HMP Brixton at a glance
- It sits in the Inner London pay zone, so Band 3 pay is higher than the national rate: £43,453 at 39 hours on the entry pay point against £37,131 nationally.
- Its operational capacity of 673 ranks 7th of 10 in London (1 = largest).
- Among the 6 prisons in the HMPPS "Category C Resettlement" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 4th by size.
- Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 24 September 2024) graded safety "not sufficiently good" and purposeful activity "poor"; a later HMIP review report followed on 22 April 2025.
- Type
- HMP
- Holds
- Men
- Run by
- HMPPS (public sector)
- Nation
- England
- Region (geographic)
- London
- HMPPS prison region
- LondonWorkforce statistics, June 2026
- Town / county
- Brixton, London, Greater London (Lambeth)
- Postcode
- SW2 5XF
- HMPPS functional group
- Category C ResettlementA role label, not each prisoner's security category
- Officer pay zone
- Inner London
- Band 3 market supplement
- None listedHMPPS pay page, 3 October 2026
- Operational capacity
- 673As at 24 August 2026
- Latest HMIP report published
- 22 April 2025
Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Brixton Prison is a men’s prison in the London Borough of Lambeth, South London.” Official page.
From 1819 house of correction to reception role
In shortBrixton is one of the oldest prisons in the country and is changing from a category C resettlement prison to a category B reception prison, but we have found no official source confirming the change is complete.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) gives the history of HMP Brixton in its 2024 report, which describes it as one of the oldest prisons in the country.
That role is now changing. The March 2025 review report said national leaders had decided to turn Brixton into a category B reception prison to ease population pressures in the South East, taking men directly from court.
- The date was later pushed back, and the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) reported in January 2026 that building work had uncovered structural deterioration needing obligatory repairs.
- In April 2026 the Justice Minister's reply to the IMB spoke of Brixton completing its transition and refurbishment.
- The 2025 review reported that the prison's operational capacity had been reduced slightly, with an overall 10% reduction due as part of the transition.
Dated history
- 1819Opened as the Surrey House of Correction
Later held women and then served as a military prison (HMIP 2024).
- 1898Adult male local prison
For the London area, focusing on South London.
- July 2012Category C and D resettlement prison
- February 2017Category C resettlement prison only
- 2024 to 2026Planned change to category B reception prison
The date was repeatedly delayed.
Inspection findings: overcrowding and poor outcomes
In shortThe June 2024 inspection found severe overcrowding and poor outcomes, and the March 2025 review found insufficient progress on five of eight concerns.
- Held, June 2024740 menOperational capacity 798
- In shared cells for one66%Most overcrowded category C prison in the country
- Drug test positive rate28% to 17%July 2024 to January 2025
- Feel unsafeNearly a thirdOf prisoners (2024)
The latest full inspection was unannounced, on 4 to 21 June 2024 (published 24 September 2024). The Chief Inspector called Brixton the most overcrowded category C prison in the country: 66% of prisoners were in shared cells designed for one person, and some cells had no space for adequate furniture.
At the time 740 men were held against an operational capacity of 798.
Findings from the 2024 inspection
Concerns
- Significant drug use, with a mandatory drug testing positive rate of about 28%.
- Nearly a third of prisoners said they felt unsafe.
- Ofsted rated education, skills and work inadequate.
- Offender management and public protection oversight were weak.
- National leaders were not making use of the prison's inner-city location and the many local employment opportunities it offered.
Positives
- Health care providers were praised for joint working.
- Inspectors highlighted the Family Links room and a befriending service for families as notable positive practice.
| Test | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Safety | Not sufficiently good |
| Respect | Not sufficiently good |
| Purposeful activity | Poor |
| Preparation for release | Poor |
Source: HMIP report published 24 September 2024. The 2025 review did not re-score these tests.
Independent review of progress, March 2025
An independent review of progress took place on 3 to 5 March 2025 (published 22 April 2025). It followed up eight concerns and found good progress on one, reasonable progress on one, insufficient progress on five and no meaningful progress on one.
Drug-related progress was good: the positive drug test rate had fallen from 28% to 17% between July 2024 and January 2025 and a backlog of intelligence reports had dropped from 400 to about 35.
What the reports say about staff
In shortBrixton's reports give dated staffing detail: relationships improved in 2024, supervisory staffing was the main constraint in 2025, and the IMB gave a more positive later account.
- Prisoners saying staff respectful77%Up from 58% at the previous inspection (2024)
- Officers under two years' service45%HMIP 2024
- Supervisors in post, March 2025Just over halfOf the 40 needed to run it as a reception prison
Brixton's staffing picture is unusual in the reports because they give specific, dated detail.
