HMP Manchester

From Strangeways to a long-term high-security prison

In shortKnown as Strangeways until 1994, Manchester is a men’s long-term high-security estate prison holding about 600 prisoners, mostly in single cells.

• Main prison opened1868Legacy of the 1990 disturbance still requires attention, including parts of the roof (IMB)
• Holds~600Men; nine wings in two house blocks
• Nearest stationManchester VictoriaAbout a five-minute walk (GOV.UK)

HMP Manchester is in the Strangeways district of Manchester and was known as Strangeways until 1994, according to GOV.UK. Most prisoners are held in single cells under category B conditions. HMPPS’s performance data group it in the Category B functional group.

A to D, G, H and K wings

The general population.

I wing

Drug and alcohol recovery.

M wing

An inpatient health care building.

The Croft

A separate complex with the laundry, workshops, sports hall and gym.

E wing

Houses category A remand prisoners.

What the official recruitment page says

In shortManchester has its own HMPPS recruitment page, quoting £34,928 to £39,334, a Counter Terrorism Check and enhanced screening; the pay may reflect an earlier year.

• Quoted pay£34,928 to £39,334The page’s own figures; may reflect an earlier pay year, so check our pay hub and the live vacancy
• Contract37 hoursUntil initial training is complete, then 39 or 41 hours
• ClearanceCTCCounter Terrorism Check: UK residence for the last three years, plus enhanced pre-employment screening

Manchester is one of the few prisons with its own page on the HMPPS Prison and Probation Jobs site, titled ‘Work as a prison officer at HMP Manchester’.

As read on 3 October 2026, it describes a category A long-term high-security prison with a capacity of 651 adult male prisoners on remand awaiting trial or serving long sentences.

• Free on-site parking and a free on-site gym.
• Staff clubs such as volleyball and chess.
• Good public transport links with many bus and tram routes nearby; because officers work shifts, it notes public transport may not be running at all times.

The 2024 Urgent Notification

In shortHMIP invoked its Urgent Notification protocol in October 2024 over drugs, violence and concern about self-harm and deaths.

• Random drug tests positive39%Over 12 months
• Notice period for next inspection6 monthsAn announced inspection, agreed after the Secretary of State’s action plan

In October 2024 HMIP issued an Urgent Notification for Manchester, a formal step taken when inspectors have significant concerns about the safety of a prison. The Chief Inspector’s reasons included widespread drug use, rising violence including the highest rate of serious assaults among adult male prisons, and concern about self-harm and deaths.

The Secretary of State responded with an action plan. The Inspectorate later wrote that in 2024 the combination of drugs, violence, ‘an inexperienced and demotivated staff team’ and a very poor regime meant the prison was failing in many basic functions.

What inspectors found in January 2026

In shortSome stability under leaders, but poor safety and activity, with ‘cautious optimism’ from the Chief Inspector.

• SafetyPoor
• RespectNot sufficiently goodUp from poor
• Purposeful activityPoor
• Preparation for releaseReasonably good

HMIP’s announced inspection ran from 12 to 22 January 2026 (report published 14 April 2026). Of 15 key concerns, six were priorities.

Ofsted rated education, skills and work ‘inadequate’ after education budget cuts of more than 50%.

Staffing, sickness and detached duty

In shortManchester was operating 30% below its full complement of officers, with very high sickness making progress fragile.

• Below full complement of officers30%Recruitment difficult and vetting delayed; detached-duty staff helped stability
• Extra staff for drone attacks4Funded by leaders

For people thinking about working here, staffing is the headline. HMIP also said very high sickness made progress fragile, that the regime was frequently cancelled because of staffing shortages, and that staff-prisoner relationships were undermined by low staffing, redeployment and lack of activity.

In the Inspectorate’s staff survey, most respondents said they were well supported by line managers. National decisions to reduce funding had led to the loss of many education staff.

IMB annual report for 2025-26

In shortThe IMB said drones were ‘fundamentally undermining’ safety, violence was ‘unacceptably high’ and the physical condition of the prison was very poor.

The IMB’s report for 1 March 2025 to 28 February 2026 notes it was the first written by a new Board and that coverage was more limited than normal.

• Drones and other routes for illicit items were ‘fundamentally undermining’ safety.
• Violence was ‘unacceptably high’.
• The physical condition of the prison was very poor, with vermin, damaged cells and heating disruptions.
• Staff shortages and high sickness frequently curtail the regime, with some men spending up to 23 hours a day in cells.
• A largely positive response to body-worn protective equipment for staff in the segregation unit and the close supervision centre; the Board urged HMPPS to ensure the prison is a safe workplace for all.

Pay and how to apply

In shortOn the national Band 3 pay scale with no market supplement listed as at 3 October 2026; Manchester’s CTC requirement is an extra step.

Manchester is on the national Band 3 pay scale, with no market supplement listed on the HMPPS pay page as at 3 October 2026; see the pay hub and prison officer pay bands guide for the 2026/27 figures.

• Applications go through the national route in becoming a prison officer, with Manchester’s CTC requirement an extra step.
• Our guide to prison categories explains the high-security estate, and prison officer jobs by region helps you compare Manchester with other North West options.