HMP Leyhill was a safe and decent prison which helped to prepare
prisoners for release, said Peter Clarke, Chief Inspector of
Prisons. Today he published the report of an unannounced
inspection of the open prison in Gloucestershire.
HMP Leyhill currently holds around 500 men. A major element of
its role is the preparation of many men being held there for
release back into the community. Given the serious nature of the
offences committed by some of the men, the long sentences they
have served and the changing nature of the prison population,
this is a complex and challenging task. Since its last inspection
in 2012, the population of the prison had changed. In 2012, sex
offenders accounted for about 20% of the prisoners at Leyhill. On
this more recent inspection, it was around 60%.
Inspectors were pleased to find that:
- violent incidents were rare and low-level victimisation,
including that directed towards sex offenders, was managed
well;
- the number of self-harm incidents was very low and prisoners
at risk of self-harm were supported well;
- security was proportionate and the number of absconds had
reduced year on year;
- the prison was proactively addressing the supply and demand
of illicit drugs and the use of new psychoactive substances had
declined;
- staff-prisoner relationships were good;
- the management of learning and skills was good and the
quality of teaching and learning was outstanding;
- public protection measures were mostly sound and release on
temporary licence (ROTL) assessments were high quality; and
- the offender management unit was appropriately focused on
reducing risk and the quality of risk (OASys) assessments was
good.
However, inspectors were concerned to find that:
- although inspectors commended the use of prisoners as
orderlies, mentors and advice workers, they needed to be properly
trained and supervised;
- access to ROTL was problematic and too few placements were
available; and
- the lack of approved premises delayed the release of some men
who had been deemed ready for release by the Parole Board.
Peter Clarke said:
“HMP Leyhill was a safe and decent prison. The high standards
inspectors saw in 2012 had not only been maintained, but improved
upon. The outcome of this inspection is a credit to all of the
staff at Leyhill and the way they have responded to the energetic
and committed leadership given by the senior management of the
prison.”
Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of the National Offender
Management Service, said:
‘I am pleased that the excellent work being undertaken at Leyhill
has been recognised in this report.
“The quality of skills training, work and education are
impressive, providing prisoners with the skills they need to
secure new jobs and prevent re-offending on release.
“The Governor and her staff can be very proud of the quality of
work they are doing on behalf of the public. They will use the
recommendations in this report to further improve the prison.”
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
- A copy of the full report, published on 25 January, can be
found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website
at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons
- 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.
- HMP Leyhill is an open prison, accommodating category D male
prisoners over the age of 25. Its specialist function is to
assess and prepare indeterminate-sentenced prisoners for
release.
- This unannounced inspection was carried out from 5-16
September September 2016.
