Reports published 28 October

HMP/YOI Drake Hall

Type of inspection: full inspection

Dates of inspection: 22 July–1 August 2024

Summary of findings: Drake Hall is a closed resettlement prison for women, with a small open unit. Many women were held a long way from home, but the prison was doing good work to maintain family ties. Staff-prisoner relationships were positive and most women felt safe. They were never locked in their rooms and could access plenty of good-quality education and work. Public protection and resettlement work was effective, but the use of temporary release from the closed site was inconsistent and often limited.

Points to note: There were unnecessary restrictions on time in the fresh air and exercising outside, and the gym and library needed better promotion and access. An impressive range of support to help women cope included a domestic abuse support officer, eating disorder officer and the Hamlet unit, which provided targeted support to some of the most challenging and difficult to reach women.

Read the report: Drake Hall

HMP/YOI Hatfield

Type of inspection: full inspection

Dates of inspection: 15–25 July 2024

Summary of findings: Hatfield is a men’s open prison in South Yorkshire. Strong leadership and a motivated staff team had created a safe environment with hardly any violence or self-harm. A third of the men were working out of the prison on temporary release each day and there were excellent links with local employers, many of whom offered sustained employment on release. Public protection arrangements were robust and most men left the prison with somewhere to live.

Points to note: Hatfield was achieving good outcomes for prisoners in all four of our healthy prison tests. There was particularly good support for family contact. An energetic reading strategy was at the heart of the prison’s positive culture.

Read the report: Hatfield