Rye Hill

The Board remains concerned that there is no centrally directed, long-term solution to the injustice of the IPP sentence and its impact on the mental health and wellbeing of affected prisoners. Despite the excellent internal work at HMP Rye Hill, the numbers have stayed the same as last year. Will the Minister be revisiting the recommendations from the select committee?

I recognise the Board’s continued concern regarding the challenges faced by those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. I remain committed to supporting this cohort through safe and sustainable pathways to release, without compromising public protection. The refreshed IPP Action Plan, published in July 2025 and available in the HMPPS Annual HMPPS annual report on the IPP sentence 2024 to 25 - GOV.UK), places emphasis on effective frontline delivery, robust sentence planning, and appropriate prison placements. It also introduces measurable targets to ensure transparency and accountability. I commend the innovative work undertaken at HMP Rye Hill to implement Select Committee recommendations, including staff training, Prisoner Led Initiatives (PLI) training and progression boards. While the recent increase in IPP numbers is linked to the expansion of the prison, the establishment continues to support progression through initiatives such as the IPP PLI coordinator and successful parole outcomes. I recognise the complexity of this cohort, particularly those with histories of violence, self-harm, or neurodiversity needs, and I appreciate the establishment’s continued commitment.

The Board is interested to see what initiatives the government is able to facilitate to enable prisons that hold prisoners convicted of sexual offences (PCoSOs) to build meaningful national partnerships with employers and charities. It is also interested in the actions the government can take to encourage appropriate employment opportunities on release.

I understand the importance of meaningful employment opportunities for prisoners convicted of sexual offences (PCoSOs), both in custody and upon release. This issue continues to be raised and I recognise that employment rates for this group remain lower than for other offence types. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) works with all prison leavers to support them into employment and the Department for Work and Pensions provides tailored support in the community, aligned to individual needs. Where available, the Creating Future Opportunities (CFO) programme delivers additional resettlement services in custody and post-release, particularly for individuals who face barriers to engaging with mainstream services. This includes those considered complex or at risk of disengagement, such as PCoSOs. While provision may be limited in some regions, information on delivery locations and referral processes is available via the CFO Evolution website. I continue to support the development of national partnerships with employers and charities willing to engage with this cohort. These partnerships are essential to improving access to appropriate employment pathways and reducing the risk of reoffending. It is important that all prison leavers, regardless of offence type have access to meaningful rehabilitation and reintegration support.

The Board remains concerned that the process for compassionate release remains unnecessarily difficult and despite the answer given to the previous report, it has remained the situation that three out of four applications were not completed and therefore not considered. Simple changes to allow someone other than the consultant to confirm the terminal diagnosis and to remove the requirement to wait until there is only three months left to live would enable individual decisions to be made.

We recognise that there may be challenges in implementing the compassionate release policy and as such, keep it under continuous review. While guidance suggests applications are appropriate in the final months of life, each case is assessed individually. We are working to clarify that earlier referrals can be considered and to ensure a clear route exists when consultants are unable to provide necessary documentation. The Prison Director has confirmed that delays are not attributable to the establishment, and that paperwork is submitted promptly. Delays have primarily arisen from external healthcare providers, and this has been reflected in Prisons and Probation Ombudsman reports with subsequent recommendations being made to healthcare.

Given the ageing population at establishments such as HMP Rye Hill, can consideration be given to increasing the staff available, to avoid the need to ration hospital escorts? As this is likely to be a funding issue can the metric be reviewed and amendments made if necessary?

HMPPS acknowledges the concerns regarding hospital escort capacity in light of the ageing population at HMP Rye Hill. The current contract allows for 20 escorts per week, which is deemed sufficient if fully utilised. However, hospital availability often limits appointment fulfilment. Encouragingly, the healthcare provider is working to bring more services into the prison and coordinate appointment times with local hospitals. A joint NHS England/HMPPS review is underway to model optimal escort numbers, which will inform future planning. While staffing decisions remain within the Director’s remit, the recent expansion at HMP Rye Hill may offer increased operational capacity to support medical escorts. We will continue to monitor this area and engage with NHS Commissioners regarding needs analysis.

The Board would welcome sight of any strategies for improving this area of work.

The property that goes missing at times contains sensitive documentation relating to the prisoner’s index offence. Can you comment on what steps have been and are being taken to address this?