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HMP Prison Drake Hall is a women's closed prison, located near the town of Eccleshall in Staffordshire, England. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
Set in a rural location near Eccleshall in Staffordshire, Drake Hall is a closed prison continued to deliver some impressive outcomes for women. The jail was 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 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 staff.
Visiting
Booked online via the GOV.UK Prison Visits Booking system. Photo ID required. Visit frequency depends on the inmate's Incentives & Earned Privileges (IEP) level.
Mailing
Format: Prisoner Name & Number, HMP Drake Hall, Eccleshall, ST21 6LQ. Cash not accepted — use Send Money to a Prisoner (GOV.UK).
Practical info
In purposeful activity and the provision of a regime, we assessed outcomes to prison was doing some good work to mitigate them. Women received a good 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
Known issues
HM Inspectorate of Prisons completed a full inspection of HMP/YOI Drake Hall in July 2024 and a full inspection in January 2020; reports are available on the HMIP website.
Higher risk than 0% of peer facilities in United Kingdom.
Capacity (beds)this: 340 · peers avg: 576 (41%)
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
