UK Prison Statistics
Data-driven insights into the state of the UK prison system
Snapshot
Week-over-week changes in the latest reporting period.
Total Population
86,779
Latest reported population
720 (-0.82%)Capacity
89,012
Useable operational capacity
43 (-0.05%)Headroom
2,233
Available spaces
677 (43.51%)Overcrowding Rate
97.5%
Capacity utilization
1 (-0.77%)Prison Population
86,779
720 (-0.82%)England & Wales 05 October 2026
Reoffending Rate
25.4%
Proven reoffending
Occupancy Rate
97.5%
Prison capacity utilization
Employment on Release
17.0%
Find employment
Useable Operational Capacity
89,012
43 (-0.05%)Total prison places
Headroom
2,233
677 (43.51%)Available spaces
Population vs Capacity
86,779
89,012
Population
Capacity
Adult Male
83,149
670 (-0.80%)Adult male prisoners
Female
3,367
40 (-1.17%)Female prisoners
Young Custody (YCS)
263
10 (-3.66%)Youth custody service
Home Detention Curfew
3,342
159 (-4.54%)HDC caseload
Prison Population Trend
England & Wales total prison population
Overcrowding Trend
Occupancy rate across the weekly reporting period
Population vs Capacity Trend
Historical comparison of prison population against operational capacity
Population by Region
Latest reported prison population for each UK jurisdiction.
England and Wales
86,779
Latest figure (2026)
Scotland
7,800
Latest figure (2024)
Northern Ireland
1,850
Latest figure (2024)
Prison Capacity
Capacity and population for individual prisons across the estate.
| Prison | Category | Region | Operator | Capacity | Population | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMP & YOI Bronzefield | Women's prison | Privately Managed Prisons | Sodexo | — | — | — |
| HMP & YOI Parc | Category B | Privately Managed Prisons | G4S | — | — | — |
| HMP & YOI Peterborough | — | — | Sodexo | — | — | — |
| HMP Altcourse | Category B | Privately Managed Prisons | Sodexo | 1,194 | 1,193 | 99.9% |
| HMP Ashfield | Category C | Privately Managed Prisons | Serco | — | — | — |
| HMP Aylesbury | Category C | South Central | HMPPS | 435 | 401 | 92.2% |
| HMP Bedford | Category B | East of England | HMPPS | 371 | 418 | 112.7% |
| HMP Bedford | Category B | Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Belmarsh | Category A | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Belmarsh | Category A | London | HMPPS | 831 | 847 | 101.9% |
| HMP Berwyn | Category C | HMPPS Wales | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Birmingham | Category B | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | 997 | 976 | 97.9% |
| HMP Birmingham | Category B | West Midlands | HMPPS | 997 | 976 | 97.9% |
| HMP Bristol | Category B | South West | HMPPS | 564 | 526 | 93.3% |
| HMP Bristol | Category B | Avon and South Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Brixton | Category B | London Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Brixton | Category B | London | HMPPS | 801 | 789 | 98.5% |
| HMP Buckley Hall | Category C | North West | HMPPS | 343 | 447 | 130.3% |
| HMP Buckley Hall | Category C | Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Bullingdon | Category B / Category C | South Central Group | HMPPS | 1,112 | 1,102 | 99.1% |
| HMP Bullingdon | Category B / Category C | South Central | HMPPS | 1,112 | 1,102 | 99.1% |
| HMP Bure | Category C | East of England | HMPPS | 708 | 699 | 98.7% |
| HMP Bure | Category C | Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Cardiff | Category B | HMPPS Wales | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Cardiff | Category B | Wales | HMPPS | 850 | 840 | 98.8% |
| HMP Channings Wood | Category C | Devon and North Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Coldingley | Category C | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | 513 | 505 | 98.4% |
| HMP Coldingley | Category C | South East | HMPPS | 513 | 505 | 98.4% |
| HMP Cookham Wood | Category C | — | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Cookham Wood | Category C | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | 180 | 150 | 83.3% |
| HMP Dartmoor | Category C | South West | HMPPS | 659 | 649 | 98.5% |
| HMP Dartmoor | Category C | Devon and North Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Deerbolt | Category C | North East | HMPPS | 513 | 479 | 93.4% |
| HMP Doncaster | Category B | Yorkshire and the Humber | Serco | 1,145 | 1,121 | 97.9% |
| HMP Doncaster | Category B | Privately Managed Prisons | Serco | — | — | — |
| HMP Dovegate | Category B | Privately Managed Prisons | Serco | — | — | — |
| HMP Downview | Female | South East | HMPPS | 332 | 348 | 104.8% |
| HMP Drake Hall | Female | West Midlands | HMPPS | 315 | 361 | 114.6% |
| HMP Durham | Local | North East | HMPPS | 917 | 917 | 100.0% |
| HMP Durham | Category B | North East Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Elmley | Category B / Category C | South East | HMPPS | 846 | 846 | 100.0% |
| HMP Erlestoke | Category C | South West | HMPPS | 519 | 541 | 104.2% |
| HMP Erlestoke | Category C | Avon and South Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Exeter | Category B | Devon and North Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | 310 | 307 | 99.0% |
