HMP Sudbury at a glance
- Its operational capacity of 661 ranks 9th of 14 in East Midlands (1 = largest).
- Among the 11 prisons in the HMPPS "Open" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 1st by size.
- Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 30 October 2023) graded safety "reasonably good" and purposeful activity "reasonably good".
- Type
- HMP
- Holds
- Men
- Run by
- HMPPS (public sector)
- Nation
- England
- Region (geographic)
- East Midlands
- HMPPS prison region
- West MidlandsWorkforce statistics, June 2026
- Town / county
- near Ashbourne, Derbyshire
- Postcode
- DE6 5HW
- HMPPS functional group
- OpenA 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
- 661As at 24 August 2026
- Latest HMIP report published
- 30 October 2023
Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Sudbury Prison is a men’s prison near Ashbourne in Derbyshire.” Official page.
An open prison on a former hospital site
In shortAn open (category D) prison for adult men and young adults near Ashbourne, on a 40-acre former American Air Force hospital site, focused on rehabilitation and resettlement.
- SiteOver 40 acresBuilt in the late 1930s as an American Air Force hospital; a prison since 1948
- Held, 2023603725 new prisoners received in the previous year; 36 released each month
- Young offenders aged 18 to 20Since 2015Previously a resettlement establishment for men over 21
HMP & YOI Sudbury is an open (category D) prison for adult men and young adults near Ashbourne in Derbyshire.
HMIP's 2023 report says the site was converted to a prison in 1948 and used consistently since as a resettlement establishment for men over 21. In 2015 it began taking young offenders aged 18 to 20.
The IMB describes its main aim as rehabilitation and resettlement, with men encouraged to take up education, vocational training and full-time work outside the prison.
Accommodation: old and new
Newer
- 80 modular "pods" with ensuite rooms installed in September 2020 (HMIP)
- Two new accommodation blocks for 60 prisoners were planned for the end of 2023; the IMB's 2024/25 report says two new living units have since been completed
Older
- 18 dormitories holding between 10 and 32 prisoners each (HMIP)
- Most dormitory buildings date from the Second World War with shared toilets and showers and are very hard to maintain
- Prisoners in older blocks share phones in corridors
What HMIP found in 2023
In shortSafety, respect and purposeful activity were reasonably good and rehabilitation and release planning good, with drugs, old accommodation and thin enrichment the key concerns.
- SafetyReasonably good
- RespectReasonably good
- Purposeful activityReasonably good
- Rehabilitation and release planningGoodHMIP's highest assessment, an improvement from 2017
- Mandatory drug test positive rateAbout 20%Above comparable prisons
HMIP's unannounced inspection ran from 24 July to 3 August 2023 and was published on 30 October 2023, the first full inspection since 2017. The Chief Inspector wrote that the prison remained overwhelmingly safe, with new arrivals receiving good care, violent incidents rare and staff-prisoner relationships respectful, supported by peer workers.
Strengths and the six key concerns (five were priorities)
Strengths
- Nearly all prisoners had an education or work allocation, many in paid employment in the community
- Almost a third of prisoners had community jobs, supported by extensive use of release on temporary licence
- Ofsted graded education, skills and work as good
- Partnership working on offender management was described as excellent
Concerns
- A significant quantity of illicit drugs was entering the prison, and one prisoner's death was attributed to a drug overdose
- The old residential accommodation was in poor condition and needed substantial investment, even though leaders had creatively used income from workshop contracts to refurbish showers and replace windows with prisoner work groups
- Poor access to basics such as cleaning materials and laundry
- Too few enrichment activities, and careers advice was not detailed enough
- A comparatively high number of men had been returned to closed conditions, and data were not used to understand why
The IMB's 2024/25 view
In shortSelf-harm, violence and use of force appear low and prisoners feel safe, but poor buildings, equipment failures and limited digital provision persist; staffing was 79 against a target of 88.
- Population, end of year655Including 57 prisoners under 25; operational capacity 661
- Band 3 to 5 officers79 FTEBand 3 to 5 staffing against a target of 88 at 30 June 2026: nine below target
The IMB's report for 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025 (published October 2025) gives a more recent picture.
The Board says levels of self-harm, violence and use of force all appear to remain low and prisoners report feeling safe, but it has seen a rise in men arriving who may not be ready for, or willing to accept, an open prison regime, and it remains concerned about illicit items.
This is a small officer group, so open-prison work leans heavily on relationships and individual risk assessment.
Progress and concerns
Improved
- Teaching quality in education had reached very good standards with high English and maths results
- Library provision had improved
Concerns
- A majority of prisoners still living in poor-quality buildings
- Multiple equipment failures in the laundry and kitchens
- Insufficient and very variable contact between prisoners and their initial point of contact (IPOC) officer
- Little progress on enrichment, and inadequate digital provision, with some work areas without Wi-Fi
- Staffing issues affected prisoner employment on the work-in-the-community scheme and indoor gym activities at times
Getting there and applying
In shortReach it via Tutbury or Uttoxeter stations plus a taxi or hourly bus; apply through the national route, as there is no Sudbury recruitment page and no market supplement.
GOV.UK gives the address as HMP Sudbury, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 5HW. Sudbury is in the national pay zone with no market supplement on the HMPPS list (checked 3 October 2026); see prison officer pay bands.
- GOV.UK: the closest main-line railway stations are Tutbury and Uttoxeter, served from Derby, Stoke and Crewe
- Onward taxis or an hourly bus (limited on Sundays)
- A free car park with disabled spaces
Applying and comparing
- There is no establishment-specific recruitment page for Sudbury on prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk, so follow the national route in how to become a prison officer; local adverts appear on the Justice Jobs portal when vacancies arise
- For context on what an open prison's role is, read prison categories explained
- Compare it with North Sea Camp, the East Midlands' other open prison
- Foston Hall, also in south Derbyshire, has an official HMPPS recruitment page
Officer pay at HMP Sudbury
National (all other locations) zone; Band 3 rates from 1 April 2026, including the 20% unsocial hours allowance.
| Contract hours | Entry (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.
| Grade | Contract | From | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 Operational Support Grade | 37 hours incl. 25% unsocial hours | £31,761 | £31,761 |
| Band 4 Supervising / Specialist Officer | 37 hours incl. 20% unsocial hours | £41,328 | £41,328 |
| Band 5 Custodial Manager | 39 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 Midlands prisons: Stocken (£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.
Capacity, performance and staffing
At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 661, population 580 (88%), certified normal accommodation in use 661. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.
HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26
Scale 4 (outstanding) to 1 (serious concern). HMPPS prison performance ratings 2025/26.
Officer staffing against target
At 30 June 2026: 79 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 88 (-9, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.
Open is HMPPS's functional-group label for the prison's role, not any prisoner's security category. See prison categories explained or all Open prisons.
Latest inspection
HMIP's most recent report on Sudbury was published 30 October 2023 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.
Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 30 October 2023.
Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 31 share its "reasonably good" safety grade and 22 its "reasonably good" purposeful-activity grade. 27 of the 122 had no test below "reasonably good".
Working at HMP Sudbury and how to apply
There is no Sudbury-specific page on the HMPPS jobs site; adverts are listed by location. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.
- HMPPS prison officer jobs (official site).
- Official establishment page, including visiting and contact details.
- How to become a prison officer: eligibility, vetting, assessment centre, fitness test and training.
- Recruitment timeline tool and commute cost calculator.
Postcode: DE6 5HW. View on a map. GOV.UK gives no railway station for this prison.
Other prisons in East Midlands and similar prisons
These establishments are in the same county or region (14 listed in East Midlands). See all of them in one table.
- HMP & YOI Foston HallFoston, Derbyshire
- HMP Five WellsWellingborough, Northamptonshire
- HMP Fosse WayLeicester, Leicestershire
- HMP GartreeMarket Harborough, Leicestershire
- HMP LeicesterLeicester, Leicestershire
- HMP & YOI LincolnLincoln, Lincolnshire
Similar by HMPPS functional group (Open)
Related guides
- Band 3 prison officer payEvery pay point and contract-hours option explained.
- Open prisons explainedWhat open conditions mean.
- Prison categories explainedCategory A to D versus functional groups.
- Prison officer jobs by regionWhere officers are needed and how pay differs.
- UK prisons listEvery establishment by nation, category and operator.
HMP Sudbury: frequently asked questions
How much does a prison officer earn at HMP Sudbury?
From £37,131 a year on 39 hours at the entry pay point, rising to £39,097 (National zone, 2026/27).
Does HMP Sudbury pay a market supplement?
No: it is not on the HMPPS list (checked 3 October 2026). In East Midlands the listed prisons are Stocken (£2,000).
What category is HMP Sudbury?
HMPPS lists it in the "Open" functional group, a label for the prison's role rather than the category of each prisoner.
How many prisoners can HMP Sudbury hold?
Operational capacity 661, population 580 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).
How do I apply to work at HMP Sudbury?
There is no Sudbury page on the HMPPS jobs site, so use the general HMPPS prison officer page, where adverts are listed by location.
What kind of prison is HMP Sudbury?
Sudbury is an open (category D) prison for adult men and young adults near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. The site was built in the late 1930s as an American Air Force hospital and became a prison in 1948, used as a resettlement establishment for men over 21 and, since 2015, also for young offenders aged 18 to 20.
How did Sudbury do at its last inspection?
HMIP's inspection (July and August 2023, published 30 October 2023) rated safety, respect and purposeful activity reasonably good and rehabilitation and release planning good. Strengths included safety, respectful relationships and extensive release on temporary licence; concerns included drugs entering the prison, old accommodation and too few enrichment activities.
Is HMP Sudbury easy to get to without a car?
GOV.UK says the closest main-line stations are Tutbury and Uttoxeter, with onward taxis or an hourly bus that runs a limited service on Sundays. The prison is rural, near Ashbourne, and has a free visitors' car park with disabled spaces. Check current bus times with Traveline before travelling.
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.
- HMIP report, HMP & YOI Sudbury (published 30 Oct 2023), full PDF (opened 2026-10-03)
- IMB annual report 2024/25, HMP/YOI Sudbury (published 21 Oct 2025) (opened 2026-10-03)
- GOV.UK establishment page, Sudbury prison (updated 29 Jun 2026) (opened 2026-10-03)
- HMPPS workforce quarterly June 2026 (published 20 Aug 2026), officer staffing against targets annex (opened 2026-10-03)
Not verified for this prison: The HMIP inspection is nearly three years old (report published 30 October 2023); no follow-up review was found; The 2025/26 IMB report was not located; the 2024/25 report is the latest used; No establishment-specific recruitment page for Sudbury.
- gov.uk/guidance/sudbury-prison
- gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales
- prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/prison-service-roles/prison-officer/prison-officer-pay/
- gov.uk/government/publications/prison-population-monthly-prison-figures-2026
- hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_reports/hmp-sudbury/