HMP Drake Hall

Reports

• HMIP22 Jul 2024

  Set in a rural location near Eccleshall in Staffordshire, Drake Hall is a closed prison for up to 340 women, with a small open unit for up to 25 women just outside of the main prison. Although enclosed by a secure perimeter, the prison accommodation consists mainly of single-storey houses, mostly built during the 1990s, set in an otherwise open and well-kept campus. Most women have their own room as well as good access to facilities and amenities. This was our first full inspection since 2020, so it is pleasing to report that the prison continued to deliver some impressive outcomes for women. The jail was safe, respectful and defined by its rehabilitative ethos. In each of these three healthy prison tests we judged outcomes to be good, our highest assessment. In purposeful activity and the provision of a regime, we assessed outcomes to be reasonably good, again better than many similar institutions. The impact of general population pressures had created a much more transient and short-term population at Drake Hall than we have found before. As is so often the case in the much smaller women’s estate, many women came from outside the West Midlands, and were held far away from home, making family contact more difficult. Both factors impacted the experience of women, but the prison was doing some good work to mitigate them. Women received a good induction and although there were low numbers of officers on duty, which limited one-to-one interactions, they were positive about their relationships with staff. Much was done to support vulnerable women, with a range of interventions aimed at those who found the challenge of prison life more difficult. Most women told us that they felt safe, and data supported that perception. There was good support on offer to help women maintain family ties. Consultation and arrangements to manage redress were generally good, and fair treatment for those with protected characteristics was actively promoted. Women were never locked in their rooms and most had plenty of education and work. Some petty rules remained which, for example, needlessly restricted movement around the prison, and some aspects of the regime, notably the gym and library, needed better promotion and access. Work to support risk reduction, public protection and resettlement was impactful and effective, although the use of temporary release from the closed site to promote some of these interventions was inconsistent and often limited. Drake Hall was a competent and settled prison. The prison’s rehabilitative ethos reflected the governor’s priorities and the prison had clearly benefited from stability of leadership for several years. This was about to be tested with the governor’s imminent departure. He leaves an impressive legacy and a platform of achievement that his successor will need to take forward. We highlight a number of priorities which we hope will help with that transition. Charlie Taylor HM Chief Inspector of Prisons August 2024

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• HMIP27 Jan 2020

  Full inspection of HMP/YOI Drake Hall (2020-01-27)

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