The prison was given a full inspection in April 2024, the full report can be read on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website, just follow the links below. In their latest report the inspectors said:
HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay is a category D open resettlement prison for adult men near Woodbridge, Suffolk, run by HM Prison and Probation Service, holding 627 men against a certified normal capacity of 655, around 15% of whom are convicted of sexual offences and integrated into the general population. Inspectors rated safety, respect and preparation for release Good, and purposeful activity Reasonably Good, describing Hollesley Bay overall as one of the most impressive jails in the country, crediting an innovative governor and a strong team.
Ninety-four per cent of prisoners were registered with the library and 70% had used it in the previous three months, up sharply from the last inspection, and 87% had a room to themselves, well above comparable open prisons. A fifth of prisoners went out to work in the community every day, and only 11 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and 3 assaults on staff were recorded in the previous 12 months. Prisoners were never locked in their rooms during the day, with free access to the grounds until 8pm on weekdays. Inspectors highlighted ten examples of notable positive practice, including a sequenced progression pathway from induction to release, senior leaders personally meeting all new arrivals, veteran support clinics, and sensory rooms for neurodiverse family visits.
Even so, some staff were described by prisoners as rude or dismissive, though most were friendly and supportive, and only 28% rated the food as good, against a 46% comparator. Health appointment waits for podiatry, physiotherapy and psychiatry were long, with CBT waits of up to 32 weeks, and most prisoners with long-term conditions lacked an individualised care plan. Enrichment activities were insufficient and poorly coordinated, and persistent staff shortages in the community probation team were causing delays in prisoners’ sentence progression.
Charlie Taylor
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
July 2024
To read the full reports, go to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website or follow the links below:
| Inspection report (PDF), Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (3–19 April 2024, published 29 July 2024) | Easy read summary of the 2024 inspection report |
| Action plan, HM Prison and Probation Service action plan in response to the 2024 inspection of HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay | |