Minister warned as gates 'left open' in prison

Concerns have been raised over the "safety and security" of a newly opened prison in East Yorkshire.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Millsike has written to the Minister for Prisons Lord Timpson claiming that its members "only visit in pairs due to feeling unsafe on the wings".

During visits IMB staff noted "inconsistent gate security", with "doors and gates being left open".

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "These concerns are being taken seriously, with action already underway to address them."

The prison opened in March 2025 and is built on land next to HMP Full Sutton, near York.

It is a Category C jail and will eventually house almost 1,500 inmates.

The letter highlights "some prisoners spending up to 23 hours per day in their cell" and high levels of self-harm and prisoner on prisoner violence.

It also flags up high levels of force being used by prison staff "with frequent reports of batons being drawn".

The board also said it had "received numerous complaints regarding family contact".

"Visits are frequently shortened due to delays in escorting prisoners from the wings, and in some cases cancelled altogether."

In conclusion, the IMB said: "Taken together, these issues paint a deeply concerning picture of the early operation of HMP Millsike and the human cost of current new prison opening models."

Chair of the IMB Rebecca Major told BBC Look North: "The one thing that would make it work properly is not to keep putting prisoners in there until they've got their basic experience under their belt."

The MoJ said: "The prison is being opened in a gradual and controlled way, and HMPPS is permanently onsite to take immediate action where standards fall short."

In response, Mitie which operates the jail, said, "As the IMB has noted, their letter has not undergone the formal fact-checking process, and we would have welcomed early engagement to support ensuring its accuracy, but we remain committed to constructive dialogue."

They added: "As Lord Timpson has highlighted in his response to the IMB, opening a new prison is a significant undertaking and early operational challenges are expected.

"Which is why HMP Millsike is progressing through a phased and carefully managed ramp up of operations, in line with targets agreed with the Ministry of Justice."

Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look Northor tell us about a story you think we should be coveringhere.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices