News
HMP & YOI Portland improves activity but drugs and self-harm rise, inspectors found
Inspectors found renewed purpose and good education at the category C prison, but drug use, debt-related violence and self-harm had all grown since 2022.
Prison profile
HMP & YOI Portland
Category C Public (HMPPS)
Population–of 534 operational places (0%)
Last inspectedJanuary 2026Full inspection, unannounced
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (January 2026; report published April 2026), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were not sufficiently good for safety and preparation for release; reasonably good for respect and purposeful activity.
Read our story Read the inspection report
Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspection history
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: reasonably good · Preparation for release: not sufficiently good Read our story
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
- Inspection report. Read the report (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, opens external site) ↗
Our reporting
News
Portland prison has come a long way since 2019, but self-harm is rising, inspectors found
The inspectorate's report on HMP & YOI Portland, published in November 2022, praised an impressive turnaround under new leadership but warned of rising self-harm, stretched mental health services and too little full-time work.