HMP Greenock at a glance
- Type
- Prison (national service establishment)
- Holds
- Male and female
- Run by
- Scottish Prison Service
- Nation
- Scotland
- Region (geographic)
- Scotland
- Town / county
- Greenock, Inverclyde
- Postcode
- PA16 9AJ
Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Adult male and female prisoners on short and long sentences and remand; National Top End facility Chrisswell House.” 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 shortGreenock was built between 1907 and 1910 and now has five residential areas for men and women.
There are two community integration units, one for up to eight men and one for up to six women, for people serving short sentences who are assessed as low risk and suitable for community access. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provides healthcare. The SPS listed a design capacity of 224 on 9 September 2025.
- Ailsa Hall
- A mainly local male population including remand and short-term prisoners.
- Darroch Hall and Bute House
- Short-term convicted and untried women.
- Chrisswell House and Arran House
- Long-term, low-supervision men.
Dated history (HMIPS)
- 1907 to 1910Prison built
First prisoners in August 1910; originally two residential halls, Ailsa Hall and Darroch Hall.
- 1990sChrisswell House added
Who is held and the national top end
In shortGreenock is a local community-facing prison and a national facility for selected long-term and life-sentenced prisoners.
According to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Greenock manages adult men and women serving short and long sentences and those on remand, and also long-term men in its National Top End facility, Chrisswell House.
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) describes it as a local community-facing prison taking prisoners mainly from the courts in Greenock, Campbeltown, Oban, Dunoon and the surrounding Inverclyde and North Strathclyde areas.
- It is also a national facility for selected long-term and life-sentenced prisoners.
What inspectors found in February 2023
In shortSeven standards were satisfactory and two generally acceptable, with excellent staff-prisoner relationships the most striking feature.
- Inspected27 Feb to 3 Mar 2023First full inspection since February 2018
- Staff treated them with respect all or most of the time82%
- Personal officer very or quite helpful79%
- Felt safe all or most of the time84%Only 4% rarely felt safe
Seven standards were rated satisfactory and two generally acceptable; inspectors identified 21 elements of good practice and made 68 recommendations. The most striking feature, the Chief Inspector said, was excellent staff-prisoner relationships.
Strengths
- Outstanding connectivity with external partners on case management
- A pro-active approach to health and safety
- A visible and approachable Governor
- A constructive relationship with trade union representatives
- A healthcare team operating without vacancies
Concerns
- An insufficient number and range of work opportunities
- Low attendance at the Learning Centre
- No formal violence reduction strategy and limited awareness of the Think Twice anti-bullying approach
- Delays to temporary release
- Underuse of the two community integration units, which HMIPS called a missed opportunity
An ageing building and the question of replacement
In shortThe building’s fabric remains a concern and no Greenock replacement was confirmed in the SPS’s September 2025 response.
The inspection noted real efforts to tackle dampness in cells, reducing the number out of action, but continuing concerns about the fabric: a leak-prone roof and kitchen ventilation and flooring problems that promised investment had not fixed.
Recommendation 6 asked the SPS and the Scottish Government to confirm their commitment to a modern replacement for Greenock while investing now to address physical deterioration until a new prison arrives.
Independent Prison Monitors, 2024-25
Described and welcomed
- A safe, well-run prison with good staff-prisoner relationships and excellent access to basic entitlements
- A new Wellbeing Hub
Noted and flagged
- Unique challenges owing to an ageing building
- The health centre being moved to Bute House while roof works continued
- Emerging population pressures and problematic illicit substance use
Working at Greenock
In shortGreenock is in the SPS central-belt recruitment area, on SPS pay and terms, with a job that includes top end progression work.
Greenock is within the SPS central-belt recruitment area, with intakes planned throughout the year. Pay and terms are set by the SPS, not HMPPS.
- The 2023 report indicates what the job involves here: officers work with men and women on remand, short-term and long-term sentences, including a top end unit where progression work is central.
- The Monitors described a community-facing prison managed with friendly authority and a sense of purpose.
- Inspectors noted that the lack of access to accredited national programmes was a frustration for prisoners.
| Route | Start | Within three years |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Officer | £37,682 | £44,248 |
| Operations Officer | £30,789 | £34,878 |
Subject to pay progression. Selection includes a situational judgement test, cognitive ability test, group and written exercises, interview, pre-employment checks and a fitness test.
Officer pay at HMP Greenock
HMP Greenock 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 Greenock 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 Greenock 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: PA16 9AJ. 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
- Prison officer pay in ScotlandSPS pay and conditions.
- Women's prisons in the UKThe women's estate in numbers.
- 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 Greenock: frequently asked questions
What do officers earn at HMP Greenock?
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.
What type of prison is HMP Greenock?
No official functional group was found for HMP Greenock. Its official description reads: "Adult male and female prisoners on short and long sentences and remand; National Top End facility Chrisswell House."
How many prisoners can HMP Greenock hold?
No verified operational capacity: SPS does not publish a comparable figure.
Has HMP Greenock been inspected?
We found no HMIP report for HMP Greenock (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 Greenock?
Through the SPS careers site.
Does HMP Greenock hold women?
Yes. The SPS says Greenock manages adult men and women, with Darroch Hall and Bute House accommodating short-term convicted and untried women, alongside a male local population in Ailsa Hall and long-term low-supervision men in its National Top End unit, Chrisswell House.
What did inspectors say about staff at HMP Greenock?
In the February 2023 inspection HMIPS called staff-prisoner relationships the most striking feature: 82% of surveyed prisoners said they were treated with respect all or most of the time and 84% felt safe. Inspectors also called for a modern replacement for the Victorian-style building.
Is a new HMP Greenock being built?
HMIPS asked in 2023 for a confirmed commitment to a replacement. In a response dated 9 September 2025 the SPS listed only HMP Highland (Inverness) and HMP Glasgow (replacing Barlinnie) as major construction projects, so we found no confirmed Greenock build.
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 Greenock establishment page (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMIPS: HMP Greenock Full Inspection Report, 27 February to 3 March 2023 (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMIPS: Independent Prison Monitoring annual report, HMP Greenock, 2024-25 (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: Older secondary reporting suggests a replacement was planned, but no current official commitment or date was found.; HMIPS publication date of the February 2023 report was not recorded; it is dated by the inspection week.; The 2023 inspection report is more than three years old; a later inspection was not found on the HMIPS site at the time of writing..