Source · IMB Annual Report
Warren Hill
Year: 2024
Published: 17 Sep 2024
Type: Prison · Cat C
Population: 270
Recommendations: 4
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Warren Hill is a Category C prison maintaining a safe and humane environment with effective safety measures and good staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns include the outsourced food provision, the impact of Ministerial intervention on prisoner progression and ROTL, and the need for investment in the estate and digital education. The IMB highlights improvements in key worker delivery, healthcare, and resettlement support, advocating for on-site kitchen facilities and reinstatement of ROTL to further enhance prisoner experience and preparation for release.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 69 | 11 |
| ACCT cases opened | 48 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 3 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 0 | — |
| Use of force | 5 | — |
| Drug finds | 12 | — |
Positive findings
Warren Hill maintains a safe environment with a zero-tolerance policy on violence, evidenced by no deaths in custody and effective use of ACCTs and CSIPs. Prisoner involvement in decision-making is strong, and key worker session delivery has improved. Healthcare provision is comparable to community standards, and the appointment of a neurodiversity support manager is commendable. The prison offers a full regime with good access to purposeful activity and community links like Parkrun. Educational workshops, arts programs, and an effective employment hub aid resettlement, while family contact is well supported through various initiatives, including in-cell telephony.
Key concerns
Food/Catering
Repeated
The ongoing poor provision and quality of food provided by the kitchen at HMP Hollesley Bay. The IMB reiterates its view that the reinstatement of a kitchen at Warren Hill should be prioritised.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The decision by the Secretary of State to review Parole Board decisions to release life and IPP prisoners continues to cause disquiet and the IMB was disappointed in the then Secretary of State’s decision not to re-sentence prisoners with IPP sentences. The withdrawal and suspension of the release on temporary licence (ROTL) pilot.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Some areas of the prison where further investment is required. Refurbishment is underway on one of the shower blocks, but there is still a lot of work to be done on other shower blocks.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Prisoners are not up to date with digital technology, so they are unable to use at least the basics, such as email and online banking, etc, which are so critical to successful functioning in the modern world. The prison has not been able to secure the provision of in-cell laptops.
Healthcare
Repeated
Discrepancies between local authorities when it comes to funding social care. Prisoners from other areas are unable to bring equipment with them, and funds and equipment must be reapplied for from Suffolk. This takes time and there is some evidence that Suffolk County Council has been unable to make funds available. Personal care for prisoners who require it is also becoming an issue.
Substance Misuse
The continued misuse of legitimate prescription medications, such as pregabalin and gabapentin by a small percentage of the population.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The education provider, People Plus, has continued to experience staff shortages, impacting on the learners at Warren Hill. People Plus and the prison remain bound by a restrictive contracts process.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Board urges that the decision to suspend the ROTL pilot be reviewed.
Response
I understand the Board’s continued concerns regarding the Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) policy and the frustration caused by the decision taken by the previous administration to suspend the pilot. The current ROTL Policy Framework states that Indeterminate Sentence Prisoners (ISPs) – both Life and Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) and other ‘Restricted’ ROTL prisoners must be in open conditions before accessing the benefits of ROTL. This is to ensure that prisoners are rigorously tested in open prison conditions as well as ensuring that they are suitable before allowing access to the community. I further understand that for those that are directly released from HMP Warren Hill, as opposed to moving to open conditions, the gap between custody and release can be vast without testing compliance and increasing social awareness through release on temporary licence. The establishment is liaising with senior public protection colleagues and contacts at ministerial level to explore what further can be done. I recognise the importance in ensuring prisoners have the opportunity to progress appropriately through the prison system and the potential benefits to prisoners in the Progression Regime at HMP Warren Hill. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 2 |
In light of ongoing concerns about the provision of food from the Hollesley Bay kitchen, the Board welcomes the progress that has been made on this front, in as much as that the proposed expansion of the number of cells at Warren Hill is fully dependent on new kitchen facilities being provided at the prison. The staff and the IMB are as one on this issue and feel that it is a necessary and absolute condition before the proposed expansion can go ahead. The IMB also feels that the provision must be of a high standard that will enable food to be stored, prepared and cooked on the Warren Hill site. Any suggestion of warming up pre-cooked food will encounter the existing problems and, quite simply, will be wholly inadequate.
Repeated
Response
HMP Warren Hill has been included within Tranche 3 of the Rapid Deployment Cells Project, with current plans to deliver 90 additional accommodation units. The temporary kitchen will be online before the first prisoners arrive. A permanent kitchen will follow subject to the completion of a feasibility report and funding via Capital Maintenance. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 3 |
Warren Hill is well maintained, although, as outlined in last year’s report, there are some areas of the prison where further investment is required. Refurbishment is underway on one of the shower blocks, but there is still a lot of work to be done on other shower blocks. As the prison expands, the IMB would welcome reassurance that the ancillary facilities and training and educational facilities will be increased in similar proportions to the overall expansion of the number of cells.
Repeated
Response
HMPPS recognises the Board’s concern on the condition of the shower blocks. HMPPS and MoJ continue to work closely to address these concerns. As the board will be aware, work has already been successfully completed in Oak Unit, which has seen decoration and the installation of new shower pumps to increase pressure. The same work is currently in progress on Alder Unit. Works on Elm and Maple Units will be reviewed but will be subject to capital maintenance bids. HMPPS can confirm to the Board that the proposed expansion includes an increase in all ancillary facilities and training and education facilities. There will be a new education space, employment and vocational training in the new kitchen, new workshops and increased horticulture employment and vocational training. This will ensure that the prison regime can continue to operate effectively. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 4 | The prison seems to have prioritised the need to ensure support for prisoners on release to reduce the recall rate. However, it needs to go further and ensure that prisoners are up to date with digital technology, so they are able to use at least the basics, such as email and online banking, etc, which are so critical to successful functioning in the modern world. | Governor / Director |
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 | 1 | 1 |
| Equality | 1 | 1 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 2 | 3 |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 3 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 2 | 13 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 3 | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | 6 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 3 | 5 |
| Property within the establishment | 0 | 3 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 0 | 2 |
| Sentence management, including HDC (home detention curfew), ROTL (release on temporary licence), parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 1 | 1 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 3 | 6 |
| Transfers | 2 | 0 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Warren Hill
Report details
- Establishment
- Warren Hill
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2024
- Published
- 17 September 2024
- Responsible body
- HMP Warren Hill
- Recommendations
- 4
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 4 — Outstanding
Population
| Population | 270 |
| Operational capacity | 267 |
| Time out of cell | 11.8h/day |
Service providers
Careers advice and guidance services
The Forward Trust
Education
People Plus
Employment hub funding
New Futures Network
Family contact
Ormiston Families
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group
IAPT service
The Forward Trust
Social care assessments
Suffolk County Council
Support for substance abuse
Phoenix Futures
Welfare benefits advice
Department for Work and Pensions