Pay
Pay hubPay bands explained2026/27 pay risePrison officer salary and pay bandsStarting salaryOvertime ratesPayment Plus explainedOvertime after taxMarket supplementsOvertime and take-homeUnsocial hoursBack pay calculatorPay Planner
Pensions
Pensions hubCivil Service pension overviewAlpha explainedMcCloud remedyContribution ratesPension ageEarly retirementLump sumsIll-health retirementPension calculatorLump sum calculatorApril 2027 increase calculatorPension Command
Join
Joining hubHow to become a prison officerRequirementsVettingRecruitment processFitness testInterview questionsPOELT trainingNewbold RevelCan I be a prison officer?Recruitment timelineCandidate Bundle
Conduct
Conduct hubMisconduct explainedDisciplinary processInvestigationsSuspensionPOA representationRight to be accompaniedAppealsMisconduct and pensionProcess navigatorResponse Pack
Prisons
Browse all prisonsAll prisonsPrison finderUK prisons listPrison categoriesPOELT trainingNewbold RevelJobs by region
Working life
Working life hubWorking life hubShift patternsAnnual leaveStress and wellbeingRoles and prisons hubRanks and gradesThe POA explainedPromotionMoney and life hubMortgagesMortgage calculatorCommuting costs
Tools
All toolsOvertime and take-homePension calculatorSalary calculatorMortgage calculatorPay PlannerPension CommandCandidate BundleServing Bundle
News
Calculate my payStart hereNeed help? Contact us

HMP The Mount

The Mount is a men’s prison in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire. HMPPS places it in the "Category C Trainer/Resettlement" functional group. Band 3 prison officer pay here starts at £39,131 on a 39-hour contract including the £2,000 market supplement (2026/27 rates).

Jobs at The Mount (HMPPS)Work out my take-home hereCompare with other prisons

HMP The Mount at a glance

  • It is one of the prisons listed for a Band 3 market supplement: £2,000 a year on top of base pay, non-pensionable, guaranteed to at least March 2027 and, on HMPPS's own wording, able to be withdrawn.
  • Its operational capacity of 1,078 ranks 4th of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).
  • Among the 26 prisons in the HMPPS "Category C Trainer/Resettlement" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 8th by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 24 February 2025) graded safety "reasonably good" and purposeful activity "poor".
Type
HMP
Holds
Men
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
England
Region (geographic)
East of England
HMPPS prison region
Hertfordshire, Essex & SuffolkWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
Bovingdon, Hertfordshire
Postcode
HP3 0NZ
HMPPS functional group
Category C Trainer/ResettlementA role label, not each prisoner's security category
Officer pay zone
National (all other locations)
Band 3 market supplement
£2,000 a yearHMPPS pay page, 3 October 2026
Operational capacity
1,078As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
24 February 2025

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “The Mount is a men’s prison in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire.” Official page.

From young offender institution to category C training prison

In shortThe Mount, on a former RAF station near Hemel Hempstead, opened in 1987 as a young offender institution and is now a category C training and resettlement prison for adult men.

  • Operational capacity1,078HMPPS August 2026 bulletin
  • Prisoners held1,047On 24 August 2026
  • New prisoners received1,350In a year (HMIP 2024 profile)
  • Foreign national prisoners23222.7%

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) records that HMP The Mount is in Bovingdon, in the HMPPS Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk group. The prison's recruitment page says it is four miles from Hemel Hempstead and typically holds men serving medium-term sentences for a range of offences.

For how category C training prisons fit into the estate, see our prison categories guide.

Lower site (older units)
An annexe pre-release wing for 48 prisoners, the Brister induction wing, general population wings (Ellis and Fowler), the Wellbeing unit (incentivised substance free living) and an 18-bed care and separation unit.
Top site (newer units)
The Dixon wing (Creating Future Opportunities and general population), Howard, Narey (a wing for over-50s) and the Nash A and B wings.

