Women’s prison is rated excellent after inspection
A women’s open prison has been rated as excellent by the chief inspector of prisons.
East Sutton Park is a facility for about 100 women and young offenders in Sutton Valence.
Sited off Workhouse Road and based around a 16th century mansion, the site rehabilitates inmates and prepares them for life in the outside world.
The women are encouraged to work on the farm forming part of the 84-acre estate, either with the animals or in the farm shop.
In 2014, a report by the Independent Monitoring Board, which looks at standards across the UK, found East Sutton had lost 55% of its officers between September 2010 and September 2013, going from 22 to 10. This made the site the worst hit by staff losses in Kent.
In spite of this, the chief inspector of prisons, Peter Clarke, found the prison to be in excellent condition after an unannounced visit before Christmas.
His report noted violence was extremely rare and activities worked well at preparing women for future employment.
Mr Clarke said: “We considered East Sutton Park to be a very good prison, which did very well at what it set out to do: Prepare women for release and resettle them into the community.
“Leadership of the prison was very strong, with a clarity of vision and purpose, and staff understood this and the role they played in achieving the aims set. Given the prolonged and continuing uncertainty about the future of the prison, this was quite an achievement.”
He added a number of women told him the prison’s regime had helped turn their lives around.
In 2013 plans to close the jail were announced, with the Min- istry of Justice saying it wasn’t needed as part of its employment programme.
Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, praised East Sutton’s staff, adding: “Our intention is to replicate this approach in community prisons across the country, allowing many more women to be held closer to home.
“East Sutton Park will continue to play an important role until these improved arrangements are in place.”