Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Warren Hill
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 1 November 2023
HMP Warren Hill, a Category C adult male prison with an operational capacity of 267, maintained a safe environment despite some low-level bullying. The Board noted improved use of safety interventions (CSIPs, ACCTs) and zero deaths in custody. Key challenges included persistent issues with food provision, the suspension of the ROTL pilot, and delays in progression caused by Secretary of State interventions. The IMB made recommendations regarding food quality, estate investment, digital skills for resettlement, and urges review of the ROTL suspension.
Positive Findings
Warren Hill is a prison that feels safe for both prisoners and staff. The IMB is pleased to report an increase in the use of CSIPs and ACCTs, demonstrating staff training has been beneficial. Prisoners are involved in decision-making and have attendance at many formal meetings. The standard of healthcare provision is generally like that in the community. Success at parole hearings continues to be high. The on-site approved premises are welcomed and beneficial for prisoners. The IMB commends the prison's commitment to the Enabling Environment accreditation and notes the impressive skill of prisoners working with raptors.
Key Concerns
Food/Catering
Repeated
Ongoing concerns about the provision and quality of food provided by the Hollesley Bay kitchen.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The recent decision to suspend the ROTL pilot.
Other
Repeated
The transfer of prisoners’ property is still a major concern for the prisoners themselves and causes a lot of administrative hassle.
Estate/Conditions
There are some areas of the prison where further investment is required and although work is currently underway on one of the shower blocks there still remains much outstanding work.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The IMB would like to see further development in resettlement support, including the use of digital technologies which are so critical to successful functioning in the modern world.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Staff shortages continued to affect People Plus, the education provider, which in turn has impacted on the learners at Warren Hill. The IMB are disappointed that People Plus and the prison are still bound by a restrictive contracts process.
Resettlement/Release
The intervention (as of May 2023) by the Secretary of State to delay and in some cases prevent movement to category D conditions or to release following successful parole hearings, which has had a serious impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many prisoners affected.
Healthcare
There are discrepancies between local authorities when it comes to the funding of social care. Prisoners who come to the prison from, for example, Norfolk 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.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Prisoners have expressed dissatisfaction about pay levels, which are fixed by Warren Hill but appear to be inconsistent across the prison estate. Discontent is further fuelled by the effect of the increasing costs of items they wish to purchase.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Warren Hill has experienced significant staff changes due to retirements and moves, resulting in a large number of younger, inexperienced staff. While prisoners sometimes comment on officers' skills, management support is considered appropriate. A monthly training lockdown ensures staff complete refresher training, including key working skills. Key worker session delivery stands at 69%, with efforts ongoing to reach the ideal 100%.
Healthcare
Healthcare is provided by Practice Plus Group in modern facilities, generally on par with community provision. The increase in older prisoners and those with social care needs has led to over 10% of the population requiring social care, posing cost and staffing implications. The GP service, provided on a locum basis, has experienced occasional shortages. The mental health team is actively supporting 44 prisoners in crisis, but discrepancies in social care funding between local authorities remain a concern, impacting equipment provision for prisoners transferring from other areas.
Regime & Daily Life
Warren Hill operates a full regime with prisoners generally unlocked for most of the day between 7.45am and 7.30pm. The working week includes nine sessions, with Friday afternoons and weekends for leisure and purposeful activity. However, the Board expressed disappointment at the decision to suspend the ROTL pilot, urging its early reinstatement. Furthermore, interventions by the Secretary of State delaying movement to Category D conditions or release have negatively impacted prisoner mental health. Some prisoners who choose not to work remain in their cells during working hours.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 0 | 1 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 1 | 0 | |
| Equality | 1 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 0 | 0 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 6 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 13 | 3 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 3 | 4 | |
| Miscellaneous | 6 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 5 | 6 | |
| Property within the establishment | 3 | 0 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 2 | 4 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 1 | 5 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 6 | 1 | |
| Transfers | 0 | 1 |
Recommendations (4)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 1
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
The Board urges that the recent decision to suspend the ROTL pilot be reviewed.
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
In light of ongoing concerns about the provision of food from the Hollesley Bay kitchen, the Board asks again that consideration be given to reinstating the kitchens at Warren Hill.
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 3
Warren Hill is well maintained although there are some areas of the prison where further investment is required and although work is currently underway on one of the shower blocks there still remains much outstanding work.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prison has prioritised the need to ensure support for prisoners on release in order to reduce the recall rate. The IMB would like to see further development in this area, including the use of digital technologies which are so critical to successful functioning in the modern world.
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Warren Hill
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.