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HMP Lindholme

Lindholme is an adult male prison, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. 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 1,010 ranks 7th of 14 in Yorkshire and the Humber (1 = largest).

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

HMP Lindholme at a glance

  • Its operational capacity of 1,010 ranks 7th of 14 in Yorkshire and the Humber (1 = largest).
  • Among the 14 prisons in the HMPPS "Category C Trainer" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 5th by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 1 September 2026) graded safety "not sufficiently good" and purposeful activity "not sufficiently good".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: Doncaster.
Type
HMP
Holds
Men
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
England
Region (geographic)
Yorkshire and the Humber
HMPPS prison region
YorkshireWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
near Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Postcode
DN7 6EE
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
1,010As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
1 September 2026
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
Doncaster

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Lindholme is an adult male prison, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.” Official page.

A former RAF base turned training prison

In shortLindholme is a category C training prison for adult men on a former RAF base near Doncaster, opened as a prison in 1985.

  • Prison since1985About ten miles from Doncaster

The two bodies give different acreages, about 100 and 128 acres. Lindholme is a category C training prison for adult men, meaning its task is to help men gain skills and qualifications for release.

Its original site also gave rise to a neighbour: HMIP says the Lakes site of HMP & YOI Hatfield was formerly I wing of Lindholme. Our prison categories explained guide covers how training prisons differ from other category C establishments.

Site history

  1. Late 1930sRAF station

    The IMB says the station dates from this time; six former RAF buildings have been converted into residential accommodation, alongside more modern cell blocks, a segregation unit, gym and visits centre.

  2. 1985Opened as a prison

    HMIP records the site is about ten miles from Doncaster.

Who is held and how the site is arranged

In shortLindholme held 956 men at the June 2026 inspection, with releases up fourfold since 2023.

  • Held (June 2026)956 / 1,010Men against operational capacity; the August 2026 bulletin shows 938
  • New prisoners and releases832 in, 340 outIn the previous year; releases had increased fourfold since 2023
  • Substance misuse support273 men37 foreign national prisoners and 22% from black and minority ethnic backgrounds
A to F wings
Each hold 64 men who are locked off on corridors rather than in cells; D wing is the incentivised substance free living unit.
Large house blocks
Men are locked in cells, including an induction unit of 78, a substance support unit of 70, J and K wings of 209 each and a 60-bed recovery unit.
GOV.UK description
10 units with a mixture of single and double cells and a 20-cell segregation unit.

What inspectors found in June 2026

In shortHMIP found outcomes not sufficiently good in all four tests, with illicit drugs the most pressing challenge but confidence in leaders.

  • All four testsNot sufficiently goodSafety had not improved and respect had deteriorated; purposeful activity and release preparation had improved slightly
  • Key concerns15Six of them priorities
  • Drugs easy to obtainMore than halfOf prisoners surveyed; random testing positive rate above 30%

HMIP inspected without notice from 1 to 11 June 2026 and published its report on 1 September 2026. Inspectors said they had confidence in the capability of leaders to take the prison forward.

HMIP said drug abuse had contributed to one death in custody since the 2023 inspection and was fuelling debt and bullying. Assaults were above the average for similar prisons, though falling since autumn 2025.

  • Leaders had responded with more suspicion testing
  • Partnership work with the police
  • Steps to detect drone deliveries

Living conditions, health care and activity

In shortStaff-prisoner relationships were reasonable, but living conditions and health care access fell short, and Ofsted rated education requires improvement.

  • Health care applications waiting300+At the start of the inspection; the Care Quality Commission found breaches of regulations
  • Out of cell on larger units2 hoursA day for many men

Concerns

  • The larger house blocks were often dirty and poorly decorated, some cells were badly ventilated, laundry arrangements were inadequate and repairs took too long
  • Access to GPs and dentists was delayed
  • Ofsted judged education, skills and work to require improvement in every area; too few men were in full-time activity
  • The offender management unit was under-resourced

Strengths

  • Mental health provision was stronger
  • Leaders had increased activity places, broadened the curriculum and worked with a waste management employer
  • The gym investment was described as impressive
  • Resettlement help with bank accounts, identity documents and benefits was among the best inspectors had seen

What the Independent Monitoring Board reported for 2025 to 2026

In shortThe IMB recorded five deaths in custody and slow repairs, but a sharp fall in men found under the influence.

  • Deaths in custody5
  • Prisoner survey691 responsesA 68% response rate, December 2025
  • Work places lostAbout 250Long-term closure of workshops, hangars and the bakery

The IMB's report for 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026 was published in June 2026. It recorded persistent high levels of self-harm with a sustained decline towards the end of the period, and violence reduced since peaks in April and September 2025.

The Board welcomed a sharp fall in men found under the influence of illicit substances.

  • Slow repairs, inconsistent heating, bedbug infestations, long-standing laundry failures and many lost cell keys
  • National education budget cuts reduced staffing and course availability
  • Many men were staying until the end of their sentence rather than moving to resettlement prisons, and the Board asked the Minister for restored education funding

Working at Lindholme

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

  • Band 3 to 5 officers (FTE)225 / 246Band 3 to 5 officers against target; HMPPS workforce statistics for 30 June 2026
  • HMPPS rating3: good2025/26 ratings: 65.7%
  • Officers with under two yearsA quarterOn the house units; more supervising officers had been added to support them

HMIP's 2026 report said the governor had been in post for a year, was visible and had set clear expectations. Staff survey results suggested mixed morale, though almost two thirds said their wellbeing was promoted.

Pay, applying and getting there

Officer pay at HMP Lindholme

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 Lindholme, 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 Lindholme (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.

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 Lindholme

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 1,010, population 938 (93%), certified normal accommodation in use 812. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingGood performance
Overall score65.7%
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: 225 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 246 (-21, 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 Lindholme was published 1 September 2026 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetynot sufficiently good
respectnot sufficiently good
purposeful activitynot sufficiently good
preparation for releasenot sufficiently good

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 1 September 2026.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 42 share its "not sufficiently good" safety grade and 53 its "not sufficiently good" purposeful-activity grade.

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP Lindholme and how to apply

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

Postcode: DN7 6EE. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: Doncaster.

Other prisons in Yorkshire and the Humber and similar prisons

These establishments are in the same county or region (14 listed in Yorkshire and the Humber). See all of them in one table.

Similar by HMPPS functional group (Category C Trainer)

Compare Lindholme side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP Lindholme: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP Lindholme?

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 Lindholme?

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 Lindholme hold?

Operational capacity 1,010, population 938 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

How do I apply to work at HMP Lindholme?

There is no Lindholme 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 Lindholme?

GOV.UK gives: Doncaster.

What kind of prison is Lindholme?

HMP Lindholme is a category C training prison for adult men on a former RAF base near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. It opened as a prison in 1985. HMIP recorded 956 men held against an operational capacity of 1,010 in June 2026, and the August 2026 bulletin shows 938 held.

How did Lindholme do at its last inspection?

HMIP inspected from 1 to 11 June 2026 and published on 1 September 2026. Safety, respect, purposeful activity and preparation for release were all rated not sufficiently good. Inspectors raised 15 key concerns, six of them priorities, with illicit drugs the most pressing, but said they had confidence in the leadership.

Is there a market supplement at Lindholme?

Not as at 3 October 2026. Lindholme is in the national pay zone and does not appear on the HMPPS Band 3 market supplement list on the official prison officer pay page. Supplements are guaranteed to at least March 2027, so check the live advert for the terms actually offered.

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: HMIP says the site is about ten miles north of Doncaster and about 100 acres; the IMB says ten miles east and about 128 acres. We have not resolved the difference and quote both bodies.; Operational capacity is 1,010 in both HMIP and the IMB, but GOV.UK describes over 1,000 prisoners; we used the dated HMIP and bulletin figures.; We did not find a Lindholme-specific live vacancy, and used no official source on local housing or the surrounding area.; We did not read Ofsted's separate full report, only the summary within the HMIP report..