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HMP Bure

Bure is a prison near Norwich in Norfolk for men convicted of a sex offence. HMPPS places it in the "Category C Trainer" functional group. Band 3 prison officer pay here starts at £37,131 on a 39-hour contract (2026/27 rates). Its operational capacity of 643 ranks 8th of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).

HMPPS prison officer jobsWork out my take-home hereCompare with other prisons

HMP Bure at a glance

  • Its operational capacity of 643 ranks 8th of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).
  • Among the 14 prisons in the HMPPS "Category C Trainer" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 9th by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 14 September 2026) graded safety "good" and purposeful activity "not sufficiently good".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: Norwich, which is about 14 miles from Bure Prison.
Type
HMP
Holds
Men
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
England
Region (geographic)
East of England
HMPPS prison region
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & NorfolkWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
near Norwich, Norfolk
Postcode
NR10 5GB
HMPPS functional group
Category C TrainerA role label, not each prisoner's security category
Officer pay zone
National (all other locations)
Band 3 market supplement
None listedHMPPS pay page, 3 October 2026
Operational capacity
643As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
14 September 2026
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
Norwich, which is about 14 miles from Bure Prison

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Bure is a prison near Norwich in Norfolk for men convicted of a sex offence.” Official page.

A former RAF station turned category C prison

In shortHMP Bure is a public sector category C prison for men convicted of sexual offences, built on part of the former RAF Coltishall site.

  • Held at inspection637Operational capacity 643; HMIP intro says 636 men
  • Aged over 7087
  • Residential units7Mostly single cells

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) records that HMP Bure is seven miles north of Norwich. It was constructed in 2009 and is a mix of new buildings and converted RAF accommodation and service buildings; a new unit housing 120 prisoners was added in September 2013.

The prison is public sector and sits in the HMPPS Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk prison group.

GOV.UK and HMIP both describe Bure as a category C prison for men convicted of sexual offences, many serving long or indeterminate sentences. It combines a training-prison role with specific behaviour programmes, which GOV.UK lists alongside education and release on temporary licence. Read our prison categories guide to understand the population differences between prisons.

  • A pathways unit
  • Two enabling community units
  • An over-50s unit
  • A young adults and enhanced-plus unit
  • An induction and resettlement unit
  • An older population and social care unit

HMIP inspection, 8 to 18 June 2026

In shortBure remained a safe and decent prison in June 2026, but the activity offer was still not good enough for a category C training prison.

  • SafetyGood
  • RespectGood
  • Purposeful activityNot sufficiently good
  • Preparation for releaseReasonably good

HMIP's latest unannounced inspection took place on 8 to 18 June 2026 and was published on 14 September 2026. The Chief Inspector wrote that Bure remained a safe and decent prison and that there was much to like. Previous full inspection: October 2023.

  • Notable positive practice included key workers contributing to incentive-level reviews, well-being gym sessions for vulnerable prisoners and colour-coded medicines storage.
  • Eight key concerns in total, four of them priorities.

Strengths

  • Violence had fallen by 22% since the previous inspection, with 59 incidents in the previous 12 months.
  • Use of force was low (71 incidents) and segregation stays averaged just over three days.
  • The rate of positive random drug tests had fallen from 9.6% to 2.1%, and self-harm had fallen by 39%.
  • In the inspectors' survey, 80% of prisoners said most staff treated them with respect and 88% said there were staff they could turn to with a problem.

Concerns

  • Four priority concerns: too few full-time activity spaces, an insufficiently ambitious curriculum, weak links with employers, and too little contact with prison offender managers.
  • No CCTV on residential units, and some officers congregating in offices rather than supervising landings.
  • Education had been hit by severe national cuts, and Ofsted judged the prison's education provision 'requires improvement'.

Staffing: what inspectors and monitors said

In shortBure was almost fully staffed with mostly experienced officers, but sickness and detached duty put pressure on those who remained.

  • Officers, 30 June 2026152 FTEBand 3 to 5, hours adjusted
  • Target157Shortfall of about 5

The inspection report says retention was good, but that sickness absence was increasing. Some staff were unavailable because they were on detached duty or temporary promotion. Inspectors said that if sickness-driven staffing shortages could be reduced and more high-quality activity space created, the prison could better fulfil its training role.

  • The prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), in its annual report for 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025 (published January 2026), asked the Prison Service why officers were sent on detached duties when that left Bure short.
  • Several staff are needed most days for planned and unplanned hospital escorts and bed watches.
  • The Board noted an ageing population with no on-site 24-hour medical facility, which leads to frequent hospital escorts.
  • It nonetheless described a full complement of staff with a wide range of skills, observed to be passionate about their work.

Performance rating, pay and applying

In shortBure is rated good performance by HMPPS, sits on national pay with no market supplement listed, and has no Bure-specific recruitment page.

  • HMPPS rating 2025/263 of 4"Good performance"; overall score 72.8%
  • Market supplementNone listedHMPPS pay page, checked 3 October 2026
  • Nearest stationNorwichAbout 14 miles (GOV.UK)

Pay and applying

Officer pay at HMP Bure

National (all other locations) zone; Band 3 rates from 1 April 2026, including the 20% unsocial hours allowance.

Band 3, 39 hours, entry£37,131No market supplement listed
Band 3, 37 hours, entry£34,928Trainee contract
Band 3, 41 hours, top pay point£41,417Highest Band 3 option here
Band 3 prison officer pay at HMP Bure, 2026/27 (£ a year, base rates before supplement)
Contract hoursEntry (pay point 1)Maximum (pay point 3)
37 hours (trainee contract) incl. 20% unsocial hours£34,928£36,778
39 hours (2 additional committed hours)£37,131£39,097
41 hours (4 additional committed hours)£39,334£41,417

PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix E. No supplement listed on the HMPPS jobs site, 3 October 2026.

Other grades at HMP Bure (2026/27, £ a year)
GradeContractFromUp to
Band 2 Operational Support Grade37 hours incl. 25% unsocial hours£31,761£31,761
Band 4 Supervising / Specialist Officer37 hours incl. 20% unsocial hours£41,328£41,328
Band 5 Custodial Manager39 hours incl. 2 pensionable committed hours£47,327£49,600

Supplements apply to Band 3 only. PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix E.

Supplements are paid at other East of England prisons: Bedford (£2,000), Highpoint (£2,000), The Mount (£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.

Open the calculator pre-filled for Bure

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 643, population 640 (100%), certified normal accommodation in use 604. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingGood performance
Overall score72.8%
Functional groupCategory C Trainer

Scale 4 (outstanding) to 1 (serious concern). HMPPS prison performance ratings 2025/26.

Officer staffing against target

At 30 June 2026: 152 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 157 (-5, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.

Category C Trainer is HMPPS's functional-group label for the prison's role, not any prisoner's security category. Official wording: “C (training)”. See prison categories explained or all Category C Trainer prisons.

Latest inspection

HMIP's most recent report on Bure was published 14 September 2026 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetygood
respectgood
purposeful activitynot sufficiently good
preparation for releasereasonably good

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 14 September 2026.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 36 share its "good" safety grade and 53 its "not sufficiently good" purposeful-activity grade.

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP Bure and how to apply

There is no Bure-specific page on the HMPPS jobs site; adverts are listed by location. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.

Postcode: NR10 5GB. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: Norwich, which is about 14 miles from Bure Prison.

Other prisons in East of England and similar prisons

These establishments are in the same county or region (12 listed in East of England). See all of them in one table.

Similar by HMPPS functional group (Category C Trainer)

Compare Bure side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP Bure: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP Bure?

From £37,131 a year on 39 hours at the entry pay point, rising to £39,097 (National zone, 2026/27).

What category is HMP Bure?

HMPPS lists it in the "Category C Trainer" functional group, a label for the prison's role rather than the category of each prisoner. GOV.UK/HMIP wording: "C (training)".

How many prisoners can HMP Bure hold?

Operational capacity 643, population 640 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

When was HMP Bure last inspected?

HMIP's latest report, published 14 September 2026, is a full inspection. Grades at the latest full inspection (14 September 2026): safety good, respect good, purposeful activity not sufficiently good, preparation for release reasonably good.

How do I apply to work at HMP Bure?

There is no Bure page on the HMPPS jobs site, so use the general HMPPS prison officer page, where adverts are listed by location.

What is the nearest train station to HMP Bure?

GOV.UK gives: Norwich, which is about 14 miles from Bure Prison.

Who is held at HMP Bure?

GOV.UK and HMIP describe Bure as a category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, many serving long or indeterminate sentences. HMIP counted 636 men in June 2026, including a substantial older population, with 87 prisoners aged over 70 recorded in its profile.

What did HMIP find at Bure in 2026?

HMIP's unannounced inspection of 8 to 18 June 2026 found outcomes good for safety and respect, not sufficiently good for purposeful activity and reasonably good for preparation for release. Violence, drug use and use of force were low; the main concerns were too few activity spaces and a narrow curriculum.

Does HMP Bure pay a market supplement?

No. Bure does not appear in the list of market supplements on the HMPPS prison officer pay page (checked 3 October 2026), so national pay applies. Always confirm the current position in the job advert. HMPPS can add, change or withdraw supplements at individual sites, so check the live advert and your offer letter before relying on any figure.

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.

Not verified for this prison: No Bure-specific recruitment page was found on the prison and probation jobs site; Staff turnover and vacancy numbers for Bure are not published separately; only the HMPPS officer-FTE figure was used; The HMPPS response to the 2024/25 IMB report was downloaded but only the IMB report itself is cited here.