Recommendation 1
Recommendation (the Board's words)Requests that the outstanding repair and maintenance issues being faced daily by most prisons in the UK are addressed.
Source text verified
Independent Monitoring Boards annual report
Hollesley Bay
Report year 2022
Published 28 Apr 2023
Type Prison, category Category D open YOI
Responsible body HMP Hollesley Bay
12 recommendations
Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response, 1 Jun 2023 ↗ imb.org.uk ↗
The summary and positive findings below were written from the report by an AI model. The Board's own wording is in the report linked above.
Summary
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)Hollesley Bay is an open Category D YOI prison commend for its safe and humane treatment of prisoners, effective COVID-19 management, and progress in equality and resettlement. The introduction of the 'sequencing' regime has provided a more structured approach to learning and external employment. However, the report highlights concerns regarding the prevalence of multiple-occupancy cells, significant backlog in estate maintenance, and perceived inadequacy of food provision. Healthcare delivery is generally satisfactory, though high DNA rates for appointments due to communication issues and dental waiting times require attention.
Positive findings
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)The IMB commends the effective management of the Covid pandemic and the efforts to return prisoners to normal life. The prison is considered a safe place for most, treating prisoners fairly, humanely, and consistently, as evidenced by effective assimilation of PCOSO prisoners. The Board welcomes the increased emphasis on prisoner employability and the reinforced sequencing regime. Notable progress includes improved senior staff communication, increased focus on equality and reduced discrimination complaints, and dedicated resources for external employment. Significant capital investment in buildings and general site improvements are underway, including new Plomesgate units and outdoor gym facilities. The Board also applauds the significant reductions in absconds and ROTL failures and is satisfied with the healthcare provision, which notably achieved micro-elimination status for Hepatitis C.
Recommendations
- Recommendation 1Addressed to HMPPS
- Recommendation 1Addressed to Governor / Director
- Recommendation 1Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Key concerns
- Key concern 1Estate/Conditions
- Key concern 2Resettlement/Release
- Key concern 3Overcrowding
Recommendations 12 items · 4 repeated
Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.
Recommendation 1
Recommendation (the Board's words)That the sequencing approach adopted at Hollesley Bay continues to be developed and the understanding of it improved both within the prison and among those who wish to transfer to the prison;
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Recommendation 1
Recommendation (the Board's words)Welcomes the call by the House of Commons Justice Committee for all prisoners subject to the IPP (imprisonment for public protection) sentence to be re-sentenced as soon as possible. However, like many other IMBs, the IMB at Hollesley Bay expresses disappointment that this recommendation was not supported by the current government;
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Recommendation 1
Recommendation (the Board's words)Requests that the outstanding repair and maintenance issues being faced daily by most prisons in the UK are addressed.
Source text verified
Recommendation 1
Recommendation (the Board's words)That the sequencing approach adopted at Hollesley Bay continues to be developed and the understanding of it improved both within the prison and among those who wish to transfer to the prison;
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Recommendation 2
Recommendation (the Board's words)That the transport arrangements currently in operation at the prison are explored and developed;
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Recommendation 2
Recommendation (the Board's words)Requests there is a concerted effort made to remove all multiple-occupancy cells in all prisons in the UK;
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Recommendation 2
Recommendation (the Board's words)That the transport arrangements currently in operation at the prison are explored and developed;
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Recommendation 3
Recommendation (the Board's words)Supports the reunification of the Probation Service. Nevertheless, it is recognised that there is a need to recruit more trained staff and a national plan should be established for this purpose. This comment is equally applicable to prison officers.
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Recommendation 3
Recommendation (the Board's words)Supports the reunification of the Probation Service. Nevertheless, it is recognised that there is a need to recruit more trained staff and a national plan should be established for this purpose. This comment is equally applicable to prison officers.
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Recommendation 3
Recommendation (the Board's words)That, as the prison population becomes older, greater attention is paid to the social care agenda and any matters appearing are cross-referenced with the prison’s health service providers.
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Recommendation 3
Recommendation (the Board's words)That, as the prison population becomes older, greater attention is paid to the social care agenda and any matters appearing are cross-referenced with the prison’s health service providers.
Source text verified
Key concerns 12 items
Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.
Key concern 1
16 Overall, the fabric of the complex is old and suffers typically from accompanying problems such as leaking roofs, faulty guttering, and broken and unsafe paving; the site remains largely ill-lit although some investment was made in 2022 largely for security reasons.
Key concern 2
The government's decision not to support the re-sentencing of IPP prisoners.
Source wording under review
Key concern 3
The addition of Plomesgate and the further 160 units presents an opportunity to rid the prison of multiple-person cells, but the IMB fears this opportunity may have been missed.
Key concern 4
The IMB feels quite strongly that single cells should be a primary objective for the prison, and it appears that all too often cells are doubled or tripled up to accommodate more prisoners rather than showing concern for the prisoners themselves. The addition of Plomesgate and the further 160 units presents an opportunity to rid the prison of multiple-person cells, but the IMB fears this opportunity may have been missed.
Key concern 5
8 The Board considers that food at the prison, especially lunch, consisting of soup, baguette, and a small packet of crisps, is just about adequate, but little more.
Key concern 6
16 Overall, the fabric of the complex is old and suffers typically from accompanying problems such as leaking roofs, faulty guttering, and broken and unsafe paving; the site remains largely ill-lit although some investment was made in 2022 largely for security reasons.
Key concern 7
A lack of trust among some BAME and GRT prisoners in the prison system, hindering formal complaint processes, despite efforts in equality and diversity.
Source wording under review
Key concern 8
The perceived inadequacy of food provision, particularly lunch, and concerns about food transport to HMP Warren Hill.
Source wording under review
Key concern 9
Minibuses and prisoner transport is a concern to the IMB and we would urge a thorough review is undertaken in 2023.
Key concern 10
High Did Not Attend (DNA) rates for both general healthcare and dental appointments, often attributed to staff not passing on appointment letters promptly.
Source wording under review
Key concern 11
High DNA rates for GP and nursing appointments, partly due to poor communication of appointment letters, leading to wasted time and increased waiting lists.
Source wording under review
Key concern 12
This is the lack of trust that a very few members of the black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities, as well as the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have in the actual prison system. This is most probably best highlighted by a common example – when prisoners have complaints, particularly those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, share these with IMB members, they can be offered the advice to make a formal Comp 1 complaint. Often there is reluctance to do this because the prisoner feels that the institution would regard them as a ‘troublemaker’ and take every opportunity to return them to closed conditions.
Safety statistics
Incidents during the reporting year.
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | not recorded |
| Self-harm incidents | 5 | 3 |
| ACCT cases opened | 15 | 15 |
| Prisoner assaults | 2 | 7 |
| Assaults on staff | 0 | not recorded |
| Use of force | 14 | 17 |
| Drug finds | 150 | 111 |
Population
| Operational capacity | 500 |
Report details
- Establishment
- Hollesley Bay
- Type
- Prison, category Category D open YOI
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 28 April 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Hollesley Bay
- Recommendations
- 12
- MoJ rating (2025/26)
- 4, Outstanding
Service providers
| Service | Provider |
|---|---|
| Dental | Community Dental Services |
| Healthcare | Practice Plus Group |
| Maintenance | GFSL |