HMP & YOI Low Newton “sets the benchmark to which similar jails should aspire”, according to HM Inspectorate of Prisons. Inspectors rated the women’s prison good for safety, respect and preparation for release.
The inspectorate’s report, published in February 2026, followed fieldwork that ended in November 2025. It credited much of the prison’s success to the quality of relationships between staff and the women they look after.
Low Newton, in the North East, is a reception and resettlement prison for women. It is also a high security prison for restricted status women, who need specific management arrangements. It held 267 women during the inspection, against an operational capacity of 298. Some 30% were on remand or unsentenced, and 35% were serving more than four years.
Strong grades and clear progress
Inspectors judged outcomes good for safety, respect and preparation for release. They rated purposeful activity, which covers education, work and time out of cell, as reasonably good.
At the previous inspection in 2021, safety and respect scored good, purposeful activity not sufficiently good and rehabilitation and release planning reasonably good. Purposeful activity and release work have each improved by one step since then.
Of 29 recommendations made in 2021, the prison had achieved 20, partly achieved two and not achieved seven. This time inspectors raised ten key concerns, three of them priorities. They also listed five examples of notable positive practice.
The governor and his team should be proud of their achievements – this prison sets the benchmark to which similar jails should aspire.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
A change of culture
Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor credited the governor, in post since January 2024, with many of the positives. He had focused on creating a more supportive setting for the many very troubled women held. Staff received training on the reasons behind challenging behaviour.
Far more women than at similar prisons said staff cared about their welfare. Senior leaders were very visible and attended consultation meetings with women. Some officers, however, had not yet accepted the new approach.
Violence had risen since 2021. Inspectors said a handful of prisoners drove part of the rise and most incidents were not serious. Use of force had risen sharply over the year, and around 40% of incidents aimed to prevent self-harm. Leaders now encouraged officers to respond to women in crisis without always using force.
Fewer than 10% of drug tests came back positive. Yet nearly half the women surveyed said drugs were easy to get. Mr Taylor criticised delays to a body scanner, which he blamed on “turgid prison service bureaucracy”.
Mental health and health care
Many women had personality disorders or very poor mental health. Two specialist units, the Primrose unit and a psychologically informed planned environment, helped them understand and avoid harmful patterns of behaviour. Inspectors found it surprising that these units had vacancies.
A very strong mental health team worked closely with wing staff. Health care for women with drug and alcohol addiction combined medical and therapeutic support.
The top priority concern, however, was that some very unwell women had come to prison because of a lack of community services, including secure hospital beds. Mr Taylor said the prison still sometimes served as a place of safety for women who should have been in hospital.
Not all clinical areas met infection control standards. In-patients faced a daily stream of other women attending appointments next to their unit, and had very poor time out of cell.
Activity, release and remaining concerns
Women had more time unlocked than in similar prisons. Ofsted, which inspects prison education, rated work and education good. Leaders had kept the range of courses despite funding cuts, though total hours had fallen. Gym staff helped two women gain a fitness qualification, and both later set up their own personal trainer businesses.
The offender management unit was well led. Staff used release on temporary licence to help women keep family ties, go out to work and visit the approved premises they would move to. One woman visited local schools with her offender manager to teach children about the impact of prison.
Housing remained a major gap. Three-quarters of women released in the past year left homeless or without sustainable housing.
Some women endured very long journeys from court, sharing escort vans with men. Inspectors called this practice not decent. Many women also waited too long for phone numbers to be added to their accounts.
Mr Taylor said the team left with confidence that the improvements would be sustained. He wrote that the governor and his team “should be proud of their achievements”.
About this story
This story is based on HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ report on HMP & YOI Low Newton, published on 24 February 2026, following an inspection that ended in November 2025. All figures and judgements are the inspectorate’s. Read the full inspection report · See the prison’s profile in our directory.
