HMP Stocken

A rural category C prison that keeps growing

In shortA men's category C training prison near Oakham in Rutland, built in 1985 and expanded repeatedly, now with an operational capacity of 1,285.

• Built1985As a young offender institution
• Operational capacity1,285Across eight wings (IMB)
• Held at 2023 inspection1,0511,019 received in 2022; around 22 released each month; 333 receiving substance use support
• Released directly, 2025/26Around 400Though not designated a resettlement prison (IMB)

HMP Stocken is a men's category C training prison at Stretton, near Oakham in Rutland, close to the A1.

HMIP's 2023 report gives its history: it was built in 1985 as a young offender institution, changed role to become a closed category C training prison, and has expanded repeatedly, with new accommodation added in 1990, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2011 and 2019.

The IMB's 2025/26 report says the opening of newer wings in recent years has improved accommodation.

• A Ministry of Justice press release of 2 September 2022 announced a further 214-place houseblock (188 single cells, 12 double cells and two accessible cells), with first prisoners expected in early 2024
• Alongside it, a new workshop where DHL would run logistics courses
• Eight wings: four holding between 75 and 132 prisoners and four holding around 200 each
• A separate segregation unit, 16 workshops and an extended gym
• Most prisoners serve medium to long sentences of four years or more, with a number serving life or IPP sentences

What inspectors found in 2023

In shortSafety was good and respect and release planning reasonably good, with purposeful activity not sufficiently good; inadequate education and officers off the wing were the main concerns.

• SafetyGoodBetter than at the 2019 inspection
• RespectReasonably good
• Rehabilitation and release planningReasonably goodBetter than at the 2019 inspection
• Purposeful activityNot sufficiently good
• Key concerns15Five of them priorities

HMIP inspected Stocken from 16 to 27 January 2023 and published its report on 16 May 2023. The Chief Inspector praised an acting governor who had set a new vision focused on building the competence, resilience and wellbeing of his staff and getting prisoners back into purposeful activity.

The Chief Inspector said that, with the inexperienced but enthusiastic leadership team developing, the prison had the potential to become one of the best in the country.

Staffing: what HMIP and the IMB say

In shortRecruitment and retention are the recurring theme: HMIP called the officer shortage among the worst in the country, and in June 2026 staffing was 244 against a target of 284.

• Band 3 to 5 officers244 FTEBand 3 to 5 staffing against a target of 284 at 30 June 2026: 40 below
• Key work sessions, 2025740 a monthDown 54% from 2024, with 2026 data suggesting a further drop (IMB)

Staffing is the recurring theme at Stocken. HMIP said staff recruitment and retention remained the biggest challenge, with shortages across officers, operational support grades and teachers, and noted that the officer shortage ranked among the worst in the country. Despite that, leaders provided a regime appropriate to a category C training prison.

The IMB's 2025/26 report (1 May 2025 to 30 April 2026, published 2 October 2026) says that after improvements in 2024/25 the prison has again experienced recruitment and retention problems.

• HMIP: most of the senior team had been newly and temporarily promoted, and high staff attrition was being addressed through staff engagement, consultation and recognition of good work
• HMIP found custodial managers' visibility variable but with some leading effectively, including in safer custody, segregation and the drug recovery wing
• IMB: the prison has used staff reprofiling and overtime to plug gaps, and the diversity of the officer group has continued to increase
• IMB: changes to the UK Skilled Worker visa earnings threshold will probably cause further shortages
• IMB: shortages at Band 3 (entry-level officer) have affected key work, which has been curtailed in favour of operational needs

Working at Stocken: pay, supplement and recruitment page

In shortStocken is on the HMPPS Band 3 market supplement list: £2,000 a year, non-pensionable, guaranteed until at least March 2027.

• Market supplement£2,000 a yearNon-pensionable, paid in 12 monthly instalments, guaranteed for qualifying prisons until at least March 2027
• Band 3, 39 hours£38,816Band 3 on 39 hours, compared with £36,816 elsewhere in the national zone
• Band 3, 37 hours£36,928Band 3 on a 37-hour contract, compared with £34,928 elsewhere in the national zone

The HMPPS prison officer pay page (checked 3 October 2026) lists a £2,000 supplement for Stocken. Those figures include the 20% unsocial hours allowance. See prison officer pay bands and the pay page for the full table and how supplements work.

HMPPS also publishes a recruitment page for prison officers at Stocken. Apply through how to become a prison officer.

• The recruitment page says the prison is nine miles from Oakham and holds up to 1,056 prisoners
• Vocational courses: painting and decorating, catering, plumbing, bricklaying and barbering
• On-site work including a DHL warehouse, an employment hub and a bicycle repair workshop
• Partnerships with Leicester City Football Club and the Royal British Legion
• Staff benefits are a free gym and free parking
• A short drive from Stamford and Grantham; GOV.UK names Stamford, Grantham and Oakham as the closest stations and says you will need a taxi from the station, and the IMB notes that public transport is very limited