Prison
Cat YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Drake Hall
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 17 April 2026
Drake Hall is a prison and young offender institution for women. As a closed prison, Drake Hall faces the same challenges found in other women’s establishments, including an increasingly complex population with poor physical and mental health. The prison population is increasingly complex and many of the women have poor physical and mental health and experience of trauma.
Positive Findings
From its observations, the Board believes the prison provides a generally safe environment in increasingly difficult circumstances. Members of the Board regularly observe constructive and positive relationships between staff and prisoners and so believe that the women are generally treated in a fair and humane manner. The work to resolve problems with administration of medicine is to be commended. The chaplaincy service provides exceptional service to the women.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
In relation to Richmond and Plymouth, the Board asks what the plan is for these buildings – keep them going at any cost, some form of replacement programme or is there no plan in place?
Mental Health
Repeated
Across the female estate an increasing number of women are experiencing crisis associated with serious mental illness. They need treatment in a specialist hospital setting.
Overcrowding
An increasingly complex group of women with more serious risk profiles are being transferred to a prison with no cellular accommodation.
Staffing
The staffing establishment was set at a time when the prison was very different than today. This situation needs to be addressed at a strategic level.
Other
Repeated
Property is a systemic problem across the prison services: digital solutions have proved effective in improving this situation.
Staffing
The Board is interested in the plan to increase the number and quality of keywork sessions.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Low staffing levels may explain some of the difficulties encountered. A review undertaken during the reporting period identified several deficits based on a staffing establishment set prior to Drake Hall becoming a closed prison. Baseline numbers are minimal and this is exacerbated by staff allocated to restricted duties, sickness, absence and turnover.
Healthcare
The women detained at Drake Hall exhibit more severe health problems, both physical and psychological, than would be found in the general population. It is increasingly clear to the Board that the available resources are outstripped by demand. An increasing number of women are experiencing acute mental illness characterised by psychotic symptoms and requiring transfer to hospital. Delays in transfer are the norm.
Regime & Daily Life
Compared to other closed prisons, Drake Hall is unique in that prisoners are in single or double rooms in residential houses and are not isolated in cells for lengthy periods. Regular exercise and association off the house are in place for an hour per day and at times this is reduced due to staffing levels. Reduced or cancelled exercise is often raised as a concern by the women.
Other IMB Reports for Drake Hall
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.