Make a complaint

Please do not use this form for:

• immediate welfare concerns about someone in prison
• concerns about staff behaviour or integrity
• to request information from HMPPS (opens in new tab)

If you have a safety or welfare concern about someone in prison:

• visit the prison’s information page (opens in new tab) and use a Safer Custody contact form (which can be found at the bottom the page)

If you have a concern about staff behaviour or integrity:

• Contact the HMPPS integrity line or submit an anonymous online form (opens in new tab)

How to make a complaint

Please do not submit complaints:

• on behalf of serving prisoners
• on behalf of someone else who is currently on probation

We can’t accept complaints from a third party, where the complaint is about an individual’s conditions or management in prison, or while under probation supervision in the community.

Any prisoner who has any specific concerns about their time in prison should raise a complaint through the internal prison complaints process.

Complaint forms are usually available on every wing and in many activity and work areas.

If a prisoner is dissatisfied with the prison’s response to any complaint that has been made through the correct process, they would also be entitled to ask the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to conduct an independent review of the matter.

Every prison also has an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) comprising independent members of the public who monitor day to day life in their designated prison, including making sure that all prisoners are treated fairly and with decency. IMB members have unrestricted access to their prison at any time, observing prisoner/staff interactions, and can talk to any prisoner they wish to – out of sight and hearing of members of staff if necessary.

Any prisoner who wishes to speak to the IMB on any matter should submit a request to do so locally.