Last inspectedSeptember 2025Full inspection, unannounced
Source: HM Inspectorate of Prisons report published 8 December 2025; visiting details from GOV.UK · last checked 29 October 2026
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (September 2025; report published December 2025), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were not sufficiently good for purposeful activity; reasonably good for safety and respect; good for preparation for release. It held 1,115 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 1,145. It is run by Serco Ltd.
Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspection history
Safety: reasonably good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Preparation for release: good Read our story
Safety: reasonably good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Rehabilitation and release planning: good Read our story
Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: reasonably good · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
Work is set to begin on a 1,700-place category C prison next to HMP Garth and HMP Wymott, while Serco has secured two more years running HMP Doncaster.
Two portable workshop buildings due by March 2026 will add 80 activity places a session, according to the Prison Service’s response to an inspection report.
The Jack Reacher author visited men taking part in the Prisons Literacy Project, which he funds and which could expand to 20 more jails with government backing.
Prison News staff
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