What each report found
- 2024 (HMIP)Relationships improved; staff group inexperienced
Staff wanted more support from managers. A new, visible head of residence was credited with identifying many problems and having a plan to fix them.
- March 2025 (review)Supervisory staffing the main constraint
Some custodial managers line-managed up to 35 people and temporarily promoted supervisors sometimes covered two wings. The report called for more national support for London prisons to recruit, and recorded that assaults on staff since the inspection were among the highest in similar prisons.
- 2024-25 (IMB)Later and more positive account
Reporting year 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025, published January 2026. Recruitment of uniformed middle managers was completed by August 2025, giving each residential wing two custodial managers, and staff and prisoner relations were described as good, with informal sport together.
Working at Brixton: pay and application
In shortBrixton is in the inner London pay zone with no Band 3 market supplement listed on 3 October 2026, and applications go through the national route.
- Trainee contract£40,87637-hour, starting pay a year, 2026/27 tables
- Longer contract£46,03141-hour; highest of the three pay zones
- Officers233 FTEAt 30 June 2026, Band 3 to 5, against a target of 236 (3 below)
Brixton is in the inner London pay zone, and it is not on the HMPPS Band 3 market supplement list as checked on 3 October 2026. See London pay and prison officer pay bands for how the zones, hours and pay points fit together.
Applying
- The dataset lists no dedicated Brixton recruitment page on the HMPPS jobs site, so apply through the national route described in how to become a prison officer.
- Given the 2024 finding that many staff had under two years of service, the first-year guide is a useful companion read.
Getting there: GOV.UK travel information
In shortGOV.UK's visitor page gives the station distance and bus routes but says there is no visitor parking; we have not verified staff travel.
We have not verified staff parking, shift-time public transport options or local housing costs, because no official source covers them.
The Brixton IMB report names local partners such as the Clink restaurant and the Prison Advice and Care Trust, but that is context about the prison, not travel advice. Use the Transport for London journey planner to test a realistic early or late shift journey.
- About a mile from Brixton railway and underground stations; several local bus routes pass the prison.
- No visitor parking at the prison; local roads are restricted to permit holders.
- These details come from visitor guidance, so they describe visitors, not staff parking arrangements.
Officer pay at HMP Brixton
Inner London zone; Band 3 rates from 1 April 2026, including the 20% unsocial hours allowance.
| Contract hours | Entry (pay point 1) | Maximum (pay point 3) |
|---|---|---|
| 37 hours (trainee contract) incl. 20% unsocial hours | £40,876 | £43,039 |
| 39 hours (2 additional committed hours) | £43,453 | £45,753 |
| 41 hours (4 additional committed hours) | £46,031 | £48,468 |
PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix E. No supplement listed on the HMPPS jobs site, 3 October 2026.
| Grade | Contract | From | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 Operational Support Grade | 37 hours incl. 25% unsocial hours | £38,284 | £38,284 |
| Band 4 Supervising / Specialist Officer | 37 hours incl. 20% unsocial hours | £47,590 | £47,590 |
| Band 5 Custodial Manager | 39 hours incl. 2 pensionable committed hours | £53,626 | £56,200 |
Supplements apply to Band 3 only. PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix E.
Supplements are paid at other London prisons: Downview (£2,000), High Down (£2,000), Feltham (£2,000).
Turn these into take-home with the pay calculator, or see what the journey costs with the commute cost calculator. Band 3 pay explained.
Capacity, performance and staffing
At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 673, population 611 (91%), certified normal accommodation in use 529. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.
HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26
Scale 4 (outstanding) to 1 (serious concern). HMPPS prison performance ratings 2025/26.
Officer staffing against target
At 30 June 2026: 233 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 236 (-3, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.
Category C Resettlement is HMPPS's functional-group label for the prison's role, not any prisoner's security category. See prison categories explained or all Category C Resettlement prisons.
Latest inspection
HMIP's most recent report on Brixton was published 22 April 2025 (independent review of progress / review visit); that is the publication date, not the visit date.
Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 24 September 2024; the later report above is a follow-up review that does not re-grade the tests.
Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 42 share its "not sufficiently good" safety grade and 38 its "poor" purposeful-activity grade. Only 41 of those 122 prisons were graded "poor" on at least one test, and this is one of them.
Working at HMP Brixton and how to apply
There is no Brixton-specific page on the HMPPS jobs site; adverts are listed by location. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.
- HMPPS prison officer jobs (official site).
- Official establishment page, including visiting and contact details.
- How to become a prison officer: eligibility, vetting, assessment centre, fitness test and training.
- Recruitment timeline tool and commute cost calculator.
