A review by HM Inspectorate of Prisons found few jails had a strategy for people held awaiting trial or sentence, who now make up around a fifth of the prison population.
Inspectors found some improvement at the Worcestershire reception prison, but violence remained above similar jails, new arrivals had little to do and four governors had come and gone in three years.
Inspectors rated the Victorian jail reasonably good on all four tests and praised its staff and key work, but raised concerns about self-harm care, hot water and weekend lock-up.
Inspectors found drugs flown in by drone were readily available at HMP Elmley, while late-night arrivals and bare cells marked early days in custody. Preparation for release improved to reasonably good.
Inspectors judged the south-east London prison safer than in 2021 and reasonably good in three of four tests, but found too few men in work or education and many locked up during the working day.
