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HMP Littlehey

Littlehey is a prison near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire for men convicted of a sex offence. 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 1,243 ranks 2nd of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).

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

HMP Littlehey at a glance

  • Its operational capacity of 1,243 ranks 2nd of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).
  • Among the 14 prisons in the HMPPS "Category C Trainer" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 2nd by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 4 December 2023) graded safety "good" and purposeful activity "not sufficiently good".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: St Neots and Huntingdon, which are both around 9 miles from Littlehey.
Type
HMP
Holds
Men
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
England
Region (geographic)
East of England
HMPPS prison region
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & NorfolkWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Postcode
PE28 0SR
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
1,243As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
4 December 2023
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
St Neots and Huntingdon, which are both around 9 miles from Littlehey

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Littlehey is a prison near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire for men convicted of a sex offence.” Official page.

Opened in 1988 and re-roled in 2014

In shortA large public sector category C training prison near Huntingdon, re-roled in 2014 to hold adult men convicted of sexual offences.

  • Operational capacity1,243HMPPS August 2026 bulletin
  • Prisoners held1,238On 24 August 2026
  • Serving life sentences14%10% on indeterminate sentences; HMIP profile
  • Aged over 7011%Many experiencing custody for the first time

It is in the HMPPS Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk group. The Chief Inspector described it in 2023 as holding more than 1,200 prisoners across a large campus with house blocks and wings set in well-kept grounds. For an explanation of categories, see our prison categories guide.

A, B, D
General population wings.
C
A community wing run on rehabilitative culture principles.
E
Induction unit.
F and G
Two progression units for enhanced residents.
H
An accredited enabling environment.
Facilities (GOV.UK)
An all-weather sports pitch, gymnasium, adult learning centre and kitchen buildings, with educational classes from basic skills to degree level and practical courses in carpentry, joinery, motor mechanics, hospitality and ICT.

History (HMIP)

  1. 1988Opens as a male category C establishment

    Over time it managed an increasing number of prisoners convicted of sexual offences.

  2. January 2010Site extensively expanded

    To hold up to 480 young offenders.

  3. 2014Re-roled as an all-adult male category C establishment

    Holding men convicted of sexual offences.

What inspectors found in 2023

In shortHMIP called the September 2023 inspection very encouraging: a settled, safe and purposeful prison, held back by healthcare, maintenance and activity places.

  • SafetyGoodIts highest assessment
  • RespectReasonably good
  • Purposeful activityNot sufficiently good
  • Rehabilitation and release planningReasonably good

HMIP inspected without notice between 4 and 14 September 2023 and published the report on 4 December 2023 (previous inspection: 2019). The atmosphere was based on good staff-prisoner relationships. Violence, use of force, segregation and self-harm were all low.

Strengths

  • One quarter of prisoners were unlocked for at least nine hours a day, much better than the Chief Inspector often sees.
  • Leaders were described as collaborative, innovative and ambitious.
  • The governor's visibility and commitment were the likely source of the establishment's energy and competence.

Concerns

  • Four priority concerns: healthcare resources, weak medicines governance, long-standing unaddressed maintenance issues (including faulty CCTV, damaged grounds lighting and showers) and too few activity spaces.
  • Four prisoners had taken their own lives since the last inspection; the prison was responding but had more to do on health.
  • Ofsted rated learning and skills as 'requires improvement'.
  • Limits on work and education places meant a sizeable minority had a much worse experience.

Staff: full complement and low attrition

In shortIn 2023 HMIP found Littlehey fully staffed with low absence and attrition, though that is three years old and should be treated as dated.

  • Officers, 30 June 2026256 FTEBand 3 to 5, hours adjusted; target 261
  • Below targetAbout 5
  • HMPPS rating 2025/263 of 4"Good performance"; overall score 60.8%

For anyone thinking about a career here, the staffing findings are among the strongest in the East of England. HMIP wrote that Littlehey benefited greatly from being fully staffed, with low rates of staff absence or attrition.

  • The prison was well staffed by band 3 prison officers.
  • The proportion of newer staff had recently increased, but they told inspectors they felt well supported by more experienced colleagues.
  • Leaders put a strong focus on staff wellbeing, recognising that the care of an ageing population and a high number of deaths in custody from natural causes was a considerable challenge for staff.

Independent Monitoring Board 2024/25 and working here

In shortThe IMB found Littlehey safe and secure with respectful treatment, but flagged heating, education cuts and a shortage of its own members.

  • The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) report for 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2025 says Littlehey continued to be safe and secure with a relatively low rate of prisoner-on-prisoner violence.
  • Prisoners were treated with respect, decency and humanity, and the mental health team was notable for its committed support.
  • The Board raised the constant battle to keep hot water and heating supplied to wings, noting that £6.5 million had already been spent on the Lakeside systems.
  • It said the education budget had been cut by 35%, and warned of a critically low number of its own members.

Working here

  • Pay: Littlehey is on national pay with no market supplement listed on the HMPPS pay page (checked 3 October 2026); see the pay page.
  • Apply through the officer route, as there is no establishment-specific recruitment page on the prison and probation jobs site.
  • Travel: GOV.UK gives St Neots and Huntingdon as the nearest stations, both about 9 miles away, and describes a bookable on-demand bus from Huntingdon.

Officer pay at HMP Littlehey

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 Littlehey, 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 Littlehey (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 Littlehey

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 1,243, population 1,238 (100%), certified normal accommodation in use 1,126. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingGood performance
Overall score60.8%
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: 256 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 261 (-4, 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. See prison categories explained or all Category C Trainer prisons.

Latest inspection

HMIP's most recent report on Littlehey was published 4 December 2023 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetygood
respectreasonably good
purposeful activitynot sufficiently good
preparation for releasereasonably good

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 4 December 2023.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 36 share its "good" safety grade and 53 its "not sufficiently good" purposeful-activity grade.

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP Littlehey and how to apply

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

Postcode: PE28 0SR. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: St Neots and Huntingdon, which are both around 9 miles from Littlehey.

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 (Category C Trainer)

Compare Littlehey side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP Littlehey: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP Littlehey?

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

Does HMP Littlehey 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 Littlehey?

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

How many prisoners can HMP Littlehey hold?

Operational capacity 1,243, population 1,238 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

How do I apply to work at HMP Littlehey?

There is no Littlehey 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 Littlehey?

GOV.UK gives: St Neots and Huntingdon, which are both around 9 miles from Littlehey.

Who is held at HMP Littlehey?

HMIP says Littlehey's principal purpose is to hold adult men convicted of sexual offences. It is a category C training prison near Huntingdon with more than 1,200 prisoners; in 2023 10% were serving indeterminate sentences, 14% life sentences and 11% were over 70.

Was Littlehey fully staffed at its last inspection?

Yes. HMIP's report on the September 2023 inspection said Littlehey benefited greatly from being fully staffed, with low rates of staff absence and attrition. HMPPS workforce statistics at 30 June 2026 show officers about 5 full-time equivalents below target, so check the current position.

How do you get to HMP Littlehey without a car?

GOV.UK says the nearest stations are St Neots and Huntingdon, both about 9 miles away, and that a bus run by Tiger on Demand can be booked from Huntingdon station Monday to Saturday, with no Sunday service. Booking must be made at least 48 hours in advance.

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 September 2023 was found; No Littlehey-specific recruitment page was found on the prison and probation jobs site; The ministerial response to the 2024/25 IMB report was not used because its date is inconsistent with the report.