HMP Warren Hill in Suffolk, which holds some of the most serious offenders in England and Wales, was found to have maintained high standards as it supported prisoners to progress through long sentences.

At time of the inspection in November and December 2019 it held around 240 prisoners in closed conditions. However, Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said it was “a far from typical closed prison.”

As in 2015, the prison was assessed as good, the highest grade, for safety, respect and rehabilitation and release planning. It was reasonably good for purposeful activity.

“Warren Hill is unusual among category C closed prisons in that it is entirely dedicated to delivering a range of services in specialist environments to support long term or complex prisoners towards progression into open conditions or for release into the community,” said Mr Clarke. “It holds some of the most serious offenders in the prison estate. While to a certain extent they have been ‘selected’ for the unique regime the prison offers, we should not underestimate the risk they pose or the achievements of the prison in managing their behaviour,” he added.

Within the prison there is a therapeutic community, a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) and other units delivering what is described as a progression regime. It is notable, Mr Clarke added, that “this is one of very few establishments that has such an unwavering focus on progression and on offering prisoners the opportunity to demonstrate, when being considered for re-categorisation, parole or release, how they have reduced the risk that they pose.”

Warren Hill was the safest category C prison in the country, with the lowest levels of self-harm and violence among comparable establishments. It was also thoroughly respectful, with strong staff-prisoner relationships.

All prisoners were in single cells and were given excellent time out of cell, and the range of activities, both educational and extra-curricular, was impressive. There were more than enough activities available to keep every prisoner occupied on a full-time basis, though the food was merely adequate and not all prisoners could afford to supplement it with supplies from the prison shop.

The one key concern for inspectors focused on expanding and improving the education provision, and ensuring that attendance was encouraged on a consistent basis.

Inspectors recommended using the internet and video on social media to enable prisoners to contact their families. Mr Clarke commented: “We are well aware of the potential risks associated with this, but would encourage Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to think innovatively as to how these risks could be managed and trials conducted in appropriate circumstances. It is surely inevitable that at some point in the future this will be seen as an entirely normal feature of prison life, and Warren Hill could well be the type of environment in which the possibilities and benefits could be usefully explored.”

Inspectors also identified 16 features of the prison that they considered to be good practice. Overall, Mr Clarke said:

“Warren Hill was an excellent facility that benefited from dedicated staff delivering a range of specialist interventions in an atmosphere that encouraged good behaviour. It offered prisoners serving long sentences, many of whom have had little hope of progressing in the past, the chance to begin the often long and difficult path towards release or being placed in open conditions. We commend the approach and achievements at Warren Hill, and hope that the approach that is taken there to underpin effective rehabilitation can be used as an example for other establishments to follow.”

Phil Copple, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Director General of Prisons, said:

“The Governor and staff should be extremely proud of making this the safest category C prison in the country. We are very grateful for all of their hard work. The prison has low levels of self-harm and violence, while relationships with prisoners are strong – giving them the best possible chance of turning their lives around.”

– END –

Notes to editors

1. The report, published on 19 March 2020, can be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website.

2. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.

3. Previously an establishment holding children aged 15 to 18, in 2014 the prison became a category C establishment holding adult men in a developing progression regime, a therapeutic community (TC) and a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE).

4. HMI Prisons assesses adult prisons against four ‘healthy prison tests’ – safety, respect, purposeful activity and rehabilitation and release planning. There are four grades – good (4), reasonably good (3), not sufficiently good (2) and poor (1). In both 2015 and 2019 Warren Hill scored 4-3-4-4.

5. Notable features from this inspection: Warren Hill had the lowest incidence of self-harm and violent incidents among category C prisons; the prison comprised a therapeutic community, a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) and several units running a progression regime; it had recently become the only prison in England and Wales to be awarded prison-wide Enabling Environment accreditation (EE); all prisoners were in single cells; there was no segregation unit; and over 90% of prisoners were serving an indeterminate sentence.

6. This unannounced inspection took place between 18 November and 6 December 2019.

7. Please contact John Steele at HM Inspectorate of Prisons on 07880 787452, or at john.steele@justice.gov.uk, if you would like more information.