400 prisoners. It paints a concerning picture of deteriorating conditions across much of the prison estate, particularly in older Victorian-era reception prisons where overcrowding and maintenance backlogs remain persistent challenges.
The review found that around half of surveyed prisoners were living in accommodation built before the 1980s that had never undergone significant refurbishment. Many of these buildings suffer from serious maintenance issues, including mould, broken windows, damaged flooring, poor ventilation and inadequate furniture.
Inspectors reported that poor ventilation frequently led to excessive temperatures during summer months, while unreliable heating systems left some prisoners enduring cold conditions during winter.
Victorian and pre-1930s prisons were found to be among the most problematic, with ageing infrastructure making repairs both difficult and costly.
The report also highlights ongoing concerns about sanitation in several prisons.
A small number of establishments still operate outdated night sanitation systems, requiring prisoners to be unlocked individually to access toilet facilities during the night. As a result, some prisoners resort to using buckets or bags inside their cells.
Inspectors also found that many in-cell toilets were located next to beds, lacked proper privacy screening and were often poorly maintained.
Communal shower facilities similarly fell below acceptable standards in many older prisons. Just 49% of prisoners housed in Victorian and pre-1930s accommodation described communal showers as clean, compared with 88% of those living in newer temporary units.
In some prisons, access to clean clothing and bedding was inconsistent, while laundry services struggled to meet demand due to equipment failures and population pressures.
Inspectors found instances where damaged mattresses had not been replaced promptly, and some new arrivals spent their first night in dirty cells without essential items such as bedding or pillows.
These findings raise concerns about prisons' ability to provide even the most basic standards of care and welfare.
Overcrowding remains one of the most significant issues facing the prison system.
In the year to March 2026, 24% of prisoners across England and Wales were held in overcrowded accommodation. In reception prisons, more than half of prisoners were living in overcrowded conditions.
The report highlights evidence linking overcrowding with increased violence. Ministry of Justice analysis found that prisoners held in overcrowded cells were 19% more likely to be involved in assaults than those accommodated in non-overcrowded cells during the 12 months to December 2022.
The findings reinforce concerns that overcrowding is not only affecting living conditions but also creating additional safety risks for both prisoners and staff.
Despite the challenges, inspectors identified examples of prisons successfully maintaining high standards through effective leadership, robust cleaning regimes and the active involvement of prisoners in maintenance and refurbishment work.
At HMP Berwyn, prisoners work alongside maintenance teams to help improve the estate. Similar initiatives at HMP Lewes and HMP Haverigg have enabled refurbishment projects to be completed more efficiently while reducing costs.
These examples demonstrate how local leadership and prisoner engagement can deliver meaningful improvements, even within challenging environments.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said:
“The provision of decent, clean, well-maintained accommodation is a fundamental test of a prison system, but this report shows that standards fall short of acceptable in many jails. Improving procurement and maintenance systems, reducing overcrowding and upholding basic standards of decency must be priorities if prisons are to be places that rehabilitate rather than simply warehouse prisoners.”
The report concludes that addressing overcrowding, improving maintenance arrangements and investing in prison infrastructure will be critical if the justice system is to deliver safer prisons and better rehabilitation outcomes.
Image credit: iStock
