HMP Rochester will undergo immediate refurbishment, increased staff training, and a comprehensive review of security measures following a highly critical inspection by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. The inspection led to the issuing of an Urgent Notification in early September after inspectors uncovered significant concerns about safety, living conditions, and rehabilitation efforts at the prison.
Among the most alarming findings was the “endemic” drug use throughout the facility, alongside a rise in violence and insufficient engagement in purposeful activities, with fewer than one-third of prisoners participating in education or training. Inspectors described the prison wings as “chaotic” and raised serious concerns about the dilapidated state of accommodation.
The prison service is now preparing to assess and enhance its security measures in a bid to combat drug smuggling, which is believed to be contributing to the escalating violence. Extra support will also be deployed to senior leadership teams, with immediate actions planned to address the issues identified in the report.
Refurbishment of Cells and Living Areas
One of the most urgent concerns raised by the inspection was the state of the prison’s living conditions. Inspectors described them as “some of the worst seen in recent years,” citing broken windows, dilapidated showers, and rundown cells. To address these issues, priority refurbishment work will be carried out immediately on the prison’s cells, showers, and windows, ensuring both staff and inmates are provided with a safer and more humane living environment.
Lord James Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation, and Reducing Reoffending, said: “This report is yet another example of the prison crisis we inherited. Violence and illicit drug use are at dangerously high levels, and the cells are in squalid conditions. We are taking immediate action to improve conditions at HMP Rochester, offering additional support for our hard-working staff, and addressing the drivers of violence.”
Increased Staff Training and Security Review
In addition to refurbishment work, the prison will deliver enhanced staff training, particularly focused on supporting prisoners who are at risk of harm and improving overall security. This comes in response to concerns that staff were not adequately prepared to deal with the increasing challenges presented by drug use and violence within the facility.
Senior leadership at HMP Rochester will also be bolstered by additional support to ensure the prison’s management is capable of responding effectively to the urgent issues raised by inspectors.
Rehabilitation Efforts to Be Improved
Inspectors were also critical of the prison’s failure to engage inmates in rehabilitation, with only a small percentage of the population involved in educational or vocational activities. The prison is developing a new curriculum aimed at increasing inmate participation in training and education, a vital step towards equipping them for employment upon release.
This Urgent Notification makes HMP Rochester the first Category C prison to receive such a designation and the fourth prison overall in the past year to be rated under the Inspectorate’s most severe inspection framework.
The government is continuing efforts to reduce prison overcrowding, which is seen as a key driver of violence and staff pressures, and is working to improve education and training programmes for inmates.
The Urgent Notification process was introduced in 2017 to ensure that immediate, decisive action is taken in prisons where inspectors identify serious concerns.
