Source · IMB Annual Report
East Sutton Park
Year: 2020
Published: 27 Jan 2021
Type: Prison · Cat open female
Population: 85
Recommendations: 3
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP East Sutton Park maintained a safe and supportive environment for women prisoners amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully adapting education and family contact. However, significant concerns remain regarding the insufficient time prisoners have to benefit from resettlement, inconsistent transfers from closed establishments, and pandemic-induced disruptions to sentence planning. Staffing issues in key areas and challenges with dental provision and enabling internet access for distance learning were also highlighted.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Use of force | 2 | — |
Positive findings
The Board views HMP East Sutton Park as a safe and well-run prison where prisoners generally enjoy good relationships with staff. Healthcare is effective, and the mental health service is fully supportive. Prisoners are well-prepared for release, with most securing accommodation and employment. Positive developments include the refurbishment of flats and new pods for independent living, a disabled bathroom, improved communication regarding ACCT reviews, and increased Governor attendance at Board meetings.
Key concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Prisoners coming to East Sutton Park have insufficient time left to serve to ensure that the greatest benefit in resettlement can be achieved, impacting value for money.
Resettlement/Release
Closed female establishments do not consistently progress women to East Sutton Park who are suitable for the resettlement regime.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Sentence planning boards have been running on a much-reduced basis since the beginning of the pandemic.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The quality of inductions for new prisoners has been patchy, particularly since lockdown due to the reverse cohorting unit.
Safety
A senior member of staff was suspended from the prison and arrested by the police, with investigations ongoing, raising safeguarding concerns.
Estate/Conditions
One or more laundry machines were out of action for protracted periods throughout the year.
Staffing
The kitchen experienced staffing problems during the year, with the long-term absence of two members of staff.
Healthcare
The dental practice terminated its contract with the prison, and a replacement mobile service has not yet materialised, requiring emergency arrangements.
Healthcare
There have been one or two issues with dispensing prescriptions and the time taken for drugs to arrive in the prison due to the delivery process.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Installing WiFi in the prison for distance learning is proving very difficult due to security department restrictions.
Staffing
The butcher position on the farm has not been filled since August, leading to understaffing and impacting farm work and the availability of butchery NVQs.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Social visits have been much curtailed during the COVID-19 crisis, causing difficulties for prisoners, particularly those with children.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
To urge/direct the Prison Service to continue to ensure that prisoners coming to East Sutton Park have enough time left to serve, in order to ensure that the greatest benefit in resettlement can be achieved, and therefore representing value for money.
Repeated
Response
I understand the Board’s ongoing concern about the progression of women from closed to open prisons, such as HMP East Sutton Park with enough time left to serve to gain the most from resettlement opportunities. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) remain committed to improving resettlement opportunities for all women. The MoJ Female Offender Strategy published in June 2018 launched an ambitious programme of work to improve these outcomes and make society safer by tackling the underlying causes of offending and reoffending. HMPPS acknowledges that open prisons, such as HMP East Sutton Park can provide greater benefits to women who have longer left to serve due to staff having a longer period in which to be able to assist them with resettlement support. It is important that the capacity within the women’s estate is used effectively to serve the courts and there is clearly a balance to be struck between allocating women to HMP East Sutton Park and holding them closer to home to maintain family ties and deliver effective resettlement. However, the impact that short sentences can have on the rehabilitation of women prisoners is also recognised. Therefore, there is no criteria setting out a minimum amount of time that a woman must have left to serve in order to transfer to HMP East Sutton Park. In addition, national restrictions on transfers currently remain in place to minimise the Covid-19 virus spreading and to protect those that work and reside in prisons. As previously indicated in my response to last year’s annual report, prison offender managers continue to determine the point at which a woman should move based on their individual circumstances. Implementation of Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) in the women’s estate is planned to commence in April 2021 which will greatly improve the way HMPPS support and case manage women through their sentence. All closed women’s prisons are also aware of the regime, facilities and opportunities available at HMP East Sutton Park and the prison continues to work closely with other women’s prisons and Population Management Unit at HMPPS headquarters to identify suitable women for allocation. |
HMPPS | Rejected |
| 2 |
To ensure that closed female establishments progress women to come to East Sutton Park who are suitable for the resettlement regime.
Response
I understand the Board’s ongoing concern about the progression of women from closed to open prisons, such as HMP East Sutton Park with enough time left to serve to gain the most from resettlement opportunities. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) remain committed to improving resettlement opportunities for all women. The MoJ Female Offender Strategy published in June 2018 launched an ambitious programme of work to improve these outcomes and make society safer by tackling the underlying causes of offending and reoffending. HMPPS acknowledges that open prisons, such as HMP East Sutton Park can provide greater benefits to women who have longer left to serve due to staff having a longer period in which to be able to assist them with resettlement support. It is important that the capacity within the women’s estate is used effectively to serve the courts and there is clearly a balance to be struck between allocating women to HMP East Sutton Park and holding them closer to home to maintain family ties and deliver effective resettlement. However, the impact that short sentences can have on the rehabilitation of women prisoners is also recognised. Therefore, there is no criteria setting out a minimum amount of time that a woman must have left to serve in order to transfer to HMP East Sutton Park. In addition, national restrictions on transfers currently remain in place to minimise the Covid-19 virus spreading and to protect those that work and reside in prisons. As previously indicated in my response to last year’s annual report, prison offender managers continue to determine the point at which a woman should move based on their individual circumstances. Implementation of Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) in the women’s estate is planned to commence in April 2021 which will greatly improve the way HMPPS support and case manage women through their sentence. All closed women’s prisons are also aware of the regime, facilities and opportunities available at HMP East Sutton Park and the prison continues to work closely with other women’s prisons and Population Management Unit at HMPPS headquarters to identify suitable women for allocation. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 3 |
To continue with the prompt and careful steps taken to combat COVID-19.
Response
I note you have raised a local issue of concern in your report about Covid-19 which the Governor will continue to keep you aware of as work continues. |
Governor / Director | In progress |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 0 | 0 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 2 | 2 |
| Equality | 0 | 2 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | 0 |
| Food and kitchens | 0 | 0 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 1 | 2 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 1 | 2 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 3 | 2 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 2 | 6 |
| Property within this establishment | 1 | 0 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 6 | 0 |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 2 | 1 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 0 | 4 |
| Transfers | 0 | 0 |
Other reports for East Sutton Park
Report details
- Establishment
- East Sutton Park
- Type
- Prison · Cat open female
- Report year
- 2020
- Published
- 27 January 2021
- Responsible body
- East Sutton Park
- Recommendations
- 3
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 4 — Outstanding
Population
| Population | 85 |
| Operational capacity | 96 |
| CNA (designed for) | 101 84% |
Service providers
Drug programmes
The Forward Trust
Education
Weston College
Employment advice
Ixion
Family support
The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)
Mental healthcare
In-reach
Physical healthcare
Oxleas