HMP Whitemoor is one of nine prisons categorised a "serious concern" in newly released figures from the Ministry of Justice.  

The Annual Prison Performance Ratings 2022/23 reported that two more prisons had been added to the category in comparison to the 2019/2020 review.  

This is the equivalent of 7.6 per cent of prisons analysed.  

As well as the Category A men’s prison, in March, others listed included Bedford, Bristol, Deerbolt in Co Durham, Foston Hall in Derbyshire, Isis in south-east London, Long Lartin in Worcestershire, Wandsworth in south London and Styal in Cheshire.    

There were 119 prisons evaluated for the report which also found the number of prisons rated “outstanding” has reached its lowest point in six years.  

Only 13 (10.9 per cent) were awarded the highest rating, a significant drop compared with the performance in 2019/20, where 19 prisons (16.0 per cent) had achieved the top-tier recognition.  

However, the report highlights that between 2016/17 and 2019/20, there was a steady increase in the number of outstanding prisons, rising from 7.6 per cent to 16.0 per cent.  

It also noted that the assessment period faced disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to reporting suspension in 2020/21 and subsequent changes in 2021/22, meaning comparisons with these years cannot be made. 

The report assessed prison performance using a newly introduced framework, of 17 outcome-focused measures to evaluate them across four main priority areas: security and stability, training, skills and work, drug and alcohol addiction, and family, accommodation and readjustment to society. 

The report indicated that 62 prisons (52.1 per cent) achieved a rating of “good performance”, showing a slight decrease from 65 prisons (54.6 per cent) in the 2019/20 assessment. 

Additionally, 35 prisons (29.4 per cent) were rated as a “concern”, an increase from 28 prisons in 2019/20. 

Overall, 75 prisons (63.0 per cent) received ratings of either “good” or “outstanding”, showing more than half of the evaluated prisons maintained a satisfactory level of performance. 

The report also examined prisons that had received Urgent Notifications (UNs) from HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP). 

The UN enables the independent inspectorate to promptly inform the Justice Secretary about critical and immediate concerns regarding a prison’s performance, triggering a response and action plan within 28 days to address the issues, followed by a longer-term plan for sustained improvement. 

Exeter, which received a UN in May 2018 and another in November 2022, was rated as “of concern” in the 2022/23 performance assessment. 

Birmingham, Bedford, Bristol and Chelmsford, which had all received UNs in the past, were rated as “concern” or “serious concern” in the latest evaluation. 

Nottingham, the first prison to receive a UN in January 2018, was rated as good. 

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “The latest figures show that over half of all prisons are performing well and, where there are issues, we are providing intensive support for those jails to drive long-term improvements, recruit extra staff, bolster security and boost training and work opportunities for prisoners so we can better protect the public.”