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Assaults and self-harm have increased in a prison for foreign national men, inspectors have found.
Following its annual report, the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) is concerned that prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in HMP Huntercombe in Nuffield in south Oxfordshire, had increased by 27% in 2025, rising to 65 incidents in 2025 from 51 in 2024.
Even though it believes that prisoners are treated "fairly and humanely" in general, it views the issue of a failing central heating and hot water system across the estate as "unacceptable".
The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for a comment.
Inspectors say they believe the prison "is a generally safe environment for prisoners" and that each case "has been handled appropriately by staff".
But they note that throughout the year, prisoners have found to be under the influence of illicit substances, which they previously said had "particularly challenged" the facility.
"Ambulances have been called on several occasions, resulting in hospital admissions," the report adds.
It further notes that incidents of prisoner self-harm have increased from 63 in 2024 to 73 in 2025.
"The Board monitored an incident at height (on the roof) in October 2025 and was satisfied that the prisoner was treated fairly and with respect," it added.
While inspectors are pleased with some findings such as the completion of a new healthcare building, they listed more disappointments, which include reduced education provision.
It has been noted in the two previous reports that the offender management unit operated "under significant pressure".
"Pressures at Huntercombe are exacerbated by prisoners arriving close to, or beyond, their early release scheme date, alongside a high turnover of prisoners," the report reads.
The IMB says it "remains disappointed" by the limited opportunities for men at Huntercombe to undertake programmes to prepare for release but "commends" the use of various programmes which help manage emotions and behaviour, educate about court procedures and encourage reflection.
It expresses disappointment that key staff are "regularly reassigned to cover other areas of work".
The report further outlines persisting problems with property lost in transit or during transfer and that the football pitch remains out of use by prisoners.
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