United Kingdom · LTHSE · Leicestershire
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UK Category A prison operated by HM Prison & Probation Service. Listed in the GOV.UK Find a prison directory.
Capacity
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Current population
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Occupancy
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Year opened
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Operational
Figures from official sources · verified 7 Jul 2026 · methodology
Operator
HM Prison & Probation ServicePopulation held
male
Opened
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Region
LTHSE
Security level
Maximum
Death-row facility
No
meant that the turnover of population was very low, with hardly anyone routinely Overall, this is a very encouraging report. At this inspection we found a well-led institution that continued to provide generally good outcomes for those detained. In our tests of a healthy prison, safety outcomes had improved and, along with outcomes in respect and rehabilitation and release planning, were now reasonably good. Only in purposeful activity were outcomes not sufficiently progress. — UK IMB Annual Report (2024) — Safety: 4.1 Reception and induction • Prisoner movements in and out of Gartree are infrequent due to its categorisation as a prison for men serving life sentences; however, over the past reporting period there has been a re-allocation of prisoners to fill the ‘empty’ wing (after fire safety work was completed). The reception function has handled this well and reported issues have related mainly to [...] Respect: 5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food • As with past reports, the Board once again highlights concern about the ongoing deterioration of the fabric and infrastructure at Gartree. The Board continues to hear complaints about the inadequate heating at Gartree. Despite some new generators/boilers being installed there are still regular problems reported, where heating/hot water does not work on selected [...] Purposeful activity: • For the majority of the reporting period, Milton Keynes College was the education provider. However, their contract ended and this function has been taken over by People Plus Group. • The Board is aware that there have been significant reductions to the education provision and courses provided. • There is still an emphasis on promoting/providing maths and English Level 2. • Some of the [...] Preparation for release: • Progression work continues to be challenging, with the number of resettlement courses being limited, exacerbated by the long sentences and the earlier in their sentence plan that prisoners are entering into Gartree. • There has been an increase in prisoners transferring to category C prisons, making space for new category B prisoners who are earlier in their sentences. • In line with the [...]
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working with some very serious offenders and helping them to settle and
released from the prison, although most progressed to lower category prisons along with outcomes in respect and rehabilitation and release planning, were now reasonably good. Only in purposeful activity were outcomes not sufficiently working with some very serious offenders and helping them to settle and time out of cell than we usually see, reasonable arrangements for prisoner prisoners felt respected by staff and nearly all could name their key worker. Formal key work itself was generally good quality, although intermittent. Staff on colleagues in Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of provision of work, learning and skills as ‘requires improvement’.
number of recorded violent incidents, and six self-inflicted deaths since we last inspected in 2017. Recorded self-harm had fallen by 21% in recent times and
Derived signal — not a judgement. How it's calculated
What the score is responding to:
This facility scores 23. The national average across 584 scored United Kingdom facilities is 4 — 19 points above national average.
Same country, matched on type + security level where possible.
4.1 Reception and induction • Prisoner movements in and out of Gartree are infrequent due to its categorisation as a prison for men serving life sentences; however, over the past reporting period there has been a re-allocation of prisoners to fill the ‘empty’ wing (after fire safety work was completed). The reception function has handled this well and reported issues have related mainly to property lost or delayed on transfer. • New arrivals are given inductions / first night safety interviews to help identify risks and vulnerabilities until full inductions can be carried out on G wing (and now D wing) the next day. The Board often receives complaints about basic items such as bedding, plates, cutlery and clothing not being provided on or soon after arrival. Supplies of some basic items continues to be an issue. 4.2 Suicide and self-harm, deaths in custody • Once again, the number of ACCT documents opened has increased over the past year from 243 in 2023/24 to 266 in 2024/25. See Table 1 and 2 below. • Prisoners with an ACCT (assessment, care in custody and teamwork) review are recorded on the daily briefing sheet. Prisoners on ACCTs (and in post closure) are discussed at the weekly safety intervention meeting (SIM) to ensure prison staff and other professionals work together as a multi-disciplinary team to agree the best approach for dealing with the more complex prisoners. • There has been an increase in the recorded number of ‘statements of intent’, from 80 last year to [...]
5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food • As with past reports, the Board once again highlights concern about the ongoing deterioration of the fabric and infrastructure at Gartree. The Board continues to hear complaints about the inadequate heating at Gartree. Despite some new generators/boilers being installed there are still regular problems reported, where heating/hot water does not work on selected wings. • Poor condition of the buildings and cleanliness continues to be an issue on some wings and communal areas. We have found servery areas, association rooms and stairwells dirty, with leftover food and rubbish lying around. It is unfortunate as on some wings the communal areas are clean and well-kept and despite the poor fabric and condition of the establishment, staff and some prisoners make efforts to maintain clean and tidy living conditions as best they can. • The Board has received many complaints about beds (slats missing, dirty and old mattresses), broken or missing cell furniture, nowhere to sit and eat in cells. • Some prisoners with disabilities and/or mobility issues living on G and H wing have voiced concerns to the Board about issues they experience in accessing healthcare facilities. The prison does refer to social care and ensure that modifications are made where appropriate. The Board is also aware that some wheelchair users are unable to access larger cells with wider doors, and issues have occurred for some prisoners who need ‘hospital beds’, as these do not [...]
• For the majority of the reporting period, Milton Keynes College was the education provider. However, their contract ended and this function has been taken over by People Plus Group. • The Board is aware that there have been significant reductions to the education provision and courses provided. • There is still an emphasis on promoting/providing maths and English Level 2. • Some of the prisoners working in the workshops and studio have asked for access to more vocational courses. They are also keen to explore how their skills could be used to provided services that could help the wider community. • The kitchen continues to provide vocational work (and training) but some of the prisoners working there remain frustrated by the working conditions and lower levels of pay. • Workshops offer a range of jobs, from the less skilled (airline headphone refurb/packaging) to the more skilled (sewing shops and a bicycle refurbishment shop) alongside gardening, recycling, print studio and a laundry. • The workshops are run by enthusiastic and well-informed staff, and prisoners engaged in work tend to be happy and grateful to be able to spend time out of their cells and earn money. • The library continues to be popular with prisoners and is well used, not only to obtain books, but also as a learning support hub for those undertaking educational courses and for prisoners who support their peers under the Shannon Trust programme, to improve numeracy and literacy skills. • Unfortunately, [...]
• Progression work continues to be challenging, with the number of resettlement courses being limited, exacerbated by the long sentences and the earlier in their sentence plan that prisoners are entering into Gartree. • There has been an increase in prisoners transferring to category C prisons, making space for new category B prisoners who are earlier in their sentences. • In line with the Security Categorisation Framework, those serving indeterminate sentences have their review as part of the scheduled sentence planning reviews (these are every three years for ISPs). This continues to cause frustration to some prisoners who lose the incentive to behave/progress. • The high number of IPP prisoners at Gartree continues to be a cause for concern, all of whom are significantly over-tariff (they had served well beyond their minimum sentence but had not yet been approved for release by the Parole Board). It is common to find IPP prisoners in the SAPU and many have decreasing hope of meaningful progression, adding to complex mental health needs. • Key work continues to suffer, with frequent staff re-deployments and explanations given by prison management include emergencies, prisoners being monitored elsewhere in prison, timing and illnesses. 23 • Gartree has a young adult (YA) strategy and uses a range of measures to support the YA population (age 21-25), who form a growing number of the prison population. The Board is encouraged by the work being undertaken around, safety, [...]
Located near Market Harborough in Northamptonshire, Gartree is a category B training establishment and part of the prison service’s long-term, high security estate. At the time of our inspection it was holding just under 600 adult men, nearly all of whom were serving indeterminate sentences and were assessed as presenting a significant risk of harm. The long duration of stays at the prison meant that the turnover of population was very low, with hardly anyone routinely released from the prison, although most progressed to lower category prisons over time. Overall, this is a very encouraging report. At this inspection we found a well-led institution that continued to provide generally good outcomes for those detained. In our tests of a healthy prison, safety outcomes had improved and, along with outcomes in respect and rehabilitation and release planning, were now reasonably good. Only in purposeful activity were outcomes not sufficiently good, although even here, much of what we report is better than we have seen recently in similar establishments. New arrivals were generally received well into the prison, and this was important in establishing credibility and good relationships as a first step toward working with some very serious offenders and helping them to settle and progress. This positive approach and culture was also evident in much better time out of cell than we usually see, reasonable arrangements for prisoner consultation and redress, and some very good staff-prisoner relationships. Most prisoners felt respected by staff and nearly all could name their key worker. Formal key work itself was generally good quality, although intermittent. Staff on the smaller units, such the psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) unit, were knowledgeable and caring. The improved safety of the prison was clear, despite a small increase in the number of recorded violent incidents, and six self-inflicted deaths since we last inspected in 2017. Recorded self-harm had fallen by 21% in recent times and was low compared with similar prisons. We found significant evidence of competence and capability in the management of behaviour and the promotion of safety, and this was also true of the promotion of equality, which was now being prioritised, and health care, which had improved since the last inspection. The prison was showing its age and needed investment in the infrastructure; in the meantime, staff had not demanded better standards of cleanliness. Despite this, prisoners were generally positive about their living conditions. Time out of cell was good, but there were too few activity places, and attendance and punctuality at those activities that were available was not good enough. Our colleagues in Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of provision of work, learning and skills as ‘requires improvement’. Work to support offender management was generally satisfactory and the prison’s approach was evolving to deal with the arrival of long-term prisoners earlier in their sentence. Engagement with case managers seemed to us to be appreciated by prisoners and work was supported by a range of interventions, not least the small number of specialist communities providing good support for prisoners with more complex needs. Leaders saw the purpose of Gartree as the stabilisation and settlement of prisoners into long-term custody, supporting them to be good citizens of the prison community. The vision was not without merit and was, to a great extent being achieved, although a more active regime would improve outcomes still further. Leadership from the governor down was visible, energetic and knowledgeable. Prisoners were treated as individuals, and we found many examples of good care. Charlie Taylor HM Chief Inspector of Prisons March 2023
Scrutiny inspection of HMP Gartree (2020-09-29)
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World Prisons. (2026). HMP Gartree. Retrieved July 21, 2026, from https://worldprisons.com/prisons/hmp-gartree
"HMP Gartree." World Prisons. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://worldprisons.com/prisons/hmp-gartree.
@misc{worldprisons-hmp-gartree,
author = {{World Prisons}},
title = {HMP Gartree},
year = {2026},
url = {https://worldprisons.com/prisons/hmp-gartree},
urldate = {2026-07-21}
}