HMP Kennet

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In late December 2006, the National Offender Management Service acquired Ashworth East hospital from Merseyside Care Trust to help combat overcrowding within prisons in England and Wales. HMP Kennet has been opened as a Public Sector Category C Prison and forms part of the 2,500 prison places that the Home Secretary has committed to deliver by the end of 2007, and part of the 10,000 places by 2012.

The existing buildings on the site are in the process of being upgraded to meet the specification of a modern prison. There are 7 individual accommodation blocks, mostly of post war construction, comprising of predominantly double occupancy cells and a Segregation Unit. HMP Kennet also has a Healthcare centre staffed by Healthcare professionals from Sefton Primary Care Trust. The regime is enhanced with the provision of workshops, education department, library, chapel, gymnasium and morning, afternoon, evening & weekend visits.

The site and surrounding area was known locally as Kennet Heath, so understandably the name Kennet was adopted for the prison.

Governor: Steve Lawrence

Operational capacity: To be confirmed (approx. 350)

Accommodation: 7 single storey single accommodation units, occupancy 30 to 67 offender placements per unit, comprising of predominantly double occupancy cells, with integral sanitation, showers on all landings, purpose built Serveries, association facilities and an additional Segregation Unit. There is no Vulnerable Prisoner Unit.

Reception criteria: Sentenced male Category C offenders, who will be required to work and/or to develop Education skills, in a pro social environment. Offenders are expected to develop their personal responsibilities towards constructive resettlement on release or progressive moves to Category D.

Due to the number of double occupancy cells, offenders assessed as high risk on cell sharing risk assessments cannot be accepted.

HMP Kennet does not accept: offenders with a history of escape or attempt from closed conditions in the last 4 years; life sentenced or indeterminate sentence offenders; sex offenders; arsonists; offenders with a history of involvement in incidents at height; offenders who have been on closed visits within the last 3 months; and those identified as being involved in prison drug trafficking or dealing in the last 6 months.

Agreement of the Duty Governor must be gained for offenders with further serious charges; Score 3 offenders; and those direct from Segregation Units.

Reception of offenders subject to MAPPA procedures must be arranged with the Head of Offender Management.

www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/kennet