| HMP Exeter | Category B | South West | HMPPS | 310 | 307 | 99.0% |
| HMP Featherstone | Category C | West Midlands | HMPPS | 709 | 692 | 97.6% |
| HMP Featherstone | Category C | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Feltham | YOI | London | HMPPS | 863 | 761 | 88.2% |
| HMP Five Wells | Category C | Privately Managed Prisons | G4S | — | — | — |
| HMP Ford | Category D | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Ford | Category D | South East | HMPPS | 521 | 480 | 92.1% |
| HMP Forest Bank | Category B | North West | Sodexo | 1,470 | 1,463 | 99.5% |
| HMP Forest Bank | Category B | Privately Managed Prisons | Sodexo | 1,470 | 1,463 | 99.5% |
| HMP Fosse Way | Category C | Privately Managed Prisons | Serco | — | — | — |
| HMP Foston Hall | Female | East Midlands | HMPPS | 321 | 339 | 105.6% |
| HMP Frankland | Category A / Category B | North East | HMPPS | 839 | 801 | 95.5% |
| HMP Frankland | Category A / Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Full Sutton | Category A / Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Garth | Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Gartree | Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Grendon | Category B | South Central Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Guys Marsh | Category C | Devon and North Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Haverigg | Category D | Cumbria and Lancashire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Hewell | Category B | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Highpoint | Category C | Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Holme House | Category B | North East Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Hull | Category B / Category C / Category D | Yorkshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Humber | Category C | Yorkshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Huntercombe | Category C | South Central Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Isle of Wight | Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | 968 | 961 | 99.3% |
| HMP Kirkham | Category D | Cumbria and Lancashire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Kirklevington Grange | Category D | North East Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Lancaster Farms | Category C | Cumbria and Lancashire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Leeds | Category B | Yorkshire | HMPPS | 1,110 | 1,088 | 98.0% |
| HMP Leeds | Category B | Yorkshire Group | HMPPS | 1,110 | 1,088 | 98.0% |
| HMP Leicester | Category B / Category C / Category D | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Leyhill | Category D | Avon and South Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Lindholme | Category C | Yorkshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Littlehey | Category C | Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Liverpool | Category B | Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Liverpool | Category B | North West | HMPPS | 1,244 | 1,180 | 94.9% |
| HMP Long Lartin | Category A / Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Lowdham Grange | Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | 888 | 836 | 94.1% |
| HMP Maidstone | Category C | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | 583 | 526 | 90.2% |
| HMP Manchester | Category A / Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Manchester | Category A / Category B | North West | HMPPS | 1,206 | 1,150 | 95.4% |
| HMP Millsike | Category C | Privately Managed Prisons | Mitie C&C | 1,500 | — | — |
| HMP Morton Hall | Category C | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP North Sea Camp | Category D | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Northumberland | Category C | Privately Managed Prisons | Sodexo | 1,236 | 1,223 | 98.9% |
| HMP Nottingham | Category B | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Oakwood | Category C | Privately Managed Prisons | G4S | — | — | — |
| HMP Oakwood | Category C | West Midlands | G4S | 2,106 | 1,950 | 92.6% |
| HMP Onley | Category B | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | 742 | 729 | 98.2% |
| HMP Pentonville | Category B / Category C / Category D | London | HMPPS | 1,205 | 1,189 | 98.7% |
| HMP Prescoed | Category D (open) | HMPPS Wales | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Preston | Category B | Cumbria and Lancashire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Ranby | Category C | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Risley | Category B | Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Rye Hill | Category C | Privately Managed Prisons | G4S | — | — | — |
| HMP Send | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Spring Hill | Category D | South Central Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Stafford | Category C | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Standford Hill | Category D | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | 464 | 412 | 88.8% |
