News
HMP Whitemoor improves on safety but daily regime remains poor, inspectors find
The Cambridgeshire high-security prison improved in three of four areas, but staff shortages left too many men locked up during the working day.
Prison profile
HMP Whitemoor
High security Public (HMPPS)
Population455of 458 operational places (99%)
Last inspectedOctober 2025Full inspection, unannounced
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (October 2025; report published February 2026), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were poor for purposeful activity; reasonably good for respect and preparation for release; good for safety. It held 455 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 458.
Read our story Read the inspection report
Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspection history
- Safety: good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Preparation for release: reasonably good Read our story
- Safety: reasonably good · Respect: not sufficiently good · Purposeful activity: poor · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
- Short scrutiny visit during the Covid-19 pandemic; not graded. Read the report (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, opens external site) ↗
Our reporting
News
HMP Whitemoor wings dirtiest the Chief Inspector of Prisons had seen, 2023 report found
A report published in April 2023 found HMP Whitemoor had declined in three of four healthy prison tests, with filthy wings, 59% of men locked in cells and purposeful activity rated poor.