Source · IMB Annual Report
East Sutton Park
Year: 2025
Published: 10 Mar 2026
Type: Prison · Cat YOI
Recommendations: 16
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP/YOI East Sutton Park is an open female prison praised for its safety, healthcare, and resettlement efforts, with no deaths in custody during the reporting period. Key concerns include ongoing issues with property transfers, inconsistent responses to bullying, and delays in ROTL progression. The Board also highlights accessibility challenges in the old building and spatial constraints in healthcare facilities.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 2 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 2 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 2 | — |
Positive findings
The Board considers HMP ESP to be generally safe for prisoners and staff, with good relationships between them. Healthcare services are highly praised, contributing to significant improvements in prisoners' mental health. The prison ensures no prisoner leaves without accommodation and offers strong support for education and resettlement, achieving high pass and completion rates in courses. Family contact is well-facilitated and valued.
Key concerns
Safety
Incidents of prisoner-on-prisoner bullying and intimidation have been observed during the reporting period and, at times, were not addressed with sufficient speed, in the Board’s view. This allowed some types of behaviour to persist and adversely affect the wider prison atmosphere. The Board is, however, pleased to note that the prison took steps from autumn 2025 to improve the effectiveness of responses.
Resettlement/Release
Ongoing issues include transferred prisoners expecting quick ROTL approval and those with little time left struggling to complete ROTL clearance before release.
Other
Repeated
A continued cause of frustration, and one for which the Board receives many applications (prisoners’ written representations), is the failure of property transfers to HMP ESP. This is the case both for physical possessions and for monies. Such issues can be exacerbated when a prisoner has lodged overnight on the journey to HMP ESP and, in the case of monies, when she has arrived from a privately run establishment.
Estate/Conditions
Rooms in the house are on the ground and first floors. The main building is old and has accessibility issues, such as the number and steepness of some stairs. This can create issues for prisoners with physical disabilities and mobility issues.
Equality/Diversity
The Board notes that the prison building may be unsuitable for prisoners with disabilities, especially mobility issues, in that there are no lifts and many staff locations, activity rooms and the multi-faith room are on the first floor. In addition, internal jobs suitable for prisoners with disabilities are limited.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Many prisoners want to move from the house to modular accommodation or a flat, but the Board has observed that the allocation process has caused frustration, due to a lack of clarity.
Estate/Conditions
In 2025, the single cooker for prisoners in modular accommodation living area was broken for several weeks before being replaced. Suspected deliberate damage may have delayed repairs, which were the prison’s responsibility. The Board believes replacement should have been faster.
Complaints/Property
Many prisoners at HMP ESP tell us they are afraid that submitting complaints or reporting issues could lead to a return to closed conditions, even though this has never happened, according to prison data shared with the Board and prisoners. The Governor has published notices reinforcing this but, due to the rotation in prisoners, the Board considers that this information needs to be frequently re-published by the prison.
Staffing
A small number of prisoners reported to the Board that some staff used threats of being returned to closed conditions to discourage complaints. Such incidents seem to be rare and are difficult to verify but have been reported to the Governor. The Board believes the prison does not tolerate these actions; however, limited evidence can restrict any response.
Equality/Diversity
The Board notes that at least one Muslim prisoner with mobility issues was unable to access the room for daily prayers, and no suitable ground-floor alternative was available for private prayer.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board is concerned that warnings and the incentives scheme system are not always used effectively to counter instances of negative and intimidatory behaviour.
Healthcare
There is a lack of space in the building, which consists of only one consultation room, some offices and a small waiting area. Having only one consultation room significantly restricts capacity and makes timetabling up to 15 clinics each month challenging. The waiting area for prisoners attending clinics is adjacent to the RGN’s office and lacks sound-proofing, risking loss of confidentiality.
Healthcare
The only waiting list is for dental assessment, which is currently nine to ten weeks.
