Independent Monitoring Board

Independent Monitoring Boards are local volunteers who monitor the day-to-day situation in places of detention and ensure that care and welfare standards are upheld. They have a statutory role as they are appointed by the Ministry of Justice.

We were entertained by Clive Borthwick who gave a really informative and entertaining presentation on the work of the Independent Monitoring Board. This is made up of a team of volunteers who make regular visits to prisons to monitor the welfare of the inmates. Clive has been involved in monitoring at HMP Mount at Bovingdon and is currently assigned to HMP Huntercombe just outside Henley. Seemingly Huntercombe is an unusual prison in that the inmates are all foreign nationals, serving their sentences before being deported