HMP & YOI Hindley

At its last full inspection (December 2023; report published March 2024), 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 593 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 600. An independent review of progress was published in September 2024.

Read our story Read the inspection report

Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).

1. September 2024 · Independent review of progressFollow-up visit assessing progress against the key concerns from the previous full inspection. Read the report (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, opens external site) ↗
2. March 2024 · Full inspectionSafety: not sufficiently good · Respect: not sufficiently good · Purposeful activity: poor · Preparation for release: reasonably good Read our story
3. January 2021 · Scrutiny visitShort scrutiny visit during the Covid-19 pandemic; not graded. Read the report (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, opens external site) ↗

News

Ombudsman criticises Hindley over drugs and missed checks before prisoner’s death

Dylan Woodhead died 10 days after his transfer to HMP Hindley. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found he obtained drugs with ‘apparent ease’ and that staff missed roll checks.

Prison News staff1 Sep 2026

News

HMP & YOI Hindley drug test rate highest in England and Wales, inspectors find

More than half of mandatory drug tests at the prison near Wigan came back positive. Inspectors found high violence, rising self-harm and too little work or education.

Prison News staff12 Mar 2024