Resettlement/Release
Prisoners arriving at HMP ESP must have risk assessments completed before they can be considered for release on temporary licence (ROTL). This is the case even for prisoners who have previously been released on temporary licence at a previous prison. The Board has noticed that this often surprises prisoners, and some of them have told us that it is contrary to what they were told at the establishment from which they transferred.
Resettlement/Release
For prisoners with complex risk factors, risk assessments can be delayed by late input from probation, police or social services. During the reporting period, government early-release and extended home detention curfew (HDC) schemes also placed additional priority demands on the OMU, impacting routine work, including ROTL risk assessments.
Resettlement/Release
Despite these communication channels, prisoners often express frustration to the Board at their inability to access OMU staff or obtain updates on issues affecting their ROTL eligibility or release plans. The Board notes that many delays are beyond the OMU’s control... however, the Board observes that communication with prisoners during these delays does not always sufficiently reduce stress and anxiety.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
In March 2025, revised ROTL procedures were introduced, reportedly to bring HMP ESP in line with national policy. The emphasis shifted to risk, need and purposeful activity to support resettlement. As a result, some activities previously allowed on ROTL were no longer allowed, and the geographical areas prisoners could visit were more tightly defined, with an emphasis on ROTL to home areas.
Resettlement/Release
A shortage of temporary accommodation, particularly in London, has, however, caused delays to some prisoner release dates.
Resettlement/Release
For prisoners with professional or specialist skills, not having online access to job sites or email within the prison makes applying for and responding to job offers challenging. Some prisoners in this situation have said they feel frustrated by the limited support from the prison and the difficulties this creates in finding work.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan on the number of women receiving short custodial sentences? Has the plan contributed to any reduction such sentences?
Response
The Government remains committed to reducing the number of women entering custody unnecessarily and increasing the support available in the community. The Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan set the direction for this work and the recently enacted Sentencing Act 2026 provides a generational shift in sentencing, with a presumption for courts to suspend short custodial sentences wherever appropriate. These reforms are intended to reduce the number of women receiving short terms of imprisonment and to strengthen the role of community-based supervision and support for those who can safely be managed without a custodial sentence. |
Ministry of Justice | Noted |
| 2 |
Will the Minister support the Board’s request for the Prison Service to actively encourage closed women’s prisons to transfer eligible prisoners with at least six months left to open establishments, in order to improve outcomes and help alleviate capacity pressure in closed establishments?
Repeated
Response
Closed establishments are encouraged to maximise ROTL for women who would benefit from work, family contact and community reintegration. Early, clear consideration of open-estate suitability during sentence planning helps ensure women arrive at HMP/YOI East Sutton Park with sufficient time remaining to make meaningful use of opportunities available. Improving communication and addressing cultural barriers to transfer, also support progression and help manage capacity pressures across the women’s estate. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 3 |
When will the Minister issue updated guidance on the placement and management of transgender prisoners in women’s establishments?
Response
The placement and management of transgender prisoners is an important and sensitive matter. Work is currently underway by the Transgender Policy Team following recent legal rulings, including the For Women Scotland judgment. Existing policies remain in effect while this review is carried out and further updates will be shared in due course. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 4 |
When will the Minister review the treatment of civil offenders within early release schemes to ensure they are properly considered in future? When the SDS40 early release scheme was introduced in September 2024, HMP ESP had one prisoner serving a one-year sentence for a civil, rather than a criminal, offence. Despite posing minimal risk to the public, she was excluded solely because she was not serving a criminal standard determinate sentence, while prisoners with criminal convictions and similar sentence lengths were eligible. How will the Minister address this disparity to prevent civil offenders being unfairly disadvantaged in future schemes?
