HMP & YOI Norwich

Three sites in one prison

In shortNorwich is a reception and resettlement prison on a site overlooking the city since 1887, made up of three adjacent but separate sites.

• Operational capacity712HMPPS August 2026 bulletin
• Prisoners held647On 24 August 2026
• Held at inspection74646% unsentenced and 54% sentenced
• Monthly turnover230 in, 139 outAverage admitted and released

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) records an open unit just outside the prison grounds. HMPPS classes it as a Reception prison in its performance ratings. Our prison categories guide explains why a single prison can contain several categories.

Reception unit

For new prisoners (recruitment page); the category B reception site.

A wing

Induction and a mixture of main and vulnerable prisoner landings.

B and C wings

Main population housing remanded prisoners.

K wing

Older prisoners.

M wing

Modular pod accommodation for prisoners convicted of sexual offences.

Ketts

Special care and segregation unit.

Training facility (category B and C)

F and G wings, H wing (a healthcare unit also serving other regional prisons) and L wing (adult social care and palliative care).

Open resettlement wing (category D)

D wing holds category D prisoners in open conditions, known as Britannia House.

The January 2026 inspection

In shortHMIP found good progress under a long-serving governor in January 2026, but six priority concerns and a fragile jail.

• SafetyReasonably goodImproved
• Purposeful activityNot sufficiently goodFrom poor in 2022
• Respect, preparation for releaseReasonably goodUnchanged
• Random drug tests positive24%

HMIP's unannounced inspection ran from 19 to 29 January 2026, and the report was published on 20 April 2026. Previous inspection: September 2022; 11 of 13 concerns from 2022 were achieved or partially achieved.

Staff: retention, relationships and supervision

In shortOfficer retention was much better than at the last inspection and relationships were positive, but supervision on the house units was inadequate.

• Prisoners saying most staff treat them with respect71%Inspectors' survey
• Officers, 30 June 2026227 FTEBand 3 to 5, hours adjusted; target 238
• Below targetAbout 11

Staff findings are among the more useful parts of the report for a candidate.

Independent Monitoring Board and performance rating

In shortThe IMB credited the violence reduction landing but reported rising drug use and 25% of releases homeless; HMPPS rated Norwich 3 of 4.

• HMPPS rating 2025/263 of 4"Good performance"; scored 60.8%
• Released homeless25%IMB, in the period
• Education provision cutNearly 40%Ended all vocational courses

The HMPPS rating is a different, annual measure from an inspection, and the two do not need to agree.

• The IMB's report for 1 March 2025 to 28 February 2026, published on 22 September 2026, said the violence reduction landing introduced in 2024 had proved a deterrent to violence and intimidation.
• Illicit drug use had risen, and a lack of effective perimeter protection made it hard to resolve.
• It repeated concerns about dilapidated buildings, leaking roofs, broken heating and faulty lighting.

Working at Norwich: recruitment page, pay and travel

In shortNorwich has an establishment recruitment page, is on national pay with no market supplement listed, and is about 2 miles outside the city.

• Adult male prisoners750Recruitment page
• Market supplementNone listedHMPPS pay page, checked 3 October 2026

• The recruitment page describes a training and resettlement prison and YOI about 2 miles outside the city of Norwich.
• Onsite workshops (printing, textiles and contract packing), three gyms and a free onsite gym, free parking, and training and career progression for staff.
• A 30-minute drive from Great Yarmouth and just over an hour from King's Lynn, with trains into Norwich station and buses from the city centre; about 20 minutes to walk from Norwich.
• GOV.UK adds that bus numbers 23 or 24 from the city centre or railway station pass the prison.