Independent monitoring board

Independent monitoring boards (IMB) are statutory bodies established by the Prison Act 1952 to monitor the welfare of prisoners in the UK to ensure that they are properly cared for within Prison and Immigration Centre rules, whilst in custody and detention.

Boards consist of members of the public who are unpaid volunteers, appointed by the Minister of Justice to fulfil this task.

Each Board reports annually to the Justice Minister with all their findings and at other times regarding matters of serious concern.

Research suggests that there are a number of issues relating to the use of volunteers to ensure oversight of prisons and detention centres.

[1] The concerns relate to the information that boards are creating and communicating to the minister and within the annual reports they produce.