Prisoners at a Buckinghamshire jail need more support to stop them escaping, a new report has suggested, as it is revealed the number of absconders has gone up.  

HMP Spring Hill, an open prison in Grendon Underwood, holds more than 300 men nearing the end of long sentences, but there has been a rise in the number of prisoners walking out and not returning, according to an HM Inspectorate of Prisons report.

Most of the prisoners are serving sentences longer than four years, with 36 men serving life sentences and 19 serving indeterminate sentences for public protection.

Subject to a risk assessment, many prisoners are allowed out on temporary licence.

The prison report has been made public today (Tuesday) following an unannounced inspection in December.

In the financial year 2015/16, 11 prisoners escaped, with only five absconding in 2016/17. That number went up again in 2017/18 to 13.

The majority of absconders were indeterminate-sentenced prisoners (ISPs), who were “fairly new” to living in open conditions after spending “many years in closed conditions”.

The report added that “some action” is being taken to address the problem, but “more needed to be done to ensure these men were more supported during their first few months, to help them settle in and live confidently in open conditions.”

Despite the number of prisoners escaping, the report found that security arrangements at Spring Hill are “proportionate” but staff need to give more support to prisoners in their first few months to help them settle in.

The inspectors also found some of the residential units at the prison were “dilapidated and in need of significant refurbishment or rebuilding” with an “unreliable” hot water supply and an “inadequate” heating system.

Although the men at Spring Hill have good access to clean clothes, new prison clothing is reserved for men at HMP Grendon, leaving those at Spring Hill with “old, recycled items”.

The prison also does not have a perimeter fence, with the “key risks” within the prison found to be mobile phones, drugs, alcohol and other contraband.

The report said a “large amount” of contraband was seized last year.

Chief inspector Peter Clarke said that overall, the inspection was “encouraging”.

Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, said: I am pleased that the chief inspector has highlighted the positive work being done at Spring Hill to support prisoners into employment post-release.

“This significantly reduces their risk of reoffending. Public protection is our top priority and the Governor has introduced enhanced support for newly received prisoners and further strengthened authorisation procedures for temporary release in line with the Inspectorate’s recommendations.”