Independent Monitoring Boards are staffed by over a thousand volunteers, operating in every prison in England and Wales, and immigration detention facilities across the UK.
National governance
The National Chair and Management Board provide leadership for IMB members. They are responsible for planning the overall strategic direction of the IMB, and for developing the processes and procedures that support the work of the members.
IMB National Chair, Elisabeth Davies
Elisabeth Davies has been appointed as the National Chair of the IMBs by the Secretary of State for Justice. Her term currently runs until 30 June 2026.
Management Board
- Elisabeth Davies (National Chair)
- Camilla Poulton (Pentonville)
- Eric Gatling (Bristol)
- Jane Leech MBE (Derwentside)
- Keith Jamieson (Nottingham)
- Kevin Whiteside (Bedford)
- Lynne Chambers (Haverigg)
- Mojeed Yusuf (external non-executive member covering Finance and Audit)
- Rebecca Walton (Aylesbury)
- Sam Coop (Send)
Business plan
Our business plan has been designed to develop and provide the support structures and processes that allow IMB members to carry out their statutory function, which includes over 50,000 visits and monitoring activities to places of detention each year.
Regional representatives
Regional representatives provide support to Boards within their regions and a key link to the Management Board and National Chair, ensuring that the needs and views of the regions are integral to the development of national strategies, policies and plans.
National protocols and memorandums of understanding
The protocol between the National IMB Chair and the Ministry of Justice was agreed in July 2019.
The memorandum of understanding between IMBs and the Home Office was agreed and came into force in June 2020.
The memorandum of understanding between IMBs and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service was agreed in December 2019 and came into force in February 2020.
The protocol between IMBs, HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman was agreed in February 2021.
The memorandum of understanding on short-term holding facilities between Home Office (Border Force) and the Management Board of the IMBs was published in January 2022.
The memorandum of understanding between IMBs and HM Inspectorates of Prisons was agreed and came into force in January 2023.
The memorandum of understanding between the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and IMBs was agreed in January 2024.
National annual reports
We publish national annual reports on prisons and immigration detention facilities.