Prison
Cat Open Category D, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Sudbury
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 31 October 2023
HMP/YOI Sudbury is an open Category D resettlement prison. The Board noted positive developments including reduced assaults, improved staff-prisoner relationships, and successful external work placements, despite a rising population. Key concerns include the persistent issue of illicit items, significant delays in ROTL applications often due to external probation services, the poor state of accommodation, and the inefficient transfer of prisoner property. The report highlights the need for better IT infrastructure and more consistent complaint processing.
Positive Findings
HMP/YOI Sudbury has seen reduced assaults and low self-harm incidents, alongside improved staff-prisoner relationships and the effective CSIP system. The Board commends the prison's successful resettlement focus, evidenced by 170 external work placements and the Sunbelt welding training model. Improvements in dormitory shower facilities, vermin control, and high food standards have enhanced the living environment. The healthcare team managed a significant population increase effectively, and the new ISFL dormitory is a positive initiative for drug-free living. The prison has also strengthened its diversity and inclusion work, with a robust DIRF process and a welcome focus on the needs of young adults and older prisoners.
Key Concerns
Healthcare
The medication tracker unit is still not in use despite over a year of waiting.
Safety
The prison’s ongoing challenges of preventing the entry of illicit items seem to indicate a lack of human and technological resources to combat and discourage this behaviour.
Other
The negative impact of some responses from probation services in the community to prison offender manager (POM) requests for action in processing prisoners’ applications for release on temporary licence (ROTL).
Education/Purposeful Activity
Low levels of functional skills attainment amongst prisoners arriving at the prison, despite many having served substantial sentences in the closed estate.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Opportunities for resettlement activities at the prison are significantly hindered by lack of connectivity affecting Wi-Fi availability.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Prisoners transferred in are often late and therefore are disadvantaged because they arrive outside the normal working regime of the prison.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The general poor state of prisoner accommodation at Sudbury, particularly dormitory accommodation, remains an extremely live issue for prisoners.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Prisoner property is not being efficiently transferred with them, and this has little improved since we reported on it last year.
Substance Misuse
The high proportion of positive mandatory drug testing (MDT) outcomes.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There is no quiet space for prisoners who may wish to find some respite from sharing a room on a busy and often noisy dormitory.
Complaints/Property
A substantial number of complaints which were not processed by the deadline.
Other
Perceived inconsistencies between offender management unit (OMU) staff in processing their ROTL applications and in the communication of progress with these.
Safety
Prisoners who arrive at Sudbury out of working hours for the healthcare centre may potentially be at risk until they can be seen by a healthcare professional the following day.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The incentives for compliance initially promised for the ISFL project have been slow to be delivered, resulting in some asking to leave the dormitory.
Safety
The Board has noted with concern that some prisoners who have a legitimate need to leave their workplace for appointments are failing to return once these have been completed.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The issue of learners withdrawing from courses once begun, which was reported in last year’s report, remains an issue.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
There is no provision to teach English as a second language (ESOL).
Resettlement/Release
There is a lack of opportunities in office-based, fitness and catering areas for work placements.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The prisoner pay structure has not improved despite a review undertaken this year.
Substance Misuse
There are many challenges to overcome in developing drug awareness sessions for families and carers (PACT service).
Substance Misuse
There has been an absence during this year of representatives from Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous due to a lack of volunteers.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
A lack of presence in the chapel from orderlies, which was not always the case, is observed when prisoners go there seeking support.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The small wildlife garden needs further maintenance and liaison with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has lapsed.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The prison faces ongoing staffing challenges, particularly in the Offender Management Unit due to shortages and population increase, and some activities like Peak District walks are uncertain due to staffing issues. Healthcare has made a bid for additional staff to cope with rising numbers. While education provider staffing has improved, sickness, maternity leave, and turnover still caused some disruption. Staff turnover also prevented the launch of the Inclusion Step Forward initiative.
Healthcare
Healthcare is provided by Practice Plus Group, with dental services by Time for Teeth, physiotherapy/chiropody by Premier Services, and social care by Derbyshire County Council. The centre operates seven days a week, but the mental health team cannot offer evening surgeries. There is a 2-3 week wait for GP appointments and a 14-20 week wait for dental services, though urgent dental needs are met locally. The number of prisoners with complex health needs has doubled to 10 this year, and the healthcare team effectively managed 151 new arrival assessments in one month, though they lack nurse prescribers and have no access to psychological services.
