Category B prisons
Category B prisons are closed prisons with additional physical and procedural security for people presenting a greater risk of escape or disorder. The Category B group has 9 prisons in our dataset: 8 run by HMPPS; 1 privately run (Serco: Dovegate). By designation they are 9 HMP. This is HMPPS's role label for the prison, not the security category of any individual prisoner.
- Prisons
- 9 1 privately run
- Operational capacity
- 6,403 Itemised sites, 24 Aug 2026
- Market supplements
- 3 HMPPS pay page, 3 Oct 2026
- Regions
- 4 Geographic regions
The Category B group in numbers
Across the 8 sites with an itemised figure, HMPPS reports an operational capacity of 6,403 and a population of 5,999 (94%) at 24 August 2026. The largest is HMP Dovegate at 1,160; the smallest is HMP Manchester at 572; the highest occupancy is HMP Dovegate at 99% of its operational capacity. 1 site here share a combined HMPPS figure with a neighbour and is left out of these totals.
Of the 8 HMPPS-run prisons, 8 in the National zone. Band 3 entry pay on 39 hours runs from £37,131 (Manchester) to £44,131 (Swaleside) once any supplement is counted. On the HMPPS market supplement list: Swaleside (£3,500), Woodhill (£3,500), Grendon (£1,500).
HMPPS's 2025/26 performance ratings cover 9 of them: 1 outstanding, 2 good, 1 of concern, 5 serious concern. The highest overall score is 91.7% (Grendon) and the lowest is 47.2% (Isle of Wight).
9 prisons have an HMIP report on record; 9 have four graded tests from a full inspection. On safety the latest full inspections gave 1 good, 2 reasonably good, 2 not sufficiently good and 4 poor. None had every test at reasonably good or better. 6 were graded poor on at least one test. The newest report is Isle of Wight (June 2026) and the oldest is Gartree (May 2023).
Staffing against target (Band 3 to 5, hours-adjusted FTE, 30 June 2026) is published for 8 of them: 312 FTE short in total, with Swaleside furthest below (-69). A gap is a staffing measure, not advertised vacancies.
Geographically the group is spread across South East (4), North West (2), East Midlands (2), West Midlands (1).
Counted from our dataset, 3 October 2026.
Prison by prison: key numbers
| Prison | Capacity | Full | HMPPS rating | HMIP safety | Latest HMIP report | 39h entry pay (* with supplement) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dovegate | 1,160 | 99% | 3 of 4, 60.7% | reasonably good | January 2024 | Not HMPPS pay |
| Isle of Wight | 968 | 97% | 1 of 4, 47.2% | not sufficiently good | June 2026 | £37,131 |
| Lowdham Grange | 842 | 85% | 1 of 4, 48.3% | poor | June 2026 | £37,131 |
| Garth | 791 | 92% | 1 of 4, 49.1% | not sufficiently good | June 2025 | £37,131 |
| Swaleside | 787 | 87% | 1 of 4, 48.2% | poor | March 2026 | £44,131 * |
| Gartree | 697 | 95% | 3 of 4, 62.4% | reasonably good | May 2023 | £37,131 |
| Woodhill | 586 | 97% | 1 of 4, 50.2% | poor | June 2026 | £44,131 * |
| Manchester | 572 | 96% | 2 of 4, 56.8% | poor | April 2026 | £37,131 |
| Grendon | 546 | n/a | 4 of 4, 91.7% | good | August 2023 | £40,131 * |
All Category B prisons
| Prison | Region | Town | Type | HMPPS group | Run by | Capacity | Band 3 entry, 39h | Supplement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMP Dovegate | West Midlands | Uttoxeter | HMP | Category B | Private | 1,160 | n/a | n/a |
| HMP Garth | North West | near Leyland | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 791 | £37,131 | None |
| HMP Gartree | East Midlands | Market Harborough | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 697 | £37,131 | None |
| HMP Grendon | South East | Grendon Underwood | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 546 | £40,131 | £1,500 |
| HMP Isle of Wight | South East | Newport (Albany and Parkhurst sites) | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 968 | £37,131 | None |
| HMP Lowdham Grange | East Midlands | Lowdham, near Nottingham | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 842 | £37,131 | None |
| HMP Manchester | North West | Manchester (Strangeways) | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 572 | £37,131 | None |
| HMP Swaleside | South East | Isle of Sheppey | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 787 | £44,131 | £3,500 |
| HMP Woodhill | South East | Milton Keynes | HMP | Category B | Public (HMPPS) | 586 | £44,131 | £3,500 |
Related
Read prison categories explained for how Category A to D and the functional groups fit together, the UK prisons list, the Category A prisons guide, or compare sites in the prison finder.
Other functional groups
Category B prisons: FAQs
What is a Category B prison?
Category B prisons are closed prisons with additional physical and procedural security for people presenting a greater risk of escape or disorder. The label is HMPPS's functional group from its 2025/26 performance ratings: it describes a prison's role, not the security category of each prisoner.
Which prisons are in the Category B group?
Dovegate, Garth, Gartree, Grendon, Isle of Wight, Lowdham Grange, Manchester, Swaleside and Woodhill.
Do Category B prisons pay officers more?
8 in the National zone. Band 3 entry pay on 39 hours runs from £37,131 (Manchester) to £44,131 (Swaleside) once any supplement is counted. On the HMPPS market supplement list: Swaleside (£3,500), Woodhill (£3,500), Grendon (£1,500).
Are any Category B prisons privately run?
Yes: HMP Dovegate (Serco), with operators confirmed from recent HMIP reports and contract announcements. Their staff are employed by the operator, not HMPPS.
How big is the Category B group?
9 establishments with an operational capacity of 6,403 across those with an itemised figure (24 August 2026).