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HMP Send: A very good, well-led, rehabilitation-focused prison

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A strong focus on rehabilitating the women in its long-term care and excellent leadership are driving the success of HMP Send, a women’s prison in Surrey, according to a recent inspection.

A positive learning culture, alongside the amount of time unlocked, was helping to make sure women were engaged in work and education based on their needs and what they might experience outside prison. Both the range of learning on offer, and the capacity of courses, had been expanded. An excellent array of recreational activities further supported well-being.

The work was complemented by proactive offender management. Contact between prison offender managers (POMs) and women was planned and regular and responded to events and changes in individuals’ circumstances. Prisoners’ thinking and behaviour was challenged during sessions, and the POMs worked with other departments – such as health care – to make sure women got the help they needed.

Support to encourage women to maintain and rebuild family ties was also strong. Dedicated staff were available to those coping with the loss of a child, and family engagement workers ran a course focused on the impact of addiction and childhood experiences on parenting.

The prison was safe, caring and respectful; women were helped on arrival and treated with compassion during their stay. There was little self-harm or violence, and consultation was meaningful. Living conditions were also good, with the addition of new accommodation units.

Some areas for improvement were identified – help for non-English speakers and the management of complaints among them – but they were outweighed by the many positives.

Send is a very good prison, with an ambitious, visible Governor who leads from the front. Priorities are communicated, staff are supported, and new opportunities created. There is an energy and sense of purpose at Send and staff should be congratulated on the excellent work they are doing to support the rehabilitation of women there.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Notes to editors

  1. The inspection of Send took place between 17 March – 3 April 2025.
  2. HMP Send is a closed training prison near Woking in Surrey. It was re-purposed to hold women in 1998 and provides places for up to 255, most of whom are serving long sentences up to and including life, and many of whom who pose a significant risk of harm to others.
  3. The report, published on 1 July 2025, can be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website.
  4. 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.
  5. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.