HMP Edinburgh at a glance
- Type
- Prison (national service establishment)
- Holds
- Male adults
- Run by
- Scottish Prison Service
- Nation
- Scotland
- Region (geographic)
- Scotland
- Town / county
- Edinburgh (Stenhouse), City of Edinburgh
- Postcode
- EH11 3LN
Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Large community-facing prison for Edinburgh, the Lothians, Borders and Fife; design capacity 870, average roll about 900 per SPS page (undated).” Official page.
Pay and conditions are set by SPS, not HMPPS; the E&W pay bands, pay zones and market supplements do not apply. SPS publishes no operational capacity figure on the establishment page.
History and layout
In shortHMP Edinburgh was begun around 1914, completely rebuilt between 1998 and 2009, and now has four halls.
The prison sits in the Saughton area on the west side of the city, on the A71. There is also a separation and reintegration unit. NHS Lothian provides healthcare and Fife College the learning service.
- Glenesk
- Holds mainly untried prisoners.
- Hermiston
- Holds convicted and untried offence-protection prisoners.
- Ingliston
- Holds convicted mainstream prisoners, including non-offence protection prisoners, and the First Night in Custody Centre.
- Ratho
- An enhanced unit for low-risk offence-protection prisoners.
Dated history (HMIPS)
- Around 1914Building starts
Replacing Calton gaol on Regent Road.
- About 1920First prisoner received
- 1998Glenesk Hall opens
The oldest building in the grounds.
- 1998 to 2009Prison completely rebuilt
- 2009Ratho Hall opens
The most modern accommodation.
Who is held and how big it is
In shortEdinburgh is a large community-facing prison for adult men, with capacity figures that vary by source and date.
The SPS describes Edinburgh as a large community-facing prison receiving prisoners mainly from the courts of Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders, and also Fife.
- Adult men on remand.
- Short-term sentences (under four years).
- Long-term sentences (four years or more).
- Life sentences and Orders for Lifelong Restriction.
| Source | Figure |
|---|---|
| SPS establishment page (undated) | Design capacity 870; average of 900 prisoners a day |
| HMIPS, November 2023 inspection | Design capacity 872; extended operating capacity 929 with 57 additional places; agreed assessed operational limit 973 |
| SPS Freedom of Information response, 9 September 2025 | Design capacity 867 |
HMIPS also records that the previous full inspection took place from 28 October to 8 November 2019, with its report published in 2020.
The November 2023 full inspection
In shortInspectors were disappointed not to find Edinburgh in better shape: three standards satisfactory, six generally acceptable, and a restricted regime.
- Inspected6 to 10 Nov 2023HMIPS full inspection
- Satisfactory3 standards
- Generally acceptable6 standards“indicating considerable room for improvement”
- Recommendations112Healthcare inspectors identified 15 examples of good practice
The previous inspection in 2019 had called Edinburgh well run, effective but very busy. In 2023 the prison felt safe, but the main concern was the lack of a full regime, with a very limited evening regime and most prisoners locked in their cells from 4.30pm onwards.
Inspectors said staff from regime areas were often pulled away to cover shortages in residential areas, and recommended a workforce capacity modelling exercise.
- Good practice: a peer mentor system and robust local induction for new admissions.
- Good practice: regular GP and mental health nurse visits to the separation and reintegration unit, and quick handling of prisoners’ property.
- Good practice: support for veterans, football-themed family events run by the physical training instructors, and a promising staff mentoring scheme.
- The new Governor in Charge and Deputy Governor were seen as an opportunity to reset the regime.
| Topic | What the report says |
|---|---|
| Feeling safe (prisoner survey) | 58% felt safe all or most of the time; 20% rarely or never felt safe |
| Bullying (prisoner survey) | 31% reported being abused, bullied, threatened or assaulted by other prisoners; no evidence of an implemented anti-bullying strategy |
| Accommodation | Ratho Hall of a high standard; Glenesk Hall of much poorer quality, with some small single cells used for two people |
| Recommendations | 112 recommendations in total |
Source: HMIPS Report on Full Inspection, HMP Edinburgh, 6 to 10 November 2023.
Recent developments
In shortFamily visits are expanding, within an estate under record population pressure, and no newer full inspection than November 2023 was found.
- Average daily population, 2025-268,278Estate-wide; the highest the SPS has recorded in a reporting year
On 3 September 2026 the SPS published a news item on Play Learn Connect sessions at HMP Edinburgh, dedicated family visits run with Barnardo’s Scotland in which children can interact with a parent in custody in a more natural way than in a traditional visit room.
The SPS establishment page also says the Visitor Centre, open seven days a week, is a purpose-built building managed by Barnardo’s with the SPS and the Onward Trust.
Working at Edinburgh
In shortEdinburgh recruits in regular SPS intakes on SPS pay, and the inspection linked staffing shortages to the restricted regime.
Edinburgh is within the SPS central belt, where it recruits officers in regular intakes. Pay is set by the SPS, not HMPPS.
- Application
- Situational judgement test and cognitive ability test
- Group and written exercise
- Interview
- Pre-employment checks and a fitness test
| Route | Start | Within three years |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Officer | £37,682 | £44,248 |
| Operations Officer | £30,789 | £34,878 |
Subject to progression.
Officer pay at HMP Edinburgh
HMP Edinburgh is run by the Scottish Prison Service, which sets its own pay and conditions outside the England and Wales review body. SPS recruits prison officers through two parallel routes, and from 1 April 2026 a Residential Officer starts on £37,682 (rising to £44,248 within three years) while an Operations Officer starts on £30,789 (rising to £34,878), both subject to pay progression. The SPS adverts we read list a 35-hour week for both. Allowances and the grade on a specific vacancy can differ, so read the live advert.
Latest inspection
No HMIP report for HMP Edinburgh in the Inspectorate's feed. Scottish prisons are inspected by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, whose reports we have not parsed.
Working at HMP Edinburgh and how to apply
SPS advertises all its establishments' vacancies on one careers site. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.
- SPS careers (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: EH11 3LN. View on a map. GOV.UK gives no railway station for this prison.
Other prisons in Scotland
These establishments are in the same county or region (17 listed in Scotland). See all of them in one table.
Related guides
HMP Edinburgh: frequently asked questions
What do officers earn at HMP Edinburgh?
From 1 April 2026 an SPS Residential Officer starts on £37,682 (£44,248 within three years) and an Operations Officer on £30,789 (£34,878), both subject to progression. SPS adverts list a 35-hour week for both.
Has HMP Edinburgh been inspected?
We found no HMIP report for HMP Edinburgh (Scottish prisons are inspected by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, which we have not parsed).
How do I apply to work at HMP Edinburgh?
Through the SPS careers site.
What type of prisoners does HMP Edinburgh hold?
The SPS says adult men on remand, short-term and long-term sentences, life sentences and Orders for Lifelong Restriction, mainly from the courts of Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders, plus Fife. HMIPS lists four halls and a separation and reintegration unit.
What did the latest inspection of HMP Edinburgh conclude?
HMIPS inspected on 6 to 10 November 2023 and rated three standards satisfactory and six generally acceptable. The main concern was a limited regime, with most prisoners locked in cells from 4.30pm. Inspectors also praised peer mentoring, healthcare and family-focused events.
How many prisoners can HMP Edinburgh hold?
It depends on the measure and the date. The SPS page gives a design capacity of 870 and about 900 held on average; HMIPS recorded 872 design capacity and 929 extended capacity in November 2023; the SPS FOI response of September 2025 lists 867.
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.
- SPS: HMP Edinburgh establishment page (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMIPS: Report on Full Inspection of HMP Edinburgh, 6 to 10 November 2023 (opened 2026-10-03)
- SPS news: Helping Families Stay Connected at HMP Edinburgh (3 September 2026) (opened 2026-10-03)
- SPS news: SPS Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26 published (28 September 2026) (opened 2026-10-03)
- SPS: Freedom of Information response HQ25224, 9 September 2025 (design capacity by establishment, HMP Highland and HMP Glasgow) (opened 2026-10-03)
- SPS: Prison Officer - Residential careers page (pay from 1 April 2026, selection stages, intake dates) (opened 2026-10-03)
- SPS: Prison Officer - Operations careers page (Operations Officer pay and duties) (opened 2026-10-03)
- SPS: Pre-Employment Checks (checks, fitness test standards) (opened 2026-10-03)
Not verified for this prison: No Independent Prison Monitor annual report for Edinburgh was found in the HMIPS publications for 2024-25.; HMIPS publication date of the November 2023 report was not recorded; it is dated by the inspection week.; Per-standard ratings are not listed individually because only the overall counts (three satisfactory, six generally acceptable) were cross-checked.; No officer vacancy or staffing numbers for Edinburgh were found..