Source · IMB Annual Report
Hatfield
Year: 2023
Published: 7 Feb 2024
Type: Prison · Cat D, YOI, Open
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP/YOI Hatfield is recognised as a very safe and effective Category D open prison, excelling in resettlement with a high percentage of prisoners securing and maintaining employment post-release. The Board commends the positive staff-prisoner relationships and well-managed healthcare, while noting improvements in facilities. Key concerns include the negative impact of prison population pressures on open prisons, the unsuitability of the Lakes site, and delays in completing perimeter fencing to mitigate illicit item drops.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | 1 |
| Self-harm incidents | 0 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 1 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 0 | — |
| Use of force | 0 | — |
Positive findings
The Board highlights HMP/YOI Hatfield as a very safe environment with no self-harm or staff assaults. Significant improvements in facilities, including a new dental surgery and multi-faith centre, are underway. The prison excels in its education, skills, and work provisions, with a high proportion of prisoners securing external employment and maintaining it post-release, making it a top-performing resettlement prison. Relationships between staff and prisoners are very positive, contributing to effective problem-solving before IMB intervention. Healthcare provision is deemed good, with no increase in mental health issues or self-harm incidents.
Key concerns
Overcrowding
Measures to relieve prison population pressures across the estate can and do impact negatively on the ethos and performance of Category D prisons.
Estate/Conditions
The age and the original purpose of the Lakes building make it impractical for its present use, assessing new prisoners for their suitability for open conditions and access to the community.
Safety
Repeated
Both sites remain vulnerable to illicit items being dropped over the perimeter fence. In last year’s report it was stated that a new fence to help prevent this would be built. Due to the ongoing building work taking place in the prison this has started but not been completed. To date, a small number of members of the public have been noted to be entering the prison grounds at night and leaving packages in the grounds at the main site. Hopefully this situation will be resolved once the fence is in place.
Healthcare
There was some delay in appointments for hospital outpatient referrals and routine outpatient follow-ups, with a two-week wait for urgent/emergency appointments.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 1 | — |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | 1 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 1 | 1 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 2 | — |
Related inspections & investigations
15 Jul 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 4
· Release 4
Other reports for Hatfield
Report details
- Establishment
- Hatfield
- Type
- Prison · Cat D, YOI, Open
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 7 February 2024
- Responsible body
- HMP Hatfield
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 4 — Outstanding
Population
| Operational capacity | 298 |
Service providers
Decoration/Maintenance
Amey
Education
Novus
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group
IMB Secretariat
imb@justice.gov.uk
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