National Preventive Mechanism Tenth Annual Report 2018–19 HMI Prisons has introduced two important developments to its inspection methodology over the last two years. In this reporting year, the new independent reviews of progress (IRPs) were introduced and the Urgent Notification process, which was introduced last year, was embedded. The Urgent Notification process allows the Chief Inspector to write to the Secretary of State following the identification on inspection of significant concerns relating to the treatment and conditions of those detained. The Secretary of State commits to respond publicly to the concerns raised by the Inspectorate within 28 calendar days. The publication of both the Chief Inspector’s notification and the Secretary of State’s response increases the level of transparency around struggling prisons. The Chief Inspector issued three Urgent Notification letters to the Secretary of State during the year, expressing the Inspectorate’s serious concerns, following the inspections of HMPs Exeter, Birmingham and Bedford. The IRP methodology was developed to introduce independence into the assessment of the achievement of the Inspectorate’s recommendations. IRP methodology provides an assessment of how far prisons have implemented HMI Prisons’ key recommendations, in particular following concerning prison inspections. The Chief Inspector will identify establishments for an IRP based on a number of factors, including: healthy prison test scores over time; the key risks at the establishment; and levels of confidence in the capacity for change and improvement. They will be embedded in 2019–20. HMI Prisons aims to conduct between 15 and 20 IRPs each year. 44 During the year, the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) conducted a pilot change to its methodology, which was led by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire and took place across the force area. The new methodology instructs independent custody visitors to look more closely at how vulnerable people are treated during their time in custody by examining custody records, with a focus on detainee rights, entitlements and wellbeing. Independent custody visitors in Derbyshire found that the pilot improved and strengthened safeguards for vulnerable detainees. ICVA began work with other ICV schemes around the country to see whether similar improvements can be replicated. ICVA also started work on developing a stronger understanding of OPCAT and the NPM within independent custody visiting schemes throughout its workstreams. ICVA has produced new training material for schemes that details the international law regarding torture and ill-treatment and the importance of adopting a reprisals policy. In 2018 the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) in England and Wales put in place a new governance structure. The new structure aims to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of the organisation by creating the position of an independent National Chair and strengthening regional support for Boards. In 2018, the IMB Secretariat wrote to Government asking for statutory underpinning for this new structure. Statutory underpinning is necessary for the IMB to achieve status as an independent arms-length body with the ability to recruit staff. Additional funding for the Secretariat from the Home Office was sought and agreed for 2019–20, which will help the