Last inspectedAugust 2025Full inspection, unannounced
Source: HM Inspectorate of Prisons report published 3 November 2025; visiting details from GOV.UK · last checked 29 October 2026
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (August 2025; report published November 2025), inspectors found outcomes for women were not sufficiently good for purposeful activity; reasonably good for safety, respect and preparation for release. It held 507 women at the time, against an operational capacity of 527.
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: reasonably good Read our story
Safety: reasonably good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: reasonably good · Rehabilitation and release planning: reasonably good Read our story
Amu Gib, held on remand since July 2025, is a candidate for the Islington Community Independents in the 7 May local elections and plans to hold surgeries by video link if elected.
Six young people achieved a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at HMP Bronzefield in 2024-25, and others are now working towards Bronze and Silver awards inside the prison.
A panel of United Nations experts has warned that the treatment of remand prisoners refusing food raises questions about whether the UK is meeting its human rights obligations.
Inspectors rated England's largest women's prison reasonably good on three of four tests. They raised concerns about mentally unwell women, drug withdrawal care and too little time out of cell.
Prison News staff
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