HM Prison Rye Hill
HM Prison Rye Hill is a Category B men's private prison, operated by G4S. Rye Hill has exclusively housed sex offenders since 2014.[1] The prison is next to HMP Onley and Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre, south of Rugby, in the parish of Barby, Northamptonshire, England.[2] However, the postal address of the prison is Willoughby, Warwickshire; therefore, most sources list the prison as in Willoughby, Warwickshire.
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| Location | Barby, Northamptonshire |
|---|---|
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Category B/Adult Males |
| Capacity | 664 (September 2009) |
| Opened | 2001 |
| Managed by | G4S |
| Director | Peter Small |
History
Rye Hill Prison, which was built by Carillion opened in early 2001, and has since been operated by G4S under the Private Finance Initiative.[3]
In March 2002, two inmates serving 10-year sentences escaped from Rye Hill by hiding in the back of a delivery lorry.[4]
In April 2004, Member of Parliament Andrew Rosindell responded to the escape of a convicted murderer by calling for a review of security. At the time of his escape, the prisoner had been at University Hospital Coventry receiving a blood transfusion.[5]
In July 2005, an inspection report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons demanded urgent action after finding that the prisoners were bullying the staff. According to the report, inexperienced officers were deliberately overlooking behavioral violations and contraband items for their own safety. Some inmates reported that knives, drugs and alcohol were readily available at the prison.[6] In 2014 under the stewardship of David Thompson OBE the prison was re-roles as a Category B sex-offender prison and has delivered very good outcomes since then.
The prison today
Rye Hill is a Category B prison holding adult males convicted of sexual offences.
Education at the prison is contracted to The Manchester College. Courses and evening classes are offered 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. Commercial contracts such as welding, electronic assembly and commercial laundry are operated from within two workshops.
Notable inmates
- Ian Watkins, former singer with rock band Lostprophets was held here for a period before eventually ending up at HM Prison Wakefield.[7][8] He is jailed for 29 years after pleading guilty to 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape of a baby.
References
- "Prison near Rugby to become national centre for sex offenders". Rugby Advertiser. June 7, 2014.
- "Location of HMP Rye Hill". streetmap.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- "Jail drugs reduced". 23 October 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- "Two inmates still on run". bbc.co.uk. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- "MP wants prisoner security review". bbc.co.uk. 12 April 2004. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- "Jail staff 'bullied by inmates'". bbc.co.uk. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- "Ian Watkins moved to same prison as child killer Ian Huntley". Wales online. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- "Ian Watkins given 10 months for possessing mobile phone in prison". The Guardian. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
