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UK Category A prison operated by HM Prison & Probation Service. Listed in the GOV.UK Find a prison directory.
Background
HM Prison Long Lartin is a Category A men's prison, located in the village of South Littleton (near Evesham) in the Wychavon district in Worcestershire, England. It is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
Leaders had implemented a curriculum that was too narrow. Substantial budget reductions had limited the range of learning opportunities leaders could offer prisoners. Because many prisoners were serving long sentences, leaders had Leaders had recently implemented a new induction process to ensure that prisoners reading, English and mathematics were carried out swiftly. Staff used this guidance (CEIAG) sessions.
— UK IMB Annual Report (2025) —
Safety: 4.1 Reception and induction Long Lartin is a high security prison with a relatively low number of transfers in and out. Most prisoners arrive from other establishments with experience of prison procedures and regimes but some complain of inconsistencies between prisons. Efficient transfer management can fail when accurate timings of prisoner transit are not communicated to the prison. This can [...]
Respect: 5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food Positive initiatives included a working group to regularly remove accumulated waste from outside areas, more frequent grass cutting and provision of more imaginative meal menus. These have been eclipsed by the continued failure of the MoJ to ensure that Amey plc maintains the establishment’s fabric, infrastructure and appliances to the minimum standard for a [...]
Purposeful activity: After an excellent start to the year, the education provision in 2025 has been significantly reduced by national budget cuts. In April an Ofsted report commended the work of the Long Lartin education department describing the provision as being of a high standard. Prisoners have achieved notable successes, including an open university masters degree in global development and an ‘a-level Maths A* [...]
Preparation for release: The Offender Management Unit (OMU) has a full complement of POMs including two prison officer POMs (PPOMs), each managing 40-50 cases. PPOMs manage lower risk cases and, since October have held wing surgeries with mixed success. In the Board’s opinion, the unit is well run and the backlog of OASys assessments and categorisation reviews has been significantly reduced. A periodic OMU information [...]
Visiting
Visits booked online via the GOV.UK Prison Visits Booking service. Photo ID required. Visit frequency varies by the inmate's IEP level.
Mailing
appropriately focused on preparing prisoners for careers in custody and helping them contextualised theory through practical gardening activities, helping prisoners embed men, the number of drugs and phones coming into the jail was a serious developing structures in place to support prisoner consultation. That said, many
Practical info
information effectively to provide careers education, information, advice and education. Its flexible approach had allowed prisoners to pursue education alongside work. The banding system linked pay to work experience and the achievement of educational milestones, and bonuses were used to incentivise the achievement of The prison education services (PES) provider, Milton Keynes College, provided a high standard of education for most prisoners. Most tutors planned their teaching well and Most tutors in education were knowledgeable and experienced in their subject areas.
Known issues
drones, some carrying large payloads of illicit items into this Worcestershire, men, the number of drugs and phones coming into the jail was a serious drugs and alcohol, an astonishing rate for a category A prison. The risks are organised crime. The threat posed by drones was unsettling the staff group and Levels of violence, in part driven by drugs and the accompanying debt, had assessment and induction of new arrivals were limited, the rate of assaults such as adjudications, use of force and, until the week before our inspection, would expect, were generally good, although the mandatory drug testing rate was a surprisingly high 20%. The rate of self-harm had doubled, making it the harmed over the past year.
Notable inmates
Various convicted terror conspirators (names withheld); Charles Bronson (briefly).
Contact & address
HMP Long Lartin South Littleton Evesham Worcestershire WR11 8TZ See map, Worcestershire WR11 8TZ
Higher risk than 0% of peer facilities in United Kingdom.
Capacity (beds)this: 622 · peers avg: 572 (+9%)
Reports
HMIP15 Feb 2026
Official – sensitive: confidential until publication by HMI Prisons. Date tbc
3
Leaders had implemented a curriculum that was too narrow. Substantial budget
reductions had limited the range of learning opportunities leaders could offer
prisoners. Because many prisoners were serving long sentences, leaders had
appropriately focused on preparing prisoners for careers in custody and helping them
adapt to prison life. However, they had not established an English for speakers of
other languages curriculum for prisoners whose first language was not English. As a
result, a few prisoners did not receive the help they needed.
