HM Inspectorate of Prisons publishes new inspection reports on HMP Aylesbury and HMP & YOI Downview

HM Inspectorate of Prisons has published fresh inspection reports on HMP Aylesbury and HMP & YOI Downview, with the watchdog finding progress at both prisons but also continued operational problems.

The reports were released on May 18, 2026 and are based on unannounced full inspections carried out between February 2 and February 12, 2026.

At HMP Aylesbury, inspectors said focused leaders and committed staff were driving improvements. But they also said self-harm was increasing, the education curriculum was not broad enough, and prisoners were not getting enough help to progress and prepare for release.

The report also said high drug use was still undermining stability, even though support for prisoners under the influence of illicit substances was described as good.

At HMP & YOI Downview, inspectors said the prison was safe, well run and improved since the last inspection. They also said staff-prisoner relationships were strong overall.

However, the report highlighted several continuing problems. Inspectors said some officers were abrupt or dismissive, women were too often locked in cells at weekends, and delays remained in transferring patients under the Mental Health Act to secure hospitals.

The report also said staffing shortages in offender management were hampering sentence progression and that too many women were leaving without stable housing.

The publication adds to the latest official record on two prisons that, in different ways, are still being pressed to turn progress into more consistent outcomes for prisoners.