Response
You raised the case of a civil prisoner who was ineligible for the SDS40 scheme. The Sentencing Act 2026 establishes an “Earned Progression” model for criminal standard determinate sentences, setting clear release points based on behaviour. These provisions apply only to criminal sentences and do not extend to civil penalties, which remain governed by separate long-standing arrangements. I appreciate the concern raised in your report and I recognise the need to ensure that civil prisoners continue to be treated fairly and consistently when it comes to rehabilitative opportunities such as ROTL. |
Ministry of Justice | Partial |
| 5 |
When will the Minister require the Prison Service to implement a reliable and effective system for managing prisoners’ property? IMB Boards nationwide have long reported issues with property management and transfers. The ESP Board notes that a related KPI once existed but was discontinued. What plans does the Minister have to reinstate this KPI, or introduce an equivalent measure, to ensure sustained improvement and proper accountability?
Repeated
Response
I recognise the frustrations highlighted by your Board regarding the loss of property during transfers across the estate. A revised Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework was introduced on 17 November 2025 to improve clarity and consistency, including strengthened guidance on excess property, laundry handling and the correct use of cell-clearance certificates. Senior leaders across HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have been reminded of the importance of compliance with volumetric controls, which support the safe transfer of property between establishments. The Prison Performance Committee reviewed whether a central KPI should be reinstated and agreed that oversight is most effective when delivered through Prison Group Directors and Area Executive Directors, who are responsible for driving compliance locally. They continue to work with establishments to reinforce expectations and improve day-to-day practice. |
Ministry of Justice | Partial |
| 6 |
Could the Prison Service work with closed women’s establishments to ensure that prisoners arriving at HMP ESP have a minimum of six months left to serve to enable them to benefit from release on temporary licence (ROTL) and be properly prepared for release and resettlement?
Repeated
Response
Closed establishments are encouraged to maximise ROTL for women who would benefit from work, family contact and community reintegration. Early, clear consideration of open-estate suitability during sentence planning helps ensure women arrive at HMP/YOI East Sutton Park with sufficient time remaining to make meaningful use of opportunities available. Improving communication and addressing cultural barriers to transfer, also support progression and help manage capacity pressures across the women’s estate. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 7 |
Could the Prison Service do more to incentivise closed establishments to identity those suitable for open conditions and transfer them to open establishments?
Repeated
Response
HMPPS is committed to enabling as many suitable women as possible to progress to open conditions. Work to support this includes visits by staff from closed prisons to open establishments, open-estate staff attending closed sites to increase confidence in suitability thresholds and regular discussions between offender management leads across the women’s estate. Prison Offender Managers have also been supported to visit open prisons to increase understanding of expectations and risk-management arrangements. These combined efforts have contributed to improved identification and progression of suitable candidates. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 8 |
Could the Prison Service implement an effective system for managing prisoners’ property and transfers? The ESP Board notes that a related key performance indicator (KPI) once existed but was discontinued. Could this KPI be reinstated?
Repeated
Response
I recognise the frustrations highlighted by your Board regarding the loss of property during transfers across the estate. A revised Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework was introduced on 17 November 2025 to improve clarity and consistency, including strengthened guidance on excess property, laundry handling and the correct use of cell-clearance certificates. Senior leaders across HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have been reminded of the importance of compliance with volumetric controls, which support the safe transfer of property between establishments. The Prison Performance Committee reviewed whether a central KPI should be reinstated and agreed that oversight is most effective when delivered through Prison Group Directors and Area Executive Directors, who are responsible for driving compliance locally. They continue to work with establishments to reinforce expectations and improve day-to-day practice. |
HMPPS | Partial |
| 9 |
Could the Prison Service develop specific ROTL guidance for civil offenders for use by offender management units?
Response
The ROTL framework applies to civil prisoners under the same overarching principles as criminal prisoners. Proportionality remains central, recognising that civil prisoners often present lower levels of risk but still requiring appropriate checks relating to abscond risk, safeguarding and reputational considerations. At HMP/YOI East Sutton Park, a variation to national guidance allows fast-track consideration where a woman has previously been assessed for ROTL at another establishment. National recruitment of additional probation officers will help ease workload pressures within Offender Management Units, supporting timeliness and responsiveness in future cases. |
HMPPS | Noted |
| 10 |
Could the Governor investigate making greater use of the incentives scheme, including warnings or other sanctions, to more quickly and effectively respond to instances of challenging behaviour or situations where behaviour falls short of the standards expected by the prison?
