United Kingdom · London · London
HMP Belmarsh
Data is aggregated from public sources and may be incomplete or out of date. Always verify with primary sources before acting on any figure. See data sources.
For families
How to send mail, money, and visit HMP Belmarsh
Step-by-step guidance using the United Kingdom system — addresses, money services, visit booking, what to bring on your first visit.
Gallery
From Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA where not otherwise stated).
Photo by Kleon3 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Kleon3 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Kleon3 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Kleon3 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Kleon3 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Kleon3 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Alisdare Hickson via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Alisdare Hickson via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
UK Category A prison operated by HM Prison & Probation Service. Listed in the GOV.UK Find a prison directory.
Background
His Majesty's Prison Belmarsh is a Category A men's prison located in Thamesmead, south-east London, England. Belmarsh Prison is run by His Majesty's Prison Service and is situated next to HMP Isis and HMP Thameside. The prison is used for high-profile prisoners, particularly those concerning national security. Within the grounds of the prison is the High Security Unit (HSU), consisting of 48 single cells. Belmarsh is nicknamed "Hellmarsh", owing to the high number of physical and authority abuses reported by both the prison's inmates (including former politician Jeffrey Archer, who coined the name and was imprisoned there for two years for perjury), and human rights activists.
Source: Wikipedia article lead, CC-BY-SA.
Capacity
910
Current population
800
Occupancy
88%
Year opened
1991
Operational
Facility profile
Operator
HM Prison & Probation Service
Population held
male
Opened
1991
Region
London
Security level
Maximum
Death-row facility
No
Conditions
Subject to HMI Prisons inspections approximately every 5 years; 2023 report identified long lockdowns and limited purposeful activity.
Visiting
Visits booked online via the GOV.UK Prison Visits Booking service. Visits email: belmarsh.visits@justice.gov.uk. Photo ID required. Visit frequency varies by the inmate's IEP level.
Mailing
Format: Prisoner Name & Number, HMP Belmarsh, HMP Belmarsh Western Way Thamesmead London SE28 0EB See map. Use Send Money to a Prisoner (GOV.UK) for funds — cash not accepted.
Practical info
Assisted Prison Visits Unit can help with travel costs for eligible families. Email a Prisoner service is available via the official website.
Known issues
Subject to multiple High Court rulings on conditions of remand prisoners. High Security Unit conditions criticised by HMI 2018, 2020.
Notable inmates
Julian Assange (2019-2024), Abu Hamza (pre-extradition), Levi Bellfield, Sara Sharif's father (2024).
Contact & address
Conditions Risk Score
Derived signal — not a judgement. How it's calculated
- Overcrowding
- 0/30
- Oversight reports
- 2/30
- Structural flags
- 5/15
- Death signals
- 0/15
- Conditions text
- 0/10
What the score is responding to:
- · 1 oversight report in the last 5 years
- · Substantial documented known-issues record
Trend over time
Population and occupancy by year. Source: official corrections statistics + oversight reports.
Population held
Occupancy %
Compared to other facilities in United Kingdom
583 peersHigher risk than 80% of peer facilities in United Kingdom.
Reports
- HMI Prisons inspection report15 Aug 2023
Found significant lockdowns, restricted regimes for many inmates, and limited purposeful activity. Healthcare provision rated 'reasonably good'.
Data completeness
100%How many of our profile fields are populated. We surface this so families and researchers know the limits.
Sources
- GOV.UK — HMP Belmarsh
- GOV.UK Find a prison index
- Find a prison — GOV.UK — UK Ministry of Justice / HMPPS
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons — reports — HMI Prisons (UK)
- GOV.UK Find a prison — collection — UK Ministry of Justice / HMPPS
- Wikipedia — Wikimedia Foundation
- See /data-sources for our overall methodology.