News
Police make 15 arrests in operation against smuggling into HMP Lewes
Four people have been convicted so far after investigators traced parcels of drugs and phones thrown over the walls of HMP Lewes. Several now await sentence.
Prison profile
HMP Lewes
Category BReception / local Public (HMPPS)
Population558of 620 operational places (90%)
Last inspectedJune 2025Full inspection, unannounced
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (June 2025; report published September 2025), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were not sufficiently good for safety and purposeful activity; reasonably good for respect and preparation for release. It held 558 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 620.
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: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Preparation for release: reasonably good Read our story
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: not sufficiently good · Purposeful activity: poor · Preparation for release: not sufficiently 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: 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) ↗
Our reporting
News
HMP Lewes shows clear progress, inspectors find, but drugs and joblessness persist
Inspectors upgraded respect and preparation for release at the Sussex reception prison and praised its leadership, while warning that drugs remained too freely available.
News
HMP Lewes improving under new leaders but drugs too easy to get, inspectors found in 2024
An inspection report on HMP Lewes, published in May 2024, found better relationships between staff and prisoners under a new governor, but drugs, violence and long hours locked in cells remained serious problems.
News
HMP Lewes prisoners locked up 22 hours a day as classrooms sat empty, 2022 report found
An inspection report on HMP Lewes, published in August 2022, found most prisoners had no meaningful activity, dirty wings and poor care for those at risk of self-harm, though release planning had improved.