John Podmore
@johnpodmore.bsky.social
200 followers 120 following 180 posts
Former Governor HMP Belmarsh, Brixton & Swaleside. International consultant on prison corruption
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johnpodmore.bsky.social
ECHR: to the best of my research the UK “loses” (i.e. has a violation ruling) roughly 5-20 cases a year in past decades, but more recently this is down to nearer 1–5 cases a year. Happy to be contradicted.
johnpodmore.bsky.social
‘Nothing to see here’ say the prison service and ministers- I beg to disagree. We have a £1 billion illicit drug economy in our prisons and some people are doing very well out of it.
johnpodmore.bsky.social
Leaked report shows 10,000 gap in probation staff
johnpodmore.bsky.social
Corruption in prisons goes far beyond the sensational headlines about female officers and illicit affairs. It has seeped into the very core of the system, reaching the highest levels of leadership. This isn’t just misconduct—it’s rot at the top.
thetimes.com
🔺 EXCLUSIVE: Bobby Cunningham was head of security at Britain’s most notorious jail.

Today, an investigation reveals he was also linked to organised crime.

Read the full story below below
Revealed: the prison chief linked to organised crime
www.thetimes.com
johnpodmore.bsky.social
Well done Governor Colin Hussey and his team- may they be left in post to continue their work
hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social
HMP/YOI Lincoln: performing better than other reception prisons.

Read the inspection report: hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk?post_type=hm...

And the press notice: hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk?post_type=ne...

See the healthy prison scores:
Bar chart showing the healthy prison scores for Lincoln when it was inspected in 2020 and 2025. At the most recent inspection it was rated 'reasonably good' in all four healthy prison tests.
johnpodmore.bsky.social
“The prison service had failed to protect this jail from serious organised crime gang activity”
hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social
HMP Onley: destabilised by drone ingress and inadequate security.

Read the inspection report: hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk?post_type=hm...

And the press notice: hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk?post_type=ne...

See the healthy prison scores:
Bar graph showing the healthy prison scores for Onley when it was inspected in 2022 and 2025. At its most recent inspection it was rated not sufficiently good for safety, respect and preparation for release, and poor for purposeful activity.
johnpodmore.bsky.social
The PFI contract awarded in 2004 to G4S for Oakhill runs until June 2029, with an overall contract value of c £450 million over 25 years / £18m per year
c £170k per child per year. This is not about resources, overcrowding or crumbling Victorian buildings- leadership & management, pure &simple
prtuk.bsky.social
Ofsted, CQC and @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social have issued an urgent notification to the Secretary of State for Justice about Oakhill Secure Training Centre, the second in less than four years. Read the full letter from Sir Martyn Oliver at assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688a40...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
Reposted by John Podmore
worthrises.bsky.social
BREAKING HUGE WIN! 🚨 New York just announced that phone calls will soon be FREE in New York prisons, bringing around $13 million in relief annually to incarcerated people and their families. The new policy is expected to go into effect on August 1st. Spread the news!
johnpodmore.bsky.social
“As things stand, HMPPS remains a top-heavy, inflexible, and overly bureaucratic organisation. It is failing to show the change leadership, flexibility, and innovation that is desperately required. Whether it is fit for purpose is open to question and remains to be proven.”
House of Lords - Better prisons: less crime - Justice and Home Affairs Committee
publications.parliament.uk
johnpodmore.bsky.social
“A sense of complacency and inadequate accountability arrangements throughout the prison service;
Reviewed in totality, HMPPS is inflexible, and overly bureaucratic” - excoriating stuff from the Committee but the Government is still promoting those responsible ( without due process)
Prisons need to have reducing reoffending as their core purpose, says Lords committee - Committees - UK Parliament
The Justice and Home Affairs Committee today publishes its report Better prisons: less crime. The report examines the purpose, leadership, and oversight of prisons in England and Wales, as well as loo...
committees.parliament.uk
johnpodmore.bsky.social
@hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social being attacked yet again by the Prison Governors Association is not a good look.
johnpodmore.bsky.social
“Too many of the failures outlined in this letter are firmly within the control of HMPPS leaders” - who continue to be promoted and rewarded for their failure
johnpodmore.bsky.social
We have a one club golfer approach to punishment. 4 years imprisonment means 18 months in a local prison banged up 23 hours a day getting addicted to spice. Maybe 4 actual years working 8 hours a day on the moors planting trees.
johnpodmore.bsky.social
Well done Governor Dainton - visible and leading from the front . Fingers crossed she is left there to continue her work.
hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social
Points to note:
- Prison was safe, caring and respectful
- Women engaged in work and education based on needs
- Excellent array of recreational activities
- Proactive offender management
- Strong support to maintain and rebuild family ties
- Little self-harm or violence.