Former workers at HMP Millsike in East Yorkshire have described a "chaotic atmosphere" in its first 18 months, according to a BBC investigation. The prison, which opened in March 2025 with 1,500 places, was intended to set a new standard.
Former employees reported under-staffing and inadequate training. They also claimed specialist officers were frequently called to deal with serious incidents. Mitie, the company managing the Category C prison, stated that safety is its "highest priority" and that it operates in line with Ministry of Justice agreements.
Issues since the prison opened include a disturbance in November 2025, a sewage pumping station breakdown that same month, and the conviction of a female prison officer in June 2026 for a relationship with an inmate. The Independent Monitoring Board also raised concerns about safety and security in January this year, with members reporting they felt unsafe on the wings.
Three former staff members, in non-prison officer roles, described undertaking tasks outside their job descriptions due to officer shortages, including "bed-watching" vulnerable prisoners without training. Steve Richardson, a former maintenance worker, claimed he was not given control and restraint training and recalled an incident where an inmate smashed windows and tried to climb a fence before an elite prison squad intervened.
Data from the Ministry of Justice shows specialist Operational Response and Resilience Unit teams were deployed to Millsike seven times in nine months in 2025. Mitie stated these call-outs were in line with expectations. Joe Chapman, a former prison officer, suggested the prison was "pushed forward for opening far too early by the government."