Postcode: SW2 5XF. View on a map. GOV.UK gives no railway station for this prison.
Other prisons in London and similar prisons
These establishments are in the same county or region (10 listed in London). See all of them in one table.
- HMP BelmarshThamesmead, London, Greater London (Greenwich)
- HMP & YOI DownviewSutton, Greater London (Sutton)
- HMYOI FelthamFeltham, Greater London (Hounslow)
- HMP High DownSutton, Greater London (Sutton)
- HMP & YOI IsisThamesmead, London, Greater London (Greenwich)
- HMP PentonvilleIslington, London, Greater London (Islington)
Similar by HMPPS functional group (Category C Resettlement)
Related guides
- Band 3 prison officer payEvery pay point and contract-hours option explained.
- Prison officer pay in LondonHow the London zones are built.
- Prison categories explainedCategory A to D versus functional groups.
- Prison officer jobs by regionWhere officers are needed and how pay differs.
- UK prisons listEvery establishment by nation, category and operator.
HMP Brixton: frequently asked questions
Does HMP Brixton pay a market supplement?
No: it is not on the HMPPS list (checked 3 October 2026). In London the listed prisons are Downview (£2,000), High Down (£2,000) and Feltham (£2,000).
Is HMP Brixton in the London pay zone?
Yes, the Inner London zone, where fixed cash differentials (up to £5,218 above the national 37-hour maxima) lift Band 3 pay.
What category is HMP Brixton?
HMPPS lists it in the "Category C Resettlement" functional group, a label for the prison's role rather than the category of each prisoner.
How many prisoners can HMP Brixton hold?
Operational capacity 673, population 611 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).
When was HMP Brixton last inspected?
HMIP's latest report, published 22 April 2025, is a progress review. Grades at the latest full inspection (24 September 2024): safety not sufficiently good, respect not sufficiently good, purposeful activity poor, preparation for release poor.
How do I apply to work at HMP Brixton?
There is no Brixton page on the HMPPS jobs site, so use the general HMPPS prison officer page, where adverts are listed by location.
Is Brixton a reception prison or a category C prison?
HMIP inspected Brixton in 2024 as a category C resettlement prison. National leaders then decided to convert it to a category B reception prison taking men from court, and the date was delayed more than once. We found no official confirmation that the change is complete, and HMPPS ratings for 2025/26 still list Category C Resettlement.
How much do prison officers earn at Brixton?
Brixton is in the inner London zone with no Band 3 market supplement listed on 3 October 2026. On the 2026/27 tables the 37-hour trainee contract starts at £40,876 a year and the 41-hour contract at £46,031. Pay points then rise with service. Our pay tables on this page show the full range.
How experienced is the officer team at Brixton?
HMIP's June 2024 inspection found 45% of officers had under two years of service and wanted more support from managers. The March 2025 review found only just over half of the needed 40 supervisory posts filled, but the IMB said middle-manager recruitment was completed by August 2025. Check current vacancies with HMPPS.
Sources and method
Data as at 3 October 2026; see our methodology. Independent of HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice and the POA; not legal or financial advice. Out of date? Tell us.
- HMIP report, HMP Brixton unannounced inspection 4-21 June 2024 (published 24 September 2024) (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMIP report, independent review of progress at HMP Brixton 3-5 March 2025 (published 22 April 2025) (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMIP report page, HMP Brixton (2025 review) (opened 2026-10-03)
- Independent Monitoring Board annual report, HMP Brixton, 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 (published January 2026) (opened 2026-10-03)
- Ministry of Justice (Lord Timpson) response to the 2024-25 Brixton IMB annual report, 21 April 2026 (opened 2026-10-03)
- GOV.UK, Brixton prison (visitor and travel information, last updated 21 October 2025) (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMPPS jobs, Prison officer pay (zones and market supplements) (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMPPS workforce quarterly, June 2026 (officer staffing against targets, Table 4) (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMPPS annual prison performance ratings 2025/26 (functional group listing) (opened 2026-10-03)
Not verified for this prison: The exact date Brixton starts operating as a category B reception prison could not be verified from an official source. A web-search summary of a parliamentary committee letter mentioned October 2026, but that page could not be opened (HTTP 403), so no date is stated.; No dedicated HMPPS recruitment page for Brixton was found.; No inspection has been published since the March 2025 review, so current conditions after the change of role are not covered.; Staff parking, public transport at shift times and local housing costs were not verified..
- gov.uk/guidance/brixton-prison
- gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales
- prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/prison-service-roles/prison-officer/prison-officer-pay/
- gov.uk/government/publications/prison-population-monthly-prison-figures-2026
- hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_reports/hmp-brixton-4/