Leaders had recently implemented a new induction process to ensure that prisoners
received their ESW induction promptly on arrival at the prison. Assessments in
reading, English and mathematics were carried out swiftly. Staff used this
information effectively to provide careers education, information, advice and
guidance (CEIAG) sessions. This enabled staff to identify prisoners’ starting points
and direct them to the most appropriate next steps. However, a small number of
prisoners were still awaiting a review of their CEIAG plans due to historic delays.
Leaders had introduced a pay policy that encouraged prisoners to participate in
education. Its flexible approach had allowed prisoners to pursue education alongside
work. The banding system linked pay to work experience and the achievement of
educational milestones, and bonuses were used to incentivise the achievement of
qualifications.
The prison education services (PES) provider, Milton Keynes College, provided a high
standard of education for most prisoners. Most tutors planned their teaching well and
designed the curriculum effectively. For example, in mathematics, tutors sequenced
learning so that prisoners progressed from simple perimeter calculations to more
complex shapes, then to missing‑figure problems. Tutors also adapted and
contextualised theory through practical gardening activities, helping prisoners embed
their learning. As a result, many prisoners achieved the qualifications they studied
for.
Most tutors in education were knowledgeable and experienced in their subject areas.
They held teaching qualifications or were working towards achieving them. Tutors
selected appropriate learning resources and used a range of teaching techniques,
including demonstrations and clear explanations, successfully. Tutors in areas such
as cleaning and art blended theory and practice skilfully, supporting prisoners to
reach their potential.
In a few workshops, instructors did not set high expectations for prisoners’ work
performance and lacked the necessary training and skills to support effective
Official – sensitive: confidential until publication by HMI Prisons. Date tbc
4
learning. Most instructors were specialists in their vocational subjects. However, they
did not hold relevant teaching qualifications or undertake training to improve the
quality of education provided to prisoners. They planned too little work, gave
insufficient priority to personal protective equipment, and did not adequately
consider prisoners’ skills development and personal growth.
Instructors on the wings had ensured that wing cleaners and servery workers were
appropriately trained. However, the standard of work produced by wing cleaners was
inconsistent. On some wings, cleaning was thoroughly completed by dedicated,
well‑supervised prisoners. In other cases, wing cleaners were poorly supervised, so
wings remained dirty, and cleaners were allowed to wander around their wings
unsupervised.
Instructors did not develop prisoners’ employability skills consistently well. Prisoners
new to the workshops monitored their progress by recording activities in the
progress in work workbook. However, instructors did not set individual performance
targets for prisoners who had worked in the workshops for a long time to promot
Urgent action is required from the prison service to reduce the ingress of
drones, some carrying large payloads of illicit items into this Worcestershire,
category A prison. With a population of 574, including some very dangerous
men, the number of drugs and phones coming into the jail was a serious
concern. In our survey, more than 50% of prisoners told us it was easy to get
drugs and alcohol, an astonishing rate for a category A prison. The risks are
clear for a jail that has, in effect, ceded the airspace above it to serious
organised crime. The threat posed by drones was unsettling the staff group and
contributing to the low morale and poor staff survey results from this inspection.
Levels of violence, in part driven by drugs and the accompanying debt, had
risen since our last inspection.
The governor, who arrived in at the end of 2023, had begun to reverse a
deterioration that the prison service had allowed to go unchecked for too long.
He had brought in some new leaders with whom he was beginning to address
the many challenges faced by the prison. The regime, which had been dire at
our last inspection, was closer to what we would expect at this category of
prison, with men out of their cells for up to nine hours a day. In our spot checks,
however, we found a third were locked up and attendance at some workshops
was not good enough. Education provision had improved considerably and
prisoners I met were very positive about the courses they were attending and
the quality of teaching. However, waiting lists for English and maths were too
long.
