Prison
Cat D, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Sudbury
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 22 October 2021
HMP/YOI Sudbury, an open Category D male and young offenders resettlement prison, had a population of 484 in April 2021, operating at an operational capacity of 564. The reporting year, ending May 2021, was significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions, limiting the Board's observation and affecting many aspects of prison life, including ROTL, social visits, and purposeful activity. Despite challenges, the prison maintained low self-harm rates and experienced no Covid-19 deaths. However, concerns persist regarding the aging infrastructure, property handling during transfers, and access to offender management support.
Positive Findings
The Board noted the consistently low levels of self-harm and no Covid-19 related deaths during the reporting year. Despite pandemic restrictions, the prison successfully maintained some outside work placements and robustly monitored equality issues. Healthcare provision was good in several areas, including dental suite improvements, chronic condition management, and substance misuse support. The chaplaincy provided vital support, and a new Governor established positive relations with the Board.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The IMB's ongoing concerns that the lack of funding for the fundamental improvements to the fabric of the building necessary to ensure decent living conditions at the prison have yet to be acted upon by the Prison Service.
Other
Prisoners continue to experience significant problems with property when they are transferred between prisons.
Substance Misuse
the Board remains concerned about the apparent frequency with which illicit items continue to enter the establishment.
Resettlement/Release
The privatisation of probation services led to huge disruption in release on temporary licence (ROTL) planning for many prisoners.
Resettlement/Release
Many prisoners are not supported in achieving their custody plan objectives or targets, with some not knowing who their Prison Offender Manager is.
Healthcare
Restricted access to doctor and dentist appointments, particularly during the outbreak in April, and a waiting list of 154 patients for dental services.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing was significantly impacted by the pandemic, with redeployment to Covid-19 duties leading to reduced availability of specialist and equalities staff. This also affected prisoners' access to Prison Offender Managers, with some not knowing who theirs was. Healthcare reported some vacancies, but overall communication within the senior management team was good. Education staff adjusted to in-cell learning due to safety concerns.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, provided by Practice Plus, faced disruptions due to Covid-19 but resumed a full range of primary care. A significant Covid-19 outbreak was well-managed, though vaccine uptake was poor among younger prisoners. Dental improvements were made, but a long waiting list remains. Mental health diagnoses did not significantly increase, and drug and alcohol support remained good despite restrictions.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at HMP Sudbury was significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions, with wings operating as 'bubbles', ROTL largely suspended, and social visits curtailed for most of the year. Accommodation, predominantly old and temporary structures, suffered from damp and heating issues, though toilet refurbishment was underway, and new single pods were popular. Prisoners generally had good access to outdoor spaces, but education and vocational training mostly shifted to in-cell learning, and external work placements were severely reduced.
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 | 3 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 1 | 1 | — |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 0 | 0 | |
| Equality | 1 | 1 | — |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 0 | 3 | |
| Food and kitchens | 0 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 0 | 2 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 0 | 1 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 0 | 4 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 2 | 2 | — |
| Property within this establishment | 0 | 0 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 1 | 1 | — |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 1 | 3 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 0 | 0 | |
| Transfers | 1 | 1 | — |
Recommendations (4)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
What measures are proposed to ensure that the return of probation services to the public sector will be managed more smoothly than the privatisation, which led to huge disruption in release on temporary licence (ROTL) planning for many prisoners?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The IMB's ongoing concerns that the lack of funding for the fundamental improvements to the fabric of the building necessary to ensure decent living conditions at the prison have yet to be acted upon by the Prison Service. The Board hopes that this vital issue will be addressed in the coming year.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 3
Prisoners continue to experience significant problems with property when they are transferred between prisons. What can the prison service do to ensure that contractors take proper care of prisoners' property?
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 4
Some measures introduced because of Covid-19, such as the more regulated queuing at mealtimes, have proved popular with many prisoners. Do you anticipate retaining these after the return to 'normal' life? If there is another national lockdown, will the prison be in a better position to respond?
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Sudbury
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.