Source · IMB Annual Report
Rye Hill
Year: 2023
Published: 24 Aug 2023
Type: Prison · Cat B
Population: 661
Recommendations: 5
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Rye Hill, a Category B training prison primarily for men convicted of sexual offences, housed 661 prisoners at the end of the reporting year. The Board noted positive developments in prisoner-led initiatives, low violence, and improvements in healthcare provision and education efficiency. However, significant concerns persist regarding the progression and anxiety of IPP prisoners, the lack of compassionate releases, inconsistent medication transfers across the prison estate, and inadequate support for sexual offence prisoners transitioning to release.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 7 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 246 | 208 |
| ACCT cases opened | 129 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 39 | 42 |
| Use of force | 145 | 120 |
| Drug finds | 21 | — |
Positive findings
The induction process and prisoner-led initiatives promoting community and relationships were well-run. Violence and illicit item finds remained low. The new incentives policy is embedded and effective, and key worker sessions met targets. Healthcare saw the introduction of a new integrated provider (Practice Plus Group) and improvements such as a new palliative care cell and a proposed on-site dialysis unit. Purposeful activity was significantly enhanced by a successful Media Hub, and education delivery efficiency improved to 82%. Pilot projects like the 'Building Future Network' are supporting long-sentence and IPP prisoners.
Key concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
IPP progression and anxiety due to rejected re-sentencing and licence reduction recommendations, particularly for those with complex needs and without dedicated budget provision.
Healthcare
Inconsistent application of processes across the prison estate for ensuring prisoners have sufficient prescribed medication when transferring to Rye Hill.
Healthcare
Repeated
Lack of compassionate releases being agreed despite a number of applications and an increase in terminally ill prisoners dying in custody at Rye Hill.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Challenges faced by prisoners convicted of sexual offences with movements from Category B to C and then to D prisons, often leading to release without specialist support.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Older prisoners are required to retake English and Maths level 1 qualifications to obtain work roles because they cannot prove prior attainment, despite being proficient.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Board is aware of the Justice Select Committee’s IPP review and announcements at the end of the reporting period and also the new initiatives Rye Hill is putting in place to support this cohort. However, we are still concerned that they will make little material difference to those with complex needs without dedicated budget provision. The issue of IPP progression has been repeatedly raised in annual reports and the recent decision to not accept the recommendations around re-sentencing and reducing licence periods has increased the anxiety for these prisoners. Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | The Board is concerned that processes designed to ensure prisoners have sufficient prescribed medication with them when transferring to Rye Hill are not being consistently applied across the prison estate. | HMPPS | |
| 3 | The Board is still concerned that not one compassionate release has been agreed despite a number of applications and despite the increase in the number of terminally ill prisoners dying in custody at Rye Hill. Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 4 | The Board remains concerned that the movements from Category B to Category C and then to Category D prisons represent a particular problem for prisoners convicted of sexual offences and with the increasing number of direct releases (54 this year against only 20 in 2019/2020 reporting year) frequently leaves them being released with no specialist support. Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 5 | The Board is concerned over the number of older prisoners who have complained to the IMB about being required to retake English and maths level 1 qualifications to obtain a particular work role because they have no way to prove their qualification/s. We would like to see a balanced approach taken when prisoners are clearly proficient in the skills even when formal certificates cannot be produced. | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 3 | 9 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 2 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 7 | 3 |
| Equality | 6 | 5 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 3 | 5 |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 1 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 22 | 15 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 9 | 10 |
| Miscellaneous | 4 | 11 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 8 | 1 |
| Property within the establishment | 7 | 10 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 14 | 5 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 8 | 24 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 23 | 21 |
| Transfers | 4 | 1 |
Related inspections & investigations
20 Aug 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 3
· Release 4
Other reports for Rye Hill
Report details
- Establishment
- Rye Hill
- Type
- Prison · Cat B
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 24 August 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Rye Hill
- Recommendations
- 5
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 661 |
| Operational capacity | 625 |
| CNA (designed for) | 600 110% |
Service providers
Catering
Aramark
Education
Novus Foundation for Change
Healthcare and social care services
Practice Partnership Group
Support services
Samaritans