The Offender Management Unit (OMU) has a full complement of POMs including two prison officer POMs (PPOMs), each managing 40-50 cases. PPOMs manage lower risk cases and, since October have held wing surgeries with mixed success. In the Board’s opinion, the unit is well run and the backlog of OASys assessments and categorisation reviews has been significantly reduced. A periodic OMU information leaflet is issued to help prisoners understand the unit’s role in their progression. Key work has made some progress but the 2020 OMiC model objectives are yet to be achieved. Close liaison between POMs and key workers should aid prisoners’ progression but is unlikely to be achieved until proper staffing levels are restored. Closer liaison between OMU and psychology department has developed in 2025. POMs are encouraged to attend Rule 45 reviews to help plan progression for segregated prisoners but, with some exceptions, their attendance has been inconsistent. Following the LTHSE encompass initiative the prison is promoting building choices, a new unified skills-based programme to provide support to offenders and aid progression. A shortage of trained facilitators delayed commencement until September. The first moderate strand of this programme completed in December. Local assessment panels (LAPs), re-categorisation and OASys reviews observed by the Board have been thorough and well conducted but there is a fear among some category A prisoners that their chance of achieving [...]
5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food Positive initiatives included a working group to regularly remove accumulated waste from outside areas, more frequent grass cutting and provision of more imaginative meal menus. These have been eclipsed by the continued failure of the MoJ to ensure that Amey plc maintains the establishment’s fabric, infrastructure and appliances to the minimum standard for a place of long-term confinement. Responses from the Prisons Minister to the 2024 annual report and a further letter sent to him in October 2025 concerning the kitchen have given the Board little confidence that the situation will improve soon. Wing cleaners are well trained and support wings are very clean. Cleanliness of mainstream wings is variable and is largely dependent upon the availability and willingness of staff to supervise workers and to ensure adequate cleaning materials are available. Large over-full bins containing perishable waste were left in corridors for long periods awaiting removal by the contractor, causing foul smells in hot weather and creating a health hazard. The Board continues to assert that the absence of in-cell sanitation on four wings is inhumane. Essential repairs to the main kitchen began in 2024, requiring the installation of an external temporary kitchen. This was well documented in the IMB annual report of that year. At the end of 2025 much work remains incomplete and further necessary work has been identified. The limited and unreliable facilities of [...]
After an excellent start to the year, the education provision in 2025 has been significantly reduced by national budget cuts. In April an Ofsted report commended the work of the Long Lartin education department describing the provision as being of a high standard. Prisoners have achieved notable successes, including an open university masters degree in global development and an ‘a-level Maths A* grade. In October a Maths mentor received an award for his work from the Prison Reform Trust and 25 Koestler Arts prizes were awarded. Four men are currently studying on open university degree courses. A valuable link was forged with Warwick University continued this year. During May and June a number of their academics visited the prison to teach ‘key concepts of sociology and criminology’ and in October the university presented Long Lartin prisoners’ artwork at their exhibition ‘timing out-reflections on prison life.’ In the Board’s view the library staff continue to provide excellent support and the library is a valuable resource for prisoners. The Monday creative writing course is proving to be popular and thought-provoking. In April, national efficiency savings resulted in cuts to the education budget, resulting in the cancellation of business studies and IT courses and a reduction in courses on catering and personal and social development. Further cuts were made in October when the MoJ changed the way prison education contracts were managed. The result was an estimated budget [...]
4.1 Reception and induction Long Lartin is a high security prison with a relatively low number of transfers in and out. Most prisoners arrive from other establishments with experience of prison procedures and regimes but some complain of inconsistencies between prisons. Efficient transfer management can fail when accurate timings of prisoner transit are not communicated to the prison. This can disrupt the reception process, causing lastminute changes and cancellations, which is frustrating for both prisoners and staff. Early in the year some prisoners reported poor administration, denial of basic needs and lack of peer support on arrival, especially out of normal working hours. The Board understands that these complaints are being addressed. Wing inductions are normally thorough but can be subject to change and cancellation. The history and vulnerabilities of new prisoners are reviewed at the weekly safety intervention meeting (SIM). Frequent delays in reuniting new arrivals with their property continue to be a source of anxiety for prisoners. 4.2 Suicide and self-harm, deaths in custody Due to the number of self inflicted deaths during the year the prison was classified as a death cluster site. Some of the final death in custody reports from the coroner and the PPO are not yet available. Those reports which have been published have identified some procedural weaknesses but on the whole clinical care was found to be of an equivalent standard to that which can be expected in [...]
The education department has had a successful year which was recognised by Ofsted who described the provision as being of high quality. Committed and enthusiastic teachers, assisted by the support team, have improved lives and outcomes for many prisoners. Peer mentors, who are well regarded by their fellow prisoners, have also made an important contribution. Good attendance levels throughout the year reflect the quality of provision and the enthusiasm for learning. Education places allocated increased from 1,546 in May to 2,504 in October. In addition to literacy, numeracy and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), available courses include catering, cleaning, health and wellbeing and business. New courses in music technology and barbering were introduced this year. Work in a range of categories submitted to Koestler Arts resulted in an impressive number of awards in 2024. Where appropriate, one-to-one education is encouraged with increasing take-up, particularly in the CSRU. The Board is concerned that progression is too limited and that academically gifted prisoners are unable to realise their potential. Most accredited programmes reach no further than level 2 with the exception of art and business at level 3. Many serving long sentences would gain from further advanced study which would offer challenge, raise self- esteem and support rehabilitation. The library provides valuable support and prisoners make good use of the facilities. The creative writing course [...]
This was a busy year for the Offender Management Unit (OMU) with the additional work required for the national early release (SDS40) scheme. Four prisoners were eligible and although the unit made every effort to work with the community probation service to finalise post release plans, the response was not always satisfactory. 21 The number of overdue offender assessment system (OASys) reports was reduced to 54 from 107 in 2023 Prisoners’ contact with their POMs has improved and new prisoners meet them within 14 days of arrival. Surgeries are held fortnightly in the ISFL and plans are in place to introduce them in workshops in 2025. Single point of contact POMs (SPOC POMs) now work with TACT (Terrorism Act 2000) prisoners, young adults, prisoners on the offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway and in the pre-PIPE unit. However the 2019 offender management in custody (OMiC) model for close collaboration between POMs and key workers appears to be difficult to achieve (see 5.3). The number of category C prisoners, for whom Long Lartin is an unsuitable location, has reduced from nine at the end of 2023 to five in 2024. A priority for the OMU has been to improve support for imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners of whom there were 17 at the end of 2024. Many remain in prison well beyond their tariff, leaving them without hope or trust, often resulting in disengagement from the process. Progression plans for these prisoners have now been developed focussing on [...]
5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food The fabric and infrastructure of the establishment continues to deteriorate and Amey appears to be either unwilling or unable to provide an acceptable level of service. In spite of assurances from Ministers in letters dated 11 May 2023, 18 September 2024 and 19 November 2024 there has been no improvement in the management of maintenance and repairs. There is now a general acceptance by managers, staff and prisoners that any significant improvement in the performance of Amey, whose site managers rarely remain in post for more than a few months, will not happen. The kitchen has been allowed to deteriorate year by year until its closure was forced in 2024, leaving staff to manage with an external temporary kitchen in a single cabin to produce meals for nearly 600 prisoners. Following recognition that this was totally inadequate, a second external kitchen of six cabins was installed, providing slightly better facilities but located even further from wing serveries. Food preparation has been difficult and menu scope has been limited. Neither of the temporary kitchens has been suitable for employment of prisoners so a small number of staff have worked in cramped conditions, cooking and washing up with limited appliances and have continued to produce one hot meal each day. Wastewater discharges into an already overflowing sewage pit a few feet from food preparation areas. The electricity generator has frequently broken down and in cold weather the [...]
