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HM Prison Channings Wood is a Category C men's prison, located in the parish of Ogwell (near Newton Abbot) in Devon, England. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
Safety: 4.1 Reception and induction There have been 972 receptions this reporting period, of which 264 were from HMP Dartmoor. Members routinely (but irregularly) monitor the reception process and generally observe that new arrivals are treated well and staff and orderlies (trusted prisoners who take on work to provide services that contribute to the running of the prison) are seen to treat prisoners [...]
Respect: 5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food The Board has observed good progress on the refurbishment and maintenance of the showers and washrooms across living blocks, but this has not been matched by progress on roof repairs and flooring replacement. Three cells on the Mains enhanced unit have remained out of action for the entire reporting year, at a time when pressure on cell spaces has been intense. [...]
Purposeful activity: Not covered
Preparation for release: Not covered
Progression: A survey of 148 prisoners (20% of the prison population at the time) was conducted from 3-30 June 2024, after the main influx of prisoners from HMP Dartmoor. The ratio of VPs to Mains reflected the new population balance: 82 VPs (55% of survey) and 66 Mains (45% of survey). All were randomly selected by Board members when they visited the wings, and they were asked four basic questions, as [...]
— UK IMB Annual Report (2024) —
Safety: 4.1 Reception and induction There have been 826 prisoners taken through the reception process during this reporting period. Members have observed that staff and orderlies treat prisoners well and with respect, especially the elderly and vulnerable. Healthcare staff see prisoners on arrival and Listeners (prisoners trained by the Samaritans to provide confidential emotional support to fellow [...]
Respect: 5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food 5.1.1 Accommodation The Board have witnessed some general decorative maintenance of cells taking place on wings, which has created employment opportunity for prisoners. This has been a positive observation and is welcomed. Roof leaks in the care and separation unit (CSU) have not been repaired all year. This has resulted in the plastic sheets being fixed to the [...]
Purposeful activity: The education, skills and work self-assessment report (ESW SAR) grading was the same as previous years – ‘requires improvement’. One of last year’s main criticisms, low attendance levels, has been addressed by establishing a regime driver post. The custodial manager filling it has significantly improved this area. Attendance for education is almost 97% at the end of this reporting period and it [...]
Preparation for release: Last year the Board told the Prisons Minister it considered the abolished and discredited IPP sentence inhumane. This view has not changed, but neither has the Minister’s, that a resentencing exercise would represent an unacceptable risk to victims and the public. There are 41 IPP prisoners held at HMP Channings Wood. Since February 2025, five have been released and another four have progressed [...]
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4.1 Reception and induction There have been 826 prisoners taken through the reception process during this reporting period. Members have observed that staff and orderlies treat prisoners well and with respect, especially the elderly and vulnerable. Healthcare staff see prisoners on arrival and Listeners (prisoners trained by the Samaritans to provide confidential emotional support to fellow prisoners) are available. Reception staff try to limit issues that late arrival times might cause for prisoners and will work late if necessary. Prisoners spoken to by members mostly report favourably on their experience of reception. Volumetric control of property is often exceeded, with prisoners arriving with more property than permitted. This leads to delays in processing property and can be a source of inaccuracies on property cards. Longer detained prisoners tend to have amassed possessions over time. Because lost property on transfer is a major continuing concern, prisoners try to bring as many of their possessions with them as possible. If lack of space on the vehicle precludes this, there is a risk that property will not follow on within the 28- day timeframe set out in the policy framework. The prisoner property policy framework was revised on 15 May 2025. The revisions included paragraph 4.47, confirming that excess property must be sent on as quickly as possible within the existing four-week period after a prisoner transfers. Additionally, paragraph 4.96 confirmed that the use [...]
5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food 5.1.1 Accommodation The Board have witnessed some general decorative maintenance of cells taking place on wings, which has created employment opportunity for prisoners. This has been a positive observation and is welcomed. Roof leaks in the care and separation unit (CSU) have not been repaired all year. This has resulted in the plastic sheets being fixed to the ceiling to collect water and ultimately required an office to be abandoned. This in turn required a single office to be used for CSU staff administration, holding adjudications and segregation review boards. The Board considers this to be a very unsatisfactory arrangement. The expansion project will increase the capacity of the CSU, but the existing facilities still require repair and refurbishment. Cells in LB6 have remained out of use due to roof leaks all year. LB6 is an enhanced wing and the failure to repair these roof leaks ultimately denies prisoners the opportunity to be transferred to an enhanced wing. Several risks related to the poor condition of the healthcare building have been recorded. These include limited space and a leaking roof, with mould in one area, which is clearly inappropriate in a healthcare environment. Whilst the general condition of showers on living blocks is acceptable, the Board has observed privacy screens in disrepair and even missing. The gardens within the grounds of the individual living blocks are well maintained and prisoners are to be commended [...]
The education, skills and work self-assessment report (ESW SAR) grading was the same as previous years – ‘requires improvement’. One of last year’s main criticisms, low attendance levels, has been addressed by establishing a regime driver post. The custodial manager filling it has significantly improved this area. Attendance for education is almost 97% at the end of this reporting period and it is hoped that this can be maintained. Industries and work are comparable with rates of unauthorised absences at less than 1%. Enrolment for education courses increased by 19% for the year. Significantly, prisoners with learning difficulty and/or disability (LDD) engage at similar levels, reflecting the impact of a neurodiversity support manager and mentors. Members have observed positive relationships within education and most training areas and conversations indicated a clear level of respect between staff, mentors and learners. Of those who raised education in the IMB prisoner survey, twice as many prisoners found it to be good, as opposed to poor. Distance learning remains a strength, with 59 prisoners undertaking Open University/distance learning courses. Way2Learn has been funded by the dynamic purchase scheme (DPS) to promote in-cell learning. Prisoners spoke positively about the encouragement they received from the learning and skills manager and the Way2Learn orderlies. The library staff’s mantra that the library ‘is not just about books’ remains evident, though supporting the [...]