Regime & Daily Life
Prisoners enjoy considerable freedom of movement inherent in an open establishment, which is a welcome change for many. Efforts have been made to enhance the site environment with outside seating and floral displays. Gym access is available, often restricted to weights, with additional evening activities like badminton and previously, Peak District walks (now uncertain due to staffing). However, a key concern remains the lack of quiet spaces for prisoners seeking respite from busy, shared dormitories.
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 transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| All other | 16 | 23 | |
| Discipline/Adjudication/Incentives | 11 | 10 | |
| Discrimination | 0 | 3 | |
| Healthcare | 6 | 6 | — |
| Offender Management Unit/Parole | 12 | 19 | |
| Property | 19 | 12 | |
| Staff/prisoner relationships | 0 | 3 | |
| Total applications to the IMB | 113 | 116 | |
| Work/Education/Vocational training | 4 | 2 |
Recommendations (12)
HMPPS: 7
Governor / Director: 5
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
The Board has commented on the negative impact of some responses from probation services in the community to prison offender manager (POM) requests for action in processing prisoners’ applications for release on temporary licence (ROTL). Can the prison service explain what lies behind this problem and what can be done to improve matters?
HMPPS
Progression
Recommendation 2
The Board’s observations are that the prison’s ongoing challenges of preventing the entry of illicit items seem to indicate a lack of human and technological resources to combat and discourage this behaviour. Will it be possible to address this in future resourcing allocation processes?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 3
The Board has commented on the low levels of functional skills attainment amongst prisoners arriving at the prison, despite many having served substantial sentences in the closed estate. What can be done to address this and ensure that education provision in closed prisons helps prisoners to be ready for the external work opportunities offered at prisons such as Sudbury?
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 4
Opportunities for resettlement activities at the prison are significantly hindered by lack of connectivity affecting Wi-Fi availability. Can this be addressed?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
There have been ongoing concerns noted by the Board that prisoners transferred in are often late and therefore are disadvantaged because they arrive outside the normal working regime of the prison. Is the Prison Service able to influence the transport contractors to improve this?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Whilst acknowledging that the Board’s annual reports repeatedly comment on the general poor state of prisoner accommodation at Sudbury, it remains an extremely live issue for prisoners and therefore bears repeating again. The extent to which the prison is able to make any substantial improvements to dormitory accommodation, in particular, is limited. What can be done to make the environment for prisoners better?
HMPPS
Estate
Response
Work has been carried out throughout the year to improve shower areas on all dormitories and the Board has observed that this has significantly improved the environment for prisoners. Dormitory toilet area refurbishment is now under way and due to be completed in the coming year. Kitchen areas on dormitories have been allocated some microwaves, fridges and toasters, but the number of these remains fewer than prisoners feel is required. The Board acknowledges that provision of these appliances supports prisoners in the transition to release in encouraging them to cater for themselves. As has been documented on many previous occasions in IMB annual reports, the capacity to allocate more appliances is always severely limited by the electrical infrastructure, which cannot support additional electrical demand.
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
This report refers to the issue of prisoner property not being efficiently transferred with them as little improved since we reported on it last year. What can be done to ensure that a prisoner arrives at Sudbury with all the property he is entitled to in his possession?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 8
We have commented on the high proportion of positive mandatory drug testing (MDT) outcomes. What measures can be put in place to address this?
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 9
There is no quiet space for prisoners who may wish to find some respite from sharing a room on a busy and often noisy dormitory. Can suitable accommodation be found to address this?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 10
The Board has noted a substantial number of complaints which were not processed by the deadline. What measures can be put in place to address this?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 11
Prisoners have reported to the Board the perceived inconsistencies between offender management unit (OMU) staff in processing their ROTL applications and in the communication of progress with these. What measures can be put in place to ensure more consistency in this process?
Governor / Director
Progression
Recommendation 12
The Board has commented positively on the focus this year of identifying the needs of the young adult and age 60-plus groups. Will this work be continuing with the aim of encouraging more prisoners in these groups to engage with employment opportunities?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Sudbury
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.