AMIMB (originally AMBoV) was founded in 1981, following criticism of Boards of Visitors (now independent monitoring boards) after riots at a London prison. AMIMB has been able to intervene and successfully challenge allegations against IMB members as well as raising concerns to the minister and the public about national problems such as overcrowding, segregation and other human rights issues.

Queen Elizabeth 1 established Visiting Committees of Justices of the Peace for local prisons. A two-tier system developed and JPs of County Quarter Sessions were responsible for visiting County Gaols and JPs of Borough benches for local Borough Gaols.

1898 Prison Act required every convict prison to have a Board of Visitors consisting of magistrates and members of the public.

1971 Courts Act Abolished Quarter Sessions and consequently Visiting Committees. Boards of Visitors were established for all types of prison establishment.

2003 The name BoV was changed to IMB. This was a huge step forward and removed the confusion over the role. (The previous title allowed it to be inferred that ours was a befriending role.)

Board of Visitors - A person View - by Pat Hayes March 1980  To read click here