HMIP inspected HMP Manchester in 2024, and found it was an appalling state. “The combination of drugs, violence, an inexperienced and demotivated staff team, and a very poor regime, meant the prison was failing in many of its most basic functions.”
HMIP conducted an unannounced inspection in January 2026, more than 15 months after the last visit. HMIP found Manchester prison “remains in a precarious state, and is continuing to perform at unacceptably low levels.”
Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of Nacro, the social justice charity, said in response:
“This report is a damning indictment of a prison system in crisis. How can rehabilitation happen when drug use and violence are rife, and chronic staff shortages leave people in prison with little meaningful activity?
“When nearly half of prisoners are using drugs and many are locked in cells for up to 22 hours a day, rehabilitation doesn’t stand a chance. But we know it is essential for helping people turn their lives around and ultimately for keeping our communities safe.
“We see first-hand how work and educational opportunities inside prison, health and wellbeing and recovery support on release can break the vicious cycle of reoffending. Developing services that address the root causes of offending are vital for real change.”
Notes to Editor:
