HMP Humber

Two prisons become one

In shortHumber was created in 2014 from the merger of HMP Everthorpe and HMP Wolds, and is now Yorkshire's only entirely category C resettlement prison.

HMIP describes the result as a large, sprawling site with a varied mix of accommodation. The IMB's 2025 report says Humber has 14 residential wings, one kitchen with a bakery, two libraries, two gyms and a large segregation unit.

Category C

Category C prisons hold men who cannot be trusted in open conditions but are not considered a high escape risk.

Who is held and what the wings do

In shortHumber held 1,012 men at inspection, and its population has since fallen to 947.

• Held (Nov to Dec 2023)1,012 / 1,019Men against operational capacity
• MoJ bulletin, 24 August 2026947 / 1,079Population is lower than at inspection
• New prisoners1,790 a yearAbout 149 a month; an average of 105 releases a month
• Substance misuse supportAbout 54818% were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds

HMIP's wing list shows a mix of general and specialist units across two zones. The Humber Offering Progressive Environments (HOPE) unit offers a progressive regime for men serving life or sentences of imprisonment for public protection, with targeted support from psychologists.

Zone 1

The drug recovery unit on E wing, the HOPE unit on G wing and a ready-for-release unit on D wing.

Zone 2

The induction unit on I wing, an incentivised substance-free living unit on J wing and an enhanced wing, N wing.

What inspectors found in 2023

In shortHMIP rated safety, respect and release preparation reasonably good and purposeful activity not sufficiently good, calling it a settled and very well-led prison.

• SafetyReasonably goodImproved since 2017
• RespectReasonably good
• Release preparationReasonably good
• Purposeful activityNot sufficiently goodOfsted: requires improvement
• Locked in cells in the working dayAbout 20%Only 40% engaged in purposeful activity

HMIP inspected Humber without notice from 27 November to 15 December 2023, its first full inspection since 2017, and the report was published on 2 April 2024.

The Chief Inspector called it a settled and very well-led prison where violence was lower than at similar prisons and very few men were self-isolating, and said leaders were open to new ideas.

Staff and leadership

In shortHumber was fully staffed with band 3 officers at inspection, with a stable governor and mostly caring staff-prisoner relationships.

• Staff with under 12 months' serviceAbout 30%
• Staff agreeing with priorities82%The governor had been in post for over seven years

HMIP said the prison was fully staffed with band 3 prison officers at the time of inspection, with low attrition and sickness absence, although commitments to support other prisons and temporary promotions still strained resourcing.

Leaders had set up extra support for newer staff and a local development programme for newly promoted band 4 and 5 staff.

Inspectors judged relationships between staff and prisoners as mostly caring and constructive with a clear community ethos, though key work needed more drive.

• Notable positive practice: a day centre called Kairos for men who self-isolate
• Medication amnesties on every wing
• Naloxone training for supervising officers and custodial managers
• Joint personal achievement and development training for staff and prisoners, built around physical activities and teamwork

The Independent Monitoring Board's 2025 report

In shortThe IMB found Humber generally safe but troubled by churn of men with little time left to serve, with two new house blocks due in early 2027.

• Receptions and releases2,516 / 2,217During the year; 977 men held at the end of 2025
• Prisoners sharing cells238At year end, which the Board viewed as unsatisfactory
• Work placements850
• Fully active Board members5 of 16Against a recommended 16

The IMB's annual report for 1 January to 31 December 2025 was published in July 2026. The Board said the prison had generally continued to be a safe place, despite continuing high levels of self-harm, violence and use of force. Humber became razor-free in 2025 after a serious assault on a member of staff.

The Board's main worry was the very high churn of men with little time left to serve, including recalled prisoners, which it said limited regime, qualifications and resettlement work.

It also reported fluctuating key work because staff were redeployed, and too many men released with nowhere fixed to live. Two new house blocks were under construction, with occupation expected in early 2027.

Working at Humber

In shortHumber is on standard national Band 3 pay with no market supplement as at 3 October 2026, and HMPPS rated its 2025/26 performance 3, good.

• Band 3 to 5 officers (FTE)253 / 262Band 3 to 5 officers against target, nine below; 30 June 2026
• HMPPS rating3: good2025/26 performance rating, overall score 66.4%

Our prison officer pay bands page and pay hub carry the current rates.