| HMP Stocken | Category C | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Sudbury | Category D | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Swaleside | Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | 922 | 879 | 95.3% |
| HMP Swansea | Category B | HMPPS Wales | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Thameside | Category B | Privately Managed Prisons | Serco | 1,232 | 1,213 | 98.5% |
| HMP Thameside | Category B | London | Serco | 1,232 | 1,213 | 98.5% |
| HMP The Mount | Category C | Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk Group | HMPPS | 1,032 | 1,022 | 99.0% |
| HMP The Verne | Category C | Avon and South Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Usk | Category C | HMPPS Wales | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Wakefield | Category A / Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Wandsworth | Category B / Category C | London Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Wandsworth | Category B / Category C | London | HMPPS | 1,628 | 1,450 | 89.1% |
| HMP Warren Hill | Category C | Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk Group | HMPPS | 269 | 267 | 99.3% |
| HMP Wayland | Category C | Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Wealstun | Category C | Yorkshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Whatton | Category C | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Whitemoor | Category A / Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | 458 | 455 | 99.3% |
| HMP Wormwood Scrubs | Category B / Category C / Category D | London Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP Wymott | Category C | Cumbria and Lancashire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Askham Grange | Female Open | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Aylesbury | Category C | South Central Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Brinsford | Category C | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Chelmsford | Category B | Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Chelmsford | Category B | East of England | HMPPS | 780 | 750 | 96.2% |
| HMP/YOI Deerbolt | Category C | North East Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Downview | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Drake Hall | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI East Sutton Park | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Eastwood Park | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Elmley | Category B / Category C | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Foston Hall | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Hatfield (Main site) | Category D | — | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI High Down | Category B | London Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Hindley | Category C | Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay | Category D | Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Isis | Category C | London Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Lewes | Category B / Category C / Category D | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Lincoln | Category B | East Midlands Group | HMPPS | 614 | 567 | 92.3% |
| HMP/YOI Low Newton | Female Closed | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Moorland | Category C | Yorkshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI New Hall | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Norwich | Category B / Category C / Category D | Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Pentonville | Category B / Category C / Category D | London Group | HMPPS | 1,205 | 1,189 | 98.7% |
| HMP/YOI Portland | Category C | Avon and South Dorset Prison Group | HMPPS | 534 | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Rochester | Category C | Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Stoke Heath | Category C | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Styal | Women's prison | Women’s Estate | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Swinfen Hall | Category C | West Midlands Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Thorn Cross | Category D | Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Winchester | Category B / Category C | South Central Group | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMP/YOI Woodhill | Category B | Long Term & High Security | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMYOI Feltham | — | — | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMYOI Werrington | Youth & young offenders | CYPSE | HMPPS | — | — | — |
| HMYOI Wetherby | Youth & young offenders | CYPSE | HMPPS | 288 | — | — |
Electronic Monitoring
Data as of June 2026
Total EM Caseload
27,847
2.5%All monitoring types
GPS/Location
16,034
2.1%Location monitoring
Curfew/RF
8,241
2.6%Radio frequency curfew
Alcohol
5,130
2.0%SCRAM monitoring
EM Caseload Trends
Monthly caseload by monitoring type
Caseload by Cohort
Distribution of EM caseload across different cohort types
Data Sources
Data compiled from Ministry of Justice, HMPPS annual reports, Prison Reform Trust, and Howard League research. Last updated: 05 October 2026.