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population of 976 men, of whom 88% were remanded or on short fixed-term improvements since the appalling outcomes identified in 2018. On this visit, we found the prison remained stable, despite changes to the population, but there was a disappointing deterioration in our healthy prison test scores for both Prisons described: ‘a prison that was rife with drugs and violence, a staff team that had retreated to wing offices for their own safety and prisoners held in
— UK IMB Annual Report (2024) —
Safety: The prison has a comprehensive meeting structure to address safety, including suicide/self-harm, violence and use of force. The monthly safety review meeting analyses extensive data in relation to violence, suicide and self-harm at HMP Birmingham and formulates actions to address the issues identified. The IMB has observed five of these meetings within the year. These meetings are well attended [...]
Respect: 5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food Following the transfer to L wing for induction prisoners, there appears to have been a noticeable effect on the general wellbeing of those involved, including staff, who have found managing the smaller unit less stressful. It has been confirmed that following the refurbishment of wings A, B and C all cells within these wings will be single occupancy. The CSU has [...]
Purposeful activity: Education HMP Birmingham is a local prison. A total of 70% of the men are in the establishment for less than 12 weeks, which presents huge challenges for education, learning and skills. The curriculum is designed with this in mind and priority is given to Maths, English and personal and personal and social development (PSD). Prisoners need to achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before they [...]
Preparation for release: The offender management unit (OMU) has been exceptionally busy during the reporting year, due to the changes in legislation relating to sentences, which have been introduced at short notice. Principal among these changes has been the change from Standard Determinate Sentences from SDS 50 to SDS 40. (Previously prisoners served 50% of their sentence in prison and this has now changed to 40%) These [...]
Visiting
improvements since the appalling outcomes identified in 2018. On this visit, we
Mailing
Format: Prisoner Name & Number, HMP Birmingham, HMP Birmingham Winson Green Road Birmingham B18 4AS See map Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey .. 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
Prisons described: ‘a prison that was rife with drugs and violence, a staff team
Frederick Walter Stephen West (29 September 1941 â 1 January 1995) was an English serial killer and child molester, who committed at least twelve murders between 1967 and 1987 in Gloucestershire, Englandâthe majority with his second wife, Rose West.
The victims were girls and young women.
Michael Collins (Irish: MÃcheál à Coileáin; 16 October 1890 â 22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician who was a leading figure in the early-20th century struggle for Irish independence.
Michael Collins (Irish: MÃcheál à Coileáin; 16 October 1890 â 22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician who was a leading figure in the early-20th century struggle for Irish independence.
Olive Wharry (29 September 1886 â 2 October 1947) was an English artist, arsonist and suffragette, who in 1913 was imprisoned with Lilian Lenton for burning down the tea pavilion at Kew Gardens.
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (3 December 1948 â 22 July 2025) was an English singer, songwriter, and media personality.
Source: Wikidata + Wikipedia.
Contact & address
HMP Birmingham Winson Green Road Birmingham B18 4AS See map Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey ., Birmingham B18 4AS
Birmingham, a busy category B reception prison, held a highly transient
population of 976 men, of whom 88% were remanded or on short fixed-term
recalls.
At our last inspection in 2023, we found the jail had made remarkable
improvements since the appalling outcomes identified in 2018. On this visit, we
found the prison remained stable, despite changes to the population, but there
was a disappointing deterioration in our healthy prison test scores for both
The prison has a comprehensive meeting structure to address safety, including suicide/self-harm, violence and use of force. The monthly safety review meeting analyses extensive data in relation to violence, suicide and self-harm at HMP Birmingham and formulates actions to address the issues identified. The IMB has observed five of these meetings within the year. These meetings are well attended by senior leaders and partner agencies. However, in the Board’s view, more consistent attendance by heads of residence and residential managers would be beneficial, as they are crucial to ownership of safety and stability within the prison. There is a regular weekly, multi-disciplinary safety intervention meeting (SIM), attended by operational managers and partners, which directly addresses the safety needs and care planning of more complex prisoners. Further meetings exist to directly track, address and reduce the use of force. The prison safety hub/safety team actively promotes ownership of the safety agenda throughout the prison. They work with managers and staff, particularly within residence, to support, train, coach and give feedback to improve compliance with safety and violence reduction processes. In the Board’s view, the ability of the safety team to deliver proactive tracking of incidents and timely support to staff and prisoners has been undermined, throughout the reporting period, by the cross deployment of the custodial managers and other operational staff within the [...]
