Louise Fewster

Former employees describe HMP Millsike as understaffed and chaotic during its first 18 months, citing inadequate training, unsafe conditions, staff being assigned duties outside their roles and repeated serious incidents requiring specialist prison teams. The privately run East Yorkshire prison, operated by Mitie and opened in March 2025 as part of the government's plan to create 14,000 new prison places, has also faced concerns over security, infrastructure, rehabilitation services and the alleged early opening of the facility. Mitie and the Ministry of Justice defend the prison's safety measures, recruitment and phased development, while an Independent Monitoring Board report due soon is expected to address ongoing safety concerns.

Former employees describe a chaotic and sometimes unsafe atmosphere at HMP Millsike, citing staff shortages, inadequate training, inexperienced personnel and pressure to perform duties outside their roles. The £400m East Yorkshire prison has also faced disturbances, infrastructure problems, repeated deployments of specialist prison response teams and concerns from its Independent Monitoring Board. Mitie, which operates the category C prison, says safety is its highest priority and that recruitment, training and emergency call-outs are consistent with agreed plans. The Ministry of Justice defends Millsike as part of its plan to create 14,000 prison places, while oversight groups and former staff question whether it opened too early and whether rehabilitation services and security arrangements are adequate.