4.1 Reception and induction Transfers in and out increased during the year from less than 10 to nearer 20 each month placing more demands on reception staff. Most prisoners are transferred in from other prisons and have knowledge of prison procedures and regimes. Complaints of poor administration, denial of basic needs and lack of peer support on arrival, especially out of normal working hours have been evident. We note some improvements to the incoming property searching process. The history and vulnerabilities of new arrivals are reviewed at the weekly safety intervention meeting (SIM). Inductions are normally thorough but can be subject to change and cancellation. Delays in reuniting new arrivals with their property continue to cause anxiety. 4.2 Suicide and self-harm, deaths in custody During the year, there were six deaths in custody. One death was from natural causes and the outcomes of the other deaths are awaited pending investigation from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) and the Coroner. The number of self-harm incidents has increased considerably during recent years and is higher than in equivalent LTHSE prisons. There were 664 incidents during 2024, as Annex B, Table 1. The main causes of self-harm have been identified by the prison safety team and confirmed by board monitoring as: • ready availability of drugs leading to debt, intimidation and violence • minimal return in 2023 to a full regime following Covid-19 • lack of support for prisoners addicted [...]
Located in the Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire, Long Lartin is a high security
prison holding up to 514 adult men, many of whom are among the highest risk
and most serious offenders in the country. At the time of our inspection, for
example, of the 478 prisoners in residence, 141 were designated as category A,
the highest security classification, and 449 were serving indeterminate
sentences including life. Walking around the prison wings, we met many
individuals who faced or had already spent many years, even decades, in the
prison, with the imposition and requirements of security an ever-present
pressure on their experience. Many expressed to us their frustrations with life in
Long Lartin, and some their sense of hopelessness.
Overall, this inspection was disappointing, with assessments in three of our four
healthy prison tests – safety, purposeful activity, and rehabilitation and release
planning – all deteriorating since we last inspected in 2018. Only in respect did
outcomes remain the same, although it was still judged not sufficiently good.
For a high security prison, most surprising among these tests was safety, where
the priorities and purpose of such institutions ordinarily mean better scores.
While there were some positive aspects, arrangements for the reception,
assessment and induction of new arrivals were limited, the rate of assaults
against staff was the highest among comparable prisons, and other metrics
such as adjudications, use of force and, until the week before our inspection,
the number of prisoners segregated, were all high. Security processes, as we
would expect, were generally good, although the mandatory drug testing rate
was a surprisingly high 20%. The rate of self-harm had doubled, making it the
highest among comparable prisons, with 92 separate individuals having self-
harmed over the past year. There had been eight self-inflicted deaths since the
last inspection.
First opened in the early 1970s, the prison had undergone at least two
significant phases of development since the late 1990s, leaving it with a mix of
accommodation types. Environmental standards varied across the site: some
accommodation units were not clean enough, investment in the older units was
needed, and there was a problem with rat infestation in the grounds.
Reasonable staff-prisoner relationships were something of a mitigation, with
most prisoners saying they were treated with respect, and we saw some
developing structures in place to support prisoner consultation. That said, many
prisoners felt frustrated at their inability to get things done, formal complaints
were high and arrangements which might have supported and made better use
of reasonable relationships, such as key work, were lacking. Work to promote
equality was similarly inconsistent. Outcomes in health care were generally
good.
A split daily regime meant that most prisoners could be unlocked for at least 2.5
hours a day and twice that for the few who had a job. Limited evening
association up to 6.30pm was available for some prisoners, although a repeated
complaint among those we spoke to was the unpredictability of routines. Severe
officer shortages were directly linked to the very limited opportunities to engage
in purposeful activity. Our colleagues in Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness
of learning and skills provision as ‘inadequate’, their lowest assessment. Added
to this we found a series of significant shortcomings in the promotion of family
ties, offender management, offending behaviour interventions and public
protection arrangements, all issues that should have been institutional priorities.
This inspection gave us the sense that Long Lartin needed a reset. Leaders
were not fully sighted on several of the weaknesses we identified and tended to
overestimate their achievements. Staffing shortages were hindering delivery,
and while there were some useful plans to improve this situation,