Education HMP Birmingham is a local prison. A total of 70% of the men are in the establishment for less than 12 weeks, which presents huge challenges for education, learning and skills. The curriculum is designed with this in mind and priority is given to Maths, English and personal and personal and social development (PSD). Prisoners need to achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before they can be allocated work. Prisoners are screened for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and learning difficulties when they enter prison and are given appropriate support, including one-to-one sessions if required. According to the learning and skills department, the average man in the prison left school at 12 and has no formal qualifications. From the Board’s observations, those attending education experience a calm and supportive learning environment, with well-trained and motivated teachers, the critical issue being that many prisoners who could attend do not do so. Attendance is very poor, despite the fact that peer mentors and some officers do their best to encourage attendance. The Prison Service contract with the education provider stipulates that newly received prisoners must be contacted by the education department to start their induction on their second day in prison. Some prisoners feel overwhelmed and refuse to attend, although they may later regret this when they want a job. Average attendance over the year is only 57% of those who have been allocated to [...]
The offender management unit (OMU) has been exceptionally busy during the reporting year, due to the changes in legislation relating to sentences, which have been introduced at short notice. Principal among these changes has been the change from Standard Determinate Sentences from SDS 50 to SDS 40. (Previously prisoners served 50% of their sentence in prison and this has now changed to 40%) These changes have put extra pressure on the unit, as well as on probation and resettlement staff. Progression There are still issues with the amount of time prisoners spend on remand; then, when sentenced, the waits are too long for a transfer, particularly to the category B/long-term estate. Prisoners can use in-cell phones to keep in touch with family, and the visits hall is also open every day for social visits. Some prisoners who use wheelchairs have not readily been able to see family when lifts have been out of order, the prison has facilitated some domestic visits on the units. As mentioned previously, social visits for prisoners or family members who have neurodivergent needs have been a great success. The expectations hub, which is run by prisoners, sends all prisoners due to be released an invitation to attend a pre-release drop-in session. These are held weekly on Tuesdays and are attended by staff from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), housing advisors, including an Accommodation Commissioned Rehabilitative Services provider the National Association for the Care and [...]
5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food Following the transfer to L wing for induction prisoners, there appears to have been a noticeable effect on the general wellbeing of those involved, including staff, who have found managing the smaller unit less stressful. It has been confirmed that following the refurbishment of wings A, B and C all cells within these wings will be single occupancy. The CSU has suffered badly due to cell damage, at one point having only four operational cells. An order has been placed for special, non-destructible furniture, including beds and tables, which is still in the process of being completed and with no delivery date yet given. The CSU is also in the process of being reorganised and is awaiting appropriate funding. The main potential change will be the relocation of the psychology team onto the wing to facilitate greater individual mental health support for the men. Kit is still proving to be problematic, with another £32,000 having to be spent on replacement. One of the major issues is the need to send laundry to HMP Liverpool, as the on-site laundry is still not operational, despite what appears to be a total rebuild. The problem has been exacerbated by not having a considerable number of items returned from the laundry at HMP Liverpool. The Board does not believe that there are comprehensive processes in place to monitor and track kit within the prison. This issue continually comes up at the prison council meetings. Kitchen Complaints about food [...]
The inspection of HMP Birmingham in the summer of 2018 led to an Urgent
Notification to the Secretary of State, in which the then Chief Inspector of
Prisons described: ‘a prison that was rife with drugs and violence, a staff team
that had retreated to wing offices for their own safety and prisoners held in
Michael Collins1890–1922 · politician
Lee Hughes1976 · association football player
Charlotte Marsh1887–1961 · social worker
Olive Wharry1886–1947 · suffragette
Ozzy Osbourne1948–2025 · musician