Key facts
- Former workers at HMP Millsike described a "chaotic atmosphere" and safety concerns.
- Issues cited include under-staffing, inadequate training, and frequent call-outs for specialist prison units.
- The prison, which opened in March 2025, has experienced disturbances, equipment failures, and a staff member's conviction.
- Mitie, the operator, stated safety is its highest priority and operations are in line with Ministry of Justice plans.
- Data shows specialist prison units were deployed seven times in nine months in 2025.
Former employees have described a "chaotic atmosphere" at HMP Millsike, the UK's newest prison, in the 18 months since its opening in March 2025. Investigations by the BBC revealed claims of under-staffing, inadequate training, and frequent reliance on specialist prison units to handle serious incidents.
Mitie, the private company operating the category C prison, has stated that safety is its highest priority and that its operations are in line with plans agreed with the Ministry of Justice. The prison, which has a capacity of 1,500 places and currently holds about 1,100 inmates, was intended by the government to set a new standard for future facilities.
However, former workers, some of whom felt unsafe, reported significant staffing shortages. Concerns were also raised about the experience of some staff, with claims that many had backgrounds in non-prison sectors like supermarkets and fast-food chains, although Mitie stated all operational staff complete over eight weeks of training. Some non-officer staff described being asked to perform duties outside their job descriptions, such as "bed-watching" vulnerable prisoners, despite lacking specific training.
Incidents reported include a disturbance in November 2025 where an inmate allegedly threw objects and attempted to climb a fence, requiring intervention from an elite prison squad. The Operational Response and Resilience Unit (ORRU) was deployed to Millsike seven times in nine months in 2025. In the same month, a sewage pumping station broke down amid reports of inmates flushing clothes, which Mitie denied. In July 2025, emergency services, including a bomb squad, attended the prison following reports of an explosion. A female prison officer was convicted in June 2026 for having a relationship with an inmate.
Former staff and the Prison Reform Trust have also raised concerns about a shortage of education and rehabilitation programs. The Prison Reform Trust noted receiving worrying calls from prisoners about their safety. Mitie stated that education and industry services have developed in step with the prison's population. An upcoming annual report by the Independent Monitoring Board is expected to address safety concerns.