HMIP inspection, November 2024

In shortHMIP found greater stability and good staff-prisoner relations in November 2024, but poor education and drones bringing in drugs and weapons.

  • SafetyReasonably good
  • RespectReasonably good
  • Purposeful activityPoor
  • Preparation for releaseReasonably good

HMIP carried out an unannounced inspection on 11 to 12 and 18 to 22 November 2024 and published the report on 24 February 2025. Of 15 key concerns, six were priorities: drones and weapons, data use by leaders, foreign national support, medicine hatch supervision, education quality and education curriculum.

Strengths

  • The governor had brought greater stability by improving the recruitment, retention and capability of his staff.
  • Staff-prisoner relations were good, with many effective officers supporting prisoners serving sentences from a few months to life.
  • The regime had improved considerably, with well-supervised prisoners moving freely to activities.
  • A well-led incentivised substance-free living wing was among the best the Chief Inspector had seen.
  • Every prisoner had been given a laptop, and the governor produced regular vlogs for staff and prisoners.

Concerns

  • Education was poor, with an unsuitable curriculum and too few English and maths places; leaders had not recognised that quality was not good enough.
  • The biggest concern was drones bringing drugs and weapons into the jail; the Chief Inspector said that without more support from the Prison Service many positives could be undone.
  • Five self-inflicted deaths since the 2022 inspection, and a rise in violence.
  • 'Cage-like' conditions in the segregation unit's exercise yard.

Recent developments: the progressive regime and the Horizon wing

In shortA new four-stage progressive regime, including the 50-room Horizon wing from February 2026, was introduced by a governor appointed in April 2025.

The Board says the progressive regime was introduced by the governor, who previously led Hollesley Bay, and that the governor was appointed in April 2025.

  • Staffing was better than recently, though a rise in the Skilled Worker visa minimum salary threatened foreign staff on whom the prison depends.
  • There were shortages in the offender management unit.
  • Similar jobs in nearby towns such as Watford attract London weighting allowances while The Mount, outside the M25, does not.
  • The Minister's reply of September 2026 confirmed the Probation Service's offender management staffing was below target and that consideration of London Weighting had been escalated but was not currently available.

Progressive regime stages (IMB, 1 March 2025 to 28 February 2026, published July 2026)

  1. Stage 1Standard and basic levels
  2. Stage 2Targeted-intervention wings
  3. Stage 3Gateway wing

    Communal living and self-cooking.

  4. Stage 4Horizon

    A 50-room wing of single ensuite rooms with self-cooking that mirrors an approved premises; came on line in February 2026.

Working at The Mount: supplement, pay and travel

In shortThe Mount carries a £2,000 a year market supplement for Band 3 officers, with earnings quoted at £36,928 to £41,334 including it.

  • Market supplement (Band 3)£2,000 a yearHMPPS pay page, checked 3 October 2026; pro rata for part-time
  • Earnings incl. supplement£36,928 to £41,334Depending on 37, 39 or 41 contracted hours
  • HMPPS rating 2025/263 of 4"Good performance"; overall score 64.7%
  • Officers, June 2026218 FTEBand 3 to 5; target 242, about 24 below

The establishment recruitment page also lists part-time posts of 12, 16 or 24 hours a week. Always check the live advert, and see the pay page and pay bands guide for how the supplement fits with base pay.

  • Benefits: free onsite parking and gym, free hot drinks each morning, a staff mess and an on-site canteen, plus regular staff wellbeing days.
  • A 10 to 15 minute drive from Hemel Hempstead, with Aylesbury, Luton and Watford about 30 minutes away.
  • Hemel Hempstead station (regular trains from London Euston) is around 5 miles away and Chesham underground station 4 miles.
  • Apply through the officer route.

Officer pay at HMP The Mount

National (all other locations) zone; Band 3 rates from 1 April 2026, including the 20% unsocial hours allowance.

Band 3, 39 hours, entry£39,131£37,131 + £2,000 market supplement
Band 3, 37 hