Independent Monitors needed for Prisons and Immigration Detention Facilities

The Prison Act 1952 and the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 require the Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary to appoint independent Boards to monitor prisons and places of immigration detention, from members of the local community. Under the National Monitoring Framework agreed with ministers, the Board is required to:

• Make frequent visits
• Have access to the records of the establishment
• Inform ministers immediately of any abuse
• Hear complaints and requests
• Produce an annual report

As an IMB member you will have unrestricted access to the establishment you monitor and to everything that happens within them, including meetings, activities and records. Your observations and insights will provide evidence on what is actually happening rather than what is supposed to be happening.

You will monitor what happens to prisoners or people in immigration detention who are segregated or separated from others. You may also be called in to observe serious incidents and record the way in which the situation is handled. Your observations are shared with the prison or immigration detention facility’s management team.

You will be able to communicate with any prisoner or detained person you wish to, out of sight or hearing from staff, so they can voice any concerns. These can be wide-ranging issues such as safety concerns, healthcare, their ability to access the programmes and activities they need, alleged discrimination, lost property, or access to visits from family or friends. We currently have IMB vacancies across the country, and more details can be found on our website.

To volunteer with us, you must:

• Be 18+ years old
• Commit to making around 2 to 3 visits a month (this is likely to be more during induction period)
• Have the right to work in the UK
• Live close to your volunteering location, usually within 30 miles or a travel time of 45 minutes (this could be more in certain locations)
• Declare any potential conflicts of interest, for example any family connection with the prison or immigration detention facility, or business involvement in supplying a service to the establishment you are applying to
• Declare criminal records (although this won’t necessarily prevent you from becoming a volunteer)

If you have any concerns about a possible conflict, or you have a criminal record, please register your interest and we would be happy to discuss this with you.

Skills

You do not need any formal qualifications to be volunteer with the IMB.

There are some key qualities we look for in volunteers:

• Analysis and decision-making
• Commitment and perseverance
• Communication
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Integrity and independence
• Teamwork and development