HM Prison East Sutton Park
Location | East Sutton, Kent |
---|---|
Security class | Adult Females/Young Offenders |
Capacity | 90 |
Opened | 1946 |
Managed by | His Majesty's Prison & Probation Service |
Governor | Amy Dixon |
Website | East Sutton Park at justice.gov.uk |
HM Prison East Sutton Park is a women's open prison and young offender's institute located in the Parish of East Sutton, near Maidstone in Kent, England. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison & Probation Service.
History
East Sutton Park Prison is based in and around an Elizabethan brick house, East Sutton Park, dating from 1570[1] and overlooking the Weald of Kent. The building was requisitioned at the start of World War II, first opened as a borstal in 1946, then was re-registered to take juvenile and adult females some years later.
In 2016 a report by His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons found "East Sutton Park to be an excellent prison where the very strong staff-prisoner relationships underpinned safety and a respectful and purposeful approach to preparing women for release. Violence of any kind was extremely rare and the tensions related to communal living were usually resolved through informal mediation rather than formal disciplinary processes".
The prison today
Accommodation at the prison is divided into 66 rooms of varying sizes. Work at the prison for inmates includes farm work, horticulture, meat processing and catering. East Sutton Park also offers training courses and physical education. Approximately half the prison population work in the community.
Notable former inmates
- Jane Andrews*[2]
- Bachan Kaur Athwal, would have been held at East Sutton Park or the only other open prison for women in England, HM Prison Askham Grange, in preperation for her release in June 2022[3]
- Linda Calvey[4]
- Vicky Pryce[5]
- Dena Thompson, murderer and serial fraudster who is also suspected of having more victims, held at either East Sutton Park or HM Prison Askham Grange (the only other open prison for women in England) before her release in June 2022[6]
- Sarah Tisdall[7]
References
- ^ Brickwork in Kent - Here's History - Kent website
- ^ Rayner, Gordon (23 November 2009). "Murderer Jane Andrews absconds from prison" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Killing the bride for 'family honor'". VnExpress. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "'Black Widow' weds her third husband". 6 April 2009.
- ^ Shiv Malik (17 March 2013). "Vicky Pryce transferred to open prison in Kent | UK news | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Fears 'Black Widow' murderer 'may strike again' as she's prepared for release". Daily Mirror. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ hansard
.millbanksystems .com /written _answers /1984 /apr /12 /sarah-tisdall