Safety statistics
Incidents during reporting year
Positive findings
AI-generated summary
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
5 items
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
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.
Healthcare
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.
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
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.
Education/Purposeful Activity
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.
Recommendations
5 items · 3 repeated
Addressee: Ministry of Justice
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
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Resettlement
Addressee: HMPPS
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.
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Healthcare
Addressee: HMPPS
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
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Healthcare
Addressee: HMPPS
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
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Resettlement
Addressee: Governor / Director
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.
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Education
Related inspections & investigations
20 Aug 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 3
· Release 4
1 Sep 2019
HMIP · Unannounced
Other reports for Rye Hill
2026
Published 14 Aug 2026
Population 1,119
· Self-harm 190
· Concerns
2025
Published 8 Aug 2025
Population 840
· Self-harm 235
· Concerns
2024
Published 13 Sep 2024
Population 662
· Self-harm 343
· Concerns
2022
Published 1 Aug 2022
Population 616
· Self-harm 240
· Concerns
2021
Published 19 Aug 2021
Population 656
· Concerns
2020
Published 19 Aug 2020
Population 658
· Concerns