News
Two Isle of Wight prisoners jailed for longer after nine-hour rooftop protest
The men admitted taking part in a prison mutiny that the court heard cost HMP Isle of Wight £9,972.
Prison profile
HMP Isle of Wight
Category BReception / localSexual offences Public (HMPPS)
Population961of 968 operational places (99%)
Last inspectedMarch 2026Full inspection
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (March 2026; report published June 2026), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were not sufficiently good for safety, respect and purposeful activity; reasonably good for preparation for release. It held 961 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 968.
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: not sufficiently good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · 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: not sufficiently good · Purposeful activity: poor · Rehabilitation and release planning: poor 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) ↗
Our reporting
News
Ombudsman finds mental health and safeguarding failings before HMP Isle of Wight death
A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report into the death of Norman Loseby in November 2020 found that his care fell short and that past recommendations had not been fully acted on.
News
HMP Isle of Wight still underperforming despite better grades, inspectors found
Inspectors found improvements in rehabilitation work at the island's category B prison, but rising violence and drug use, high self-harm and indecent night sanitation on the Albany site.
News
HMP Isle of Wight had lost its way on reducing reoffending, inspectors found in 2023
The inspectorate's report on the island prison for men convicted of sexual offences, published in January 2023, found a significant deterioration, with purposeful activity and release planning judged poor.