Collection

Urgent notification process

The Urgent Notification process allows His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons to directly alert the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice if he has an urgent and significant concern about the performance of a prison.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Published: 18 January 2018
• Last updated: 25 April 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 25 April 2023

     Page updated to clarify those urgent notifications issued which are still subject to enhanced oversight, and those which are not.

  2. 27 August 2021

     Added urgent notification for HMP & YOI Chelmsford

  3. 18 January 2018

     First published.

Guidance

• Urgent Notification process
  • 30 November 2017
  • Guidance

Urgent notifications issued

Currently subject to enhanced oversight following an urgent notification.

• Second Urgent Notification for HMP Woodhill
  • 16 April 2026
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Swaleside
  • 14 January 2026
  • Guidance
• Second urgent notification for Oakhill Secure Training Centre
  • 28 August 2025
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Pentonville
  • 15 August 2025
  • Guidance
• Urgent Notification for HMP Rochester
  • 30 September 2024
  • Guidance
• Urgent Notification for HMP Wandsworth
  • 6 June 2024
  • Guidance
• Urgent Notification for HMP Bedford
  • 15 December 2023
  • Guidance

Past urgent notifications

No longer subject to enhanced oversight following urgent notification.

• Urgent Notification for HMP Winchester
  • 21 November 2024
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Manchester
  • 7 November 2024
  • Guidance
• Urgent Notification for HMP Woodhill
  • 29 September 2023
  • Guidance
• Second urgent notification for HMP Exeter
  • 16 December 2022
  • Guidance
• Second Urgent Notification for HMP Bristol
  • 25 August 2023
  • Guidance
• Urgent Notification for HMYOI Cookham Wood
  • 26 May 2023
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP & YOI Chelmsford
  • 24 September 2021
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for Oakhill Secure Training Centre
  • 11 November 2021
  • Guidance
• Second Urgent Notification for Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre
  • 16 July 2021
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre
  • 15 January 2021
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMYOI Feltham 'A'
  • 21 August 2019
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Bristol
  • 11 July 2019
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Bedford
  • 9 October 2018
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Birmingham
  • 17 September 2018
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Exeter
  • 27 June 2018
  • Guidance
• Urgent notification for HMP Nottingham
  • 14 February 2018
  • Guidance