Recommendation 1
The Board urges that the recent decision to suspend the ROTL pilot be reviewed.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Warren Hill
AI-generated report summary HMP Warren Hill, a Category C adult male prison with an operational capacity of 267, maintained a safe environment despite some low-level bullying. The Board noted improved use of safety interventions (CSIPs, ACCTs) and zero deaths in custody. Key challenges included persistent issues with food provision, the suspension of the ROTL pilot, and delays in progression caused by Secretary of State interventions. The IMB made recommendations regarding food quality, estate investment, digital skills for resettlement, and urges review of the ROTL suspension.
Year: 2023
Published: 1 Nov 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 240
Recommendations: 4
Key concerns
Positive findings
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 11 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 28 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 1 | — |
| Use of force | 11 | — |
| Drug finds | 7 | — |
Positive findings
AI-generated summaryWarren Hill is a prison that feels safe for both prisoners and staff. The IMB is pleased to report an increase in the use of CSIPs and ACCTs, demonstrating staff training has been beneficial. Prisoners are involved in decision-making and have attendance at many formal meetings. The standard of healthcare provision is generally like that in the community. Success at parole hearings continues to be high. The on-site approved premises are welcomed and beneficial for prisoners. The IMB commends the prison's commitment to the Enabling Environment accreditation and notes the impressive skill of prisoners working with raptors.
Key concerns
Ongoing concerns about the provision and quality of food provided by the Hollesley Bay kitchen.
The recent decision to suspend the ROTL pilot.
The transfer of prisoners’ property is still a major concern for the prisoners themselves and causes a lot of administrative hassle.
There are some areas of the prison where further investment is required and although work is currently underway on one of the shower blocks there still remains much outstanding work.
The IMB would like to see further development in resettlement support, including the use of digital technologies which are so critical to successful functioning in the modern world.
Staff shortages continued to affect People Plus, the education provider, which in turn has impacted on the learners at Warren Hill. The IMB are disappointed that People Plus and the prison are still bound by a restrictive contracts process.
The intervention (as of May 2023) by the Secretary of State to delay and in some cases prevent movement to category D conditions or to release following successful parole hearings, which has had a serious impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many prisoners affected.
There are discrepancies between local authorities when it comes to the funding of social care. Prisoners who come to the prison from, for example, Norfolk are unable to bring equipment with them, and funds and equipment must be reapplied for from Suffolk. This takes time and there is some evidence that Suffolk County Council has been unable to make funds available.
Prisoners have expressed dissatisfaction about pay levels, which are fixed by Warren Hill but appear to be inconsistent across the prison estate. Discontent is further fuelled by the effect of the increasing costs of items they wish to purchase.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
In light of ongoing concerns about the provision of food from the Hollesley Bay kitchen, the Board asks again that consideration be given to reinstating the kitchens at Warren Hill.
Recommendation 3
Warren Hill is well maintained although there are some areas of the prison where further investment is required and although work is currently underway on one of the shower blocks there still remains much outstanding work.
Recommendation 4
The prison has prioritised the need to ensure support for prisoners on release in order to reduce the recall rate. The IMB would like to see further development in this area, including the use of digital technologies which are so critical to successful functioning in the modern world.
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 0 | 1 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 1 | 0 |
| Equality | 1 | 0 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 0 | 0 |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 6 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 13 | 3 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 3 | 4 |
| Miscellaneous | 6 | 0 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 5 | 6 |
| Property within the establishment | 3 | 0 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 2 | 4 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 1 | 5 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 6 | 1 |
| Transfers | 0 | 1 |
Related inspections & investigations
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 3
· Release 4
Steve McBride · Self-inflicted
Bryn Tomaz-Daniels · Natural causes
Simon Penton · Natural causes
Individual at Warren Hill · Natural causes
Individual at Warren Hill · Natural causes
Other reports for Warren Hill
Population 267
· Self-harm 11
· Concerns
Population 270
· Self-harm 69
· Concerns
· Self-harm 26
· Concerns
· Concerns
Population 237
· Concerns