Repeated
Response
I note that your report has also raised some local concerns. The Governor will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the matters you raise for her attention. |
Governor / Director | Noted |
| 11 |
Could the prison improve communication with prisoners to reassure them that raising issues or submitting complaints will not result in being sent back to a closed establishment? While weekly forums are helpful, the Board suggests periodically republishing a Notice to Prisoners to reinforce this message.
Response
I note that your report has also raised some local concerns. The Governor will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the matters you raise for her attention. |
Governor / Director | Noted |
| 12 |
Could the prison develop comprehensive guidance for prisoners preparing for reintegration into the community, outlining the required steps and associated responsibilities to be completed prior to release, as well as identifying the appropriate contacts for assistance? The Board recommends establishing an orderly role to support prisoners nearing release.
Response
I note that your report has also raised some local concerns. The Governor will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the matters you raise for her attention. |
Governor / Director | Noted |
| 13 |
Could the Governor investigate whether more external job opportunities can be found for prisoners and whether additional support can be provided to professionally qualified prisoners to search for and obtain work on release? More job opportunities outside the local area and more clerical and administrative opportunities would benefit many leavers.
Response
I note that your report has also raised some local concerns. The Governor will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the matters you raise for her attention. |
Governor / Director | Noted |
| 14 |
Could the Governor investigate improving the range of internal job offerings, particularly those suitable for prisoners who have a disability or limited mobility?
Response
I note that your report has also raised some local concerns. The Governor will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the matters you raise for her attention. |
Governor / Director | Noted |
| 15 |
Could the Governor investigate the provision of an accessible, ground floor space for private prayer, which can be made available to disabled and mobility impaired prisoners?
Response
I note that your report has also raised some local concerns. The Governor will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the matters you raise for her attention. |
Governor / Director | Noted |
| 16 |
Could the Governor ensure that the kitchens in the modular accommodation living area are adequately and sufficiently equipped for the 20 pod residents and, where there is faulty equipment, this is remedied without undue delays?
Response
I note that your report has also raised some local concerns. The Governor will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the matters you raise for her attention. |
Governor / Director | Noted |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 0 | 0 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 6 | 8 |
| Equality | 1 | 1 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 5 | 7 |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 1 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 2 | 6 |
| Letters, visits, phones, public protection, restrictions | 3 | 4 |
| Miscellaneous | 0 | 1 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 11 | 12 |
| Property within the establishment | 0 | 0 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 9 | 11 |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, recategorisation | 15 | 22 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 14 | 19 |
| Transfers | 0 | 0 |
Other reports for East Sutton Park
Report details
- Establishment
- East Sutton Park
- Type
- Prison · Cat YOI
- Report year
- 2025
- Published
- 10 March 2026
- Responsible body
- East Sutton Park
- Recommendations
- 16
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 4 — Outstanding
Population
| Operational capacity | 100 |
| CNA (designed for) | 137 |
Service providers
CV/interview/disclosure training
She Matters
Drama workshops
Blown Fuse Drama Group
Education
Milton Keynes College
Healthcare
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Hospitality jobs
Only a Pavement Away
Inter-prison transfers
Serco
Library
Kent County Council
Life and work coaching
Spark Inside
Life skills
Christians against Poverty
Maintenance
Government Facility Services Limited (GFSL)
Optometry
The Prison Opticians Trust
Reading and numeracy skills
Shannon Trust
Resettlement support
Through the Gate Services
Substance misuse
Change, Grow, Live (CGL)
Support for prisoners and their families
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)
Support to find employment
Seetec Plus
Training and advice
The Glasshouse
Training provider of skills and education
Shaw Trust