Britain's newest prison, HMP Millsike in East Yorkshire, is already embroiled in a significant crisis merely months after its grand opening, with inspectors issuing stark warnings over severe safety and security lapses. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) has formally written to prisons minister Lord Timpson to highlight alarming concerns at the £400 million Category C facility, which opened in March 2025 under the management of private company Mitie.
Critical Security Failures and Unsafe Conditions
The IMB's report paints a deeply troubling picture of the prison's operational environment. Inspectors noted inconsistent gate security, with doors and gates frequently left open, compromising the fundamental integrity of the site. Due to the perilous conditions on the wings, including elevated levels of violence, IMB members now only conduct visits in pairs for their own safety.
Widespread Issues with Violence and Self-Harm
Beyond security flaws, the board raised serious concerns about prisoner welfare. Some inmates are confined to their cells for up to 23 hours daily, exacerbating tensions. The prison has witnessed high levels of prisoner-on-prisoner violence and a distressing rate of self-harm incidents. Shockingly, some prisoners managed to harm themselves or prepare ligatures even while supposedly under constant watch, indicating systemic failures in supervision.
Drug Availability and Illicit Activities
Drugs are reportedly easily available within HMP Millsike, with numerous instances of inmates found under the influence. Prisoners have also been crafting illicit items from materials supplied by the prison, such as floor cleaner, highlighting a lack of control over contraband. The IMB described these issues as contributing to a deeply concerning operational climate.
Staff Inexperience and Operational Challenges
The IMB attributed part of the problem to inexperienced staff, noting that new recruits require considerable time to develop the confidence, skills, and experience needed for safe and effective work in custodial settings. This aligns with a broader acceptance within the Ministry of Justice that new prisons may take three to four years to stabilise, a timeline the board finds deeply troubling given the immediate risks.
Official Responses and Ongoing Actions
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged the concerns, stating they are being taken seriously with action already underway. The prison is being opened in a gradual, controlled manner, with HM Prison and Probation Service personnel permanently onsite to address standards promptly. Mitie, the private firm managing the facility, also stated it takes the IMB's letter seriously, emphasising that early operational challenges were expected and that operations are being phased in line with agreed targets.
Broader Context of Britain's Prison System
This crisis at HMP Millsike unfolds against a backdrop of a major prison building programme in the UK, with three new prisons planned and construction underway on additional houseblocks at existing facilities like HMP Channings Wood, HMP Highpoint, and HMP Wayland, aiming to add 1,400 places. Britain's prisons have long suffered from dangerous overcrowding, prompting both Conservative and Labour governments to release tens of thousands of prisoners early.
The shambolic state of the system has led to a series of dangerous accidental releases, including foreign sex offenders Brahim Kaddour-Cherif and Hadush Kebatu, the latter deported to Ethiopia after an assault. British fraudster Billy Smith also handed himself back in after being wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth. These incidents underscore the systemic pressures and failures that new prisons like HMP Millsike are intended to alleviate, yet its early struggles suggest significant hurdles remain in achieving safe and secure custodial environments.
