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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. Their responsibilities were extended to Immigration Removal Centres by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 following an inspection in 1989 of what was then Harmondsworth Detention Centre.

Until April 2003, IMBs in prisons were known as Boards of Visitors and IMBs in immigration removal centres were known as Visiting Committees.

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

The success rate of applicants to be members of boards is about 50%. There are on average between 15 and 20 volunteers per institution. Most members serve more than three years.

Board members can draw keys and have access at any time to every part of the prison or IRC concerned, and to all prisoners or detainees.

v t e Ministry of Justice
Headquarters: 102 Petty France, Westminster
Ministers	Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims
Executive agencies	Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority HM Courts and Tribunals Service HM Prison Service Legal Aid Agency Office of the Public Guardian Probation Service
Non-departmental public bodies	Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service Civil Justice Council Criminal Cases Review Commission Independent monitoring board Judicial Appointments Commission Law Commission Legal Services Board Parole Board for England and Wales Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Sentencing Council Youth Justice Board
Other organisations	Crown Office
Significant former agencies	Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council HM Courts Service Legal Services Commission Tribunals Service Sentencing Guidelines Council

References

1. Roffee, James A. (1 January 2017). "Accountability and Oversight of State Functions: Use of Volunteers to Monitor Equality and Diversity in Prisons in England and Wales". SAGE Open. 7 (1): 2158244017690792. doi:10.1177/2158244017690792. ISSN 2158-2440.
2. Roffee, James A. (1 January 2017). "Accountability and Oversight of State Functions: Use of Volunteers to Monitor Equality and Diversity in Prisons in England and Wales". SAGE Open. 7 (1): 2158244017690792. doi:10.1177/2158244017690792. ISSN 2158-2440.
3. "Independent Monitoring Boards- Written Question". Hansard. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
4. "Independent Monitoring Board - Written Question". Hansard. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2007.
5. "Independent Monitoring Boards -- Written Question". Hansard. Retrieved 30 November 2007.

External links

• Independent Monitoring Boards website

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