News
Deerbolt stabbing that punctured prisoner’s lung brings further jail terms
Two young men already serving life sentences admitted grievous bodily harm after the attack on F-Wing in April 2025. A third prisoner received four months.
Prison profile
HMP & YOI Deerbolt
Category C Public (HMPPS)
Population403of 474 operational places (85%)
Last inspectedDecember 2024Full inspection, unannounced
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (December 2024; report published March 2025), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were poor for purposeful activity; not sufficiently good for safety and respect; reasonably good for preparation for release. It held 403 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 474. An independent review of progress was published in November 2025.
Read our story Read the inspection report
Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspection history
- Follow-up visit assessing progress against the key concerns from the previous full inspection. Read the report (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, opens external site) ↗
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: not sufficiently good · Purposeful activity: poor · Preparation for release: reasonably good Read our story
- Follow-up visit assessing progress against the key concerns from the previous full inspection. Read the report (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, opens external site) ↗
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Rehabilitation and release planning: reasonably good Read our story
Our reporting
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News
Former Deerbolt officer given suspended sentence over relationship with prisoner
A love letter found during a search of her car in the prison car park exposed the officer’s relationship with a man in her care.
News
Former Deerbolt officer spared jail over relationship with prisoner
A woman who worked as an officer at HMP Deerbolt received a suspended sentence after admitting a relationship with a prisoner who kept an illicit phone in his cell.
News
Three prisoners reportedly taken to hospital after disorder at HMP Deerbolt
A specialist Prison Service team in riot gear entered the County Durham jail on 12 January, and local papers report that three prisoners needed hospital treatment.