Last year the Board told the Prisons Minister it considered the abolished and discredited IPP sentence inhumane. This view has not changed, but neither has the Minister’s, that a resentencing exercise would represent an unacceptable risk to victims and the public. There are 41 IPP prisoners held at HMP Channings Wood. Since February 2025, five have been released and another four have progressed to open conditions. Reasons for the limited progress include delays or adjournments in parole hearing; changes of community offender managers (COMs) and delays in securing approved premises. The Board spoke to one prisoner recommended for release, who could then not be, because the approved premises he had been directed to was undergoing refurbishment. This delayed his release by two months. In other conversations, their sense of hopelessness and frustration is evident. A decision on the creation of an IPP wing, which is seen as desirable by prisoners, is yet to be made. The backlog in offender assessments has increased slightly this year. Reasons include the high level of recalled prisoners; ongoing population pressures resulting in more receptions (some well into their 10 week from sentencing timeframe); and very high caseloads. Capacity Gold Command’s directive to OMUs to prioritise assessments and preparation for open conditions and home detention curfew (HDC) under the temporary presumptive re- categorisation scheme (TPRS) was at the expense of less urgent assessments. However, a [...]
A survey of 148 prisoners (20% of the prison population at the time) was conducted from 3-30 June 2024, after the main influx of prisoners from HMP Dartmoor. The ratio of VPs to Mains reflected the new population balance: 82 VPs (55% of survey) and 66 Mains (45% of survey). All were randomly selected by Board members when they visited the wings, and they were asked four basic questions, as follows. DO YOU FEEL SAFE? Yes Most of the time Some of the time No Yes+most of the time No+some of the time --- --- --- --- --- --- --- VP 75% 5% 15% 5% 80% 20% MAINS 92% 5% 3% 0% 97% 3% VP and Mains 82% 5% 10% 3% 87% 13% 87% of the population felt safe all/most of the time, but Mains felt significantly safer. ARE YOU TREATED FAIRLY AND HUMANELY? Yes Most of the time Some of the time No Yes+most of the time No+some of the time --- --- --- --- --- --- --- VP 56% 20% 16% 8% 76% 24% MAINS 47% 24% 17% 12% 71% 29% VP and Mains 52% 22% 16% 10% 74% 26% 74% of the population felt they were treated fairly and humanely all/most of the time but VPs felt they were treated somewhat better. ARE YOUR HEALTHCARE NEEDS BEING MET? Yes Most of the time Some of the time No Yes+most of the time No+some of the time --- --- --- --- --- --- --- VP 37% 28% 21% 14% 65% 35% MAINS 60% 15% 8% 17% 75% 25% VP and Mains 48% 21% 15% 16% 69% 31% 69% of the population surveyed felt their needs were being met all/most of the time, but Mains felt significantly more satisfied. --- HAVE YOU HAD HELP TO PREPARE FOR RELEASE? [...]
4.1 Reception and induction There have been 972 receptions this reporting period, of which 264 were from HMP Dartmoor. Members routinely (but irregularly) monitor the reception process and generally observe that new arrivals are treated well and staff and orderlies (trusted prisoners who take on work to provide services that contribute to the running of the prison) are seen to treat prisoners with respect, especially the elderly and vulnerable. Healthcare staff see prisoners on arrival and Listeners (prisoners trained by the Samaritans to provide confidential emotional support to fellow prisoners) are made available. Reception staff try to limit issues that late arrival times might cause for prisoners, beginning the preparatory administrative work as soon as they can confirm the details of the prisoners on the vehicle. As has been noted in previous reports, late arrivals on a Friday can result in prisoners not receiving access to their phone PIN account (which allows prisoners to make phone calls) until the following Monday. Where possible, the business hub brings forward the accounts of those due to arrive on a Friday so that they have access to the phone over the weekend. If this cannot be done, staff try to mitigate the effects by offering prisoners a call on the office phone. Anecdotally, though, this remains the main cause of prisoner dissatisfaction. Volumetric control of property is often exceeded, with prisoners arriving with more property than permitted. This leads [...]
5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food The Board has observed good progress on the refurbishment and maintenance of the showers and washrooms across living blocks, but this has not been matched by progress on roof repairs and flooring replacement. Three cells on the Mains enhanced unit have remained out of action for the entire reporting year, at a time when pressure on cell spaces has been intense. The damage caused by severe water ingress in the CSU office has worsened during this period. The office remains out of use, requiring activities, such as adjudications, segregation reviews and clerical work, to be undertaken in a single room. This is a very unsatisfactory situation for CSU staff and prisoners. The Board believes this is detrimental to the effective running of the unit. These problems persist because roof repairs are not the responsibility of Government Facility Services Ltd (GFSL), so separate contracts must be raised and go to competition. This has been a long-running issue and, to date, there are no timelines for repairs, although in his reply to the Board’s last report, the Minister stated that works would be carried out in the 2024-2025 financial year. Such delays undermine the delivery of operationally essential services and are not afforded the priority they deserve. Members have received some complaints about the food provided, but the number of applications (written representations to the IMB) from prisoners has been low. When Board members have sampled food, [...]
