Too many women leave prison with nowhere to live

A women's prison in Surrey has been told in a new report that too many of its inmates are freed without having anywhere to live.

The findings are the result of an unannounced inspection carried out on HMP Downview in Banstead by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in February.

The facility, which currently holds 302 inmates and is also a young offenders' institution, was told that less than a quarter of those released had sustainable accommodation to go to, while about 10% were homeless or failed to attend housing arranged for them.

The report, published on Monday, also found Downview to be "safe, well run and having improved since its last inspection".

The report cited "shortages in probation staffing both inside and outside the jail" as having led to "some high-risk and vulnerable women not having their post-release living arrangements confirmed until much too late".

An example was given of "confusion" regarding one outgoing prisoner whose "offers of places at two different approved premises were withdrawn just before her release day".

A last-minute hostel was then secured but never attended, resulting in the prisoner subsequently being recalled, it added.

A lack of "through the gate" support from community-based resettlement agencies was also blamed for impeding prisoners' ability to "plan their onward journeys".

Elsewhere, the report found that some officers were "abrupt and dismissive" to the women in their care, but, overall, staff-prisoner relationships were said to be "strong".

In addition, while inmates had "good access to purposeful activity during the week, too many were locked in their cells at weekends".

The findings added that those needing treatment under the Mental Health Act faced lengthy delays in being transferred to secure hospitals, with one case having to wait 156 days.

The availability of illicit drugs, including the trading of prescribed medication, was also said to "pose a risk to the stability of the prison and to women's health and well-being".

HMP Downview first opened in 1989 as a category C men's prison.

In 2001, it was converted into an establishment for women. However, in 2013, the Ministry of Justice announced its intention to turn it back into a men's prison.

It later closed for nearly three years before the decision was made to retain it as a womens' prison.

Downview then reopened in May 2016.

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