News
Staff shortages leave cells empty at four English prisons, MoJ figures show
Hundreds of prison places are unused for lack of staff while the Government releases 4,500 prisoners early to ease the capacity crisis.
Prison profile
HMP & YOI Norwich
Category D (open)Reception / local Public (HMPPS)
Population746
Last inspectedJanuary 2026Full inspection
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (January 2026; report published April 2026), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were not sufficiently good for purposeful activity; reasonably good for safety, respect and preparation for release.
Read our story Read the inspection report
Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspection history
- Safety: reasonably good · Respect: reasonably 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: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Rehabilitation and release planning: reasonably good Read our story
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: not sufficiently good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
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News
£38m HMP Norwich wing adds only 10 places after two older wings close
The refurbished Elizabeth Fry wing was meant to provide 170 extra places. The Prison Officers’ Association blames staff shortages, while the prison service points to fire safety work.
News
Prisoner gets two more years for threatening former partner from HMP Norwich phone
A 27-year-old man got round a call block to leave voicemails threatening to kill his former partner and to share her private photographs with other prisoners.
News
Norwich prisoner granted second day release five weeks after pub assault arrest
A man who had served more than 19 years for murder was allowed out of HMP Norwich again weeks after his arrest for attacking a female bouncer. He then absconded for two days.