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HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay

Hollesley Bay is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) for men over 18 in Woodbridge, Suffolk. HMPPS places it in the "Open" functional group. Band 3 prison officer pay here starts at £37,131 on a 39-hour contract (2026/27 rates). Its operational capacity of 655 ranks 7th of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).

Jobs at Hollesley Bay (HMPPS)Work out my take-home hereCompare with other prisons

HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay at a glance

  • Its operational capacity of 655 ranks 7th of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).
  • Among the 11 prisons in the HMPPS "Open" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 2nd by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 29 July 2024) graded safety "good" and purposeful activity "reasonably good".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: Melton which is around 5 miles from Hollesley Bay Prison.
Type
HMP & YOI
Holds
Men
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
England
Region (geographic)
East of England
HMPPS prison region
Hertfordshire, Essex & SuffolkWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Postcode
IP12 3JW
HMPPS functional group
OpenA 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
655As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
29 July 2024
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
Melton which is around 5 miles from Hollesley Bay Prison

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Hollesley Bay is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) for men over 18 in Woodbridge, Suffolk.” Official page.

From colonial training camp to open prison

In shortHollesley Bay is a category D open resettlement prison for adult men coming to the end of their sentences, with a long history as a training camp, borstal and young offender institution.

  • Operational capacity655HMPPS August 2026 bulletin
  • Prisoners held651On 24 August 2026
  • Residential areasTenAcross about 85 acres
  • Convicted of sexual offencesAbout 15%Of the integrated population (HMIP)

The inspectorate lists ten residential areas, from the Wilford induction unit to enhanced modular units such as Plomesgate and The Terraces, which provide single rooms with their own sanitation. See our categories guide for how open prisons fit into the estate.

  • After the Bosmere accommodation was decommissioned in 2020, operational capacity fell from 485 to 405.
  • It then rose to 495 with the expansion of Mutfords accommodation in 2021 and the opening of Plomesgate the same year.
  • A further 160 spaces of rapid deployment capacity in 2023 took it to 655.

History (HMIP)

  1. 1887Training camp

    For men being sent to the colonies, predominantly Canada, teaching farming and husbandry skills.

  2. 1938First prison governor takes post
  3. LaterBorstal, then young offender institution in 1988
  4. 2002HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay becomes an open adult male prison

    In April 2002 the open complex kept the Hollesley Bay name while the juvenile prison next door became a separate establishment, now HMP Warren Hill.

HMIP inspection, April 2024

In shortAll four tests were rated well in April 2024 with no priority concerns, and the Chief Inspector called the prison one of the most impressive in the country.

  • SafetyGood
  • RespectGood
  • Purposeful activityReasonably good
  • Preparation for releaseGood

HMIP's unannounced inspection took place between 3 and 19 April 2024 and the report was published on 29 July 2024. No priority concerns were raised, which is rare. The Chief Inspector wrote that, under an excellent governor and strong team, this safe, decent establishment had become one of the most impressive in the country.

Strengths

  • A sequenced prisoner journey: at induction new arrivals are shown how to earn trust and move towards the best accommodation and off-site work.
  • 20% of prisoners were working outside the jail every day.
  • Workshops teaching bricklaying, carpentry and horticulture were among the better-run the Chief Inspector had seen.
  • The employment hub gave strong release support, and very few prisoners left without accommodation.

Seven key concerns (none priorities)

  • A minority of staff described as rude or dismissive by some prisoners.
  • Food quality.
  • Health waiting times, up to 32 weeks for cognitive behavioural therapy.
  • Too little enrichment activity.
  • Probation staff shortages in the community that delayed progression.
  • An ageing fleet of minibuses that the Prison Service had not funded replacements for.

Staff and leadership: what inspectors and monitors reported

In shortStaff retention was good, but more than half of officers had under two years' experience, and the IMB found the prison safe, fair and humane.

  • Officers with under two years' experienceOver 50%HMIP 2024
  • Arrivals879IMB 2025, including transfers
  • Releases841Including transfers and absconds
  • Inspectors wrote that leaders had worked hard to fill officer vacancies and mentor new staff in their first year, leading to far fewer leavers.
  • Leaders had increased the number of supervising officers and reduced lone working on residential units.
  • Staff were recognised through a programme for those who excelled.
  • The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), in its report for 1 January to 31 December 2025, said the prison remained safe and that prisoners were treated fairly and humanely.
  • It recorded a very high churn and noted that the governor who recommended joint management had left in March 2025 to become governor of HMP The Mount.
  • The Board also expressed concern about government cuts to prison education.

Joint management with Warren Hill

In shortHollesley Bay and nearby HMP Warren Hill are being merged, though HMPPS still rates Hollesley Bay separately at 4 of 4.

  • HMPPS rating 2025/264 of 4"Outstanding performance"; overall score 83.1%
  • Officers, 30 June 2026186 FTEBand 3 to 5, hours adjusted; single "Hollesley" unit; target 198
  • ShortfallAbout 12

The most significant recent development is that the two prisons are being merged. HMIP's 2025 report on Warren Hill also refers to a planned merger. Read our Warren Hill profile for the closed site.

  • The IMB report says the Governor of Warren Hill was appointed to lead both, and a single senior management team followed.
  • Staff re-profiling, further alignment of policies and possible renaming of the joint establishment were expected in 2026.
  • HMPPS workforce statistics from June 2026 report Hollesley Bay and Warren Hill as a single "Hollesley" unit for staffing purposes.

Working at Hollesley: recruitment page, pay and travel

In shortA joint recruitment page covers both sites, quoting £34,928 to £39,334 and no market supplement listed on the HMPPS pay page.

  • Officer pay (recruitment page)£34,928 to £39,334Depending on 37, 39 or 41 contracted hours
  • Market supplementNone listedEither site; HMPPS pay page checked 3 October 2026
  • The prison and probation jobs site has a joint recruitment page for HMP Hollesley, covering both sites.
  • Rural Suffolk coast, with free onsite parking and a free onsite gym.
  • Part-time officer roles of 12, 16 or 24 hours a week are also advertised.
  • The two sites are within a mile of each other, 30 minutes from Ipswich and an hour from Colchester.
  • GOV.UK gives Melton as the nearest station, around 5 miles away.

Next steps

Officer pay at HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay

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 & YOI Hollesley Bay, 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 & YOI Hollesley Bay (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 Hollesley Bay

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 655, population 651 (99%), certified normal accommodation in use 655. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingOutstanding performance
Overall score83.1%
Functional groupOpen

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

Officer staffing against target

At 30 June 2026: 186 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 198 (-12, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.

Open is HMPPS's functional-group label for the prison's role, not any prisoner's security category. See prison categories explained or all Open prisons.

Latest inspection

HMIP's most recent report on Hollesley Bay was published 29 July 2024 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetygood
respectgood
purposeful activityreasonably good
preparation for releasegood

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 29 July 2024.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 36 share its "good" safety grade and 22 its "reasonably good" purposeful-activity grade. 27 of the 122 had no test below "reasonably good".

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay and how to apply

HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay has its own HMPPS recruitment page. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.

Postcode: IP12 3JW. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: Melton which is around 5 miles from Hollesley Bay 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 (Open)

Compare Hollesley Bay side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay?

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

Does HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay pay a market supplement?

No: it is not on the HMPPS list (checked 3 October 2026). In East of England the listed prisons are Bedford (£2,000), Highpoint (£2,000) and The Mount (£2,000).

What category is HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay?

HMPPS lists it in the "Open" functional group, a label for the prison's role rather than the category of each prisoner.

How many prisoners can HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay hold?

Operational capacity 655, population 651 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

When was HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay last inspected?

HMIP's latest report, published 29 July 2024, is a full inspection. Grades at the latest full inspection (29 July 2024): safety good, respect good, purposeful activity reasonably good, preparation for release good.

How do I apply to work at HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay?

Through the HMPPS recruitment page for HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay on the Prison and Probation Jobs site (linked above).

What is the nearest train station to HMP & YOI Hollesley Bay?

GOV.UK gives: Melton which is around 5 miles from Hollesley Bay Prison.

Is HMP Hollesley Bay an open prison?

Yes. HMIP describes it as a category D open resettlement prison for adult men coming to the end of their sentences. It became an open adult male prison in 2002 and, in April 2024, held 627 men, with about 15% convicted of sexual offences and living in the integrated population.

Are Hollesley Bay and Warren Hill merging?

The IMB's 2025 report says a single management structure was formed in 2025, with the Warren Hill governor appointed to lead both, and further alignment, staff re-profiling and a possible rename expected in 2026. HMPPS workforce statistics from June 2026 already treat them as one 'Hollesley' unit.

What did HMIP say about Hollesley Bay in 2024?

Inspectors found good outcomes for safety, respect and preparation for release and reasonably good for purposeful activity, with no priority concerns. The Chief Inspector called it one of the most impressive prisons in the country. The report was published on 29 July 2024.

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 HMIP inspection after April 2024 was found for Hollesley Bay; The final name and structure of the merged establishment were not confirmed in any official announcement found; The officer staffing figure is for the combined Hollesley unit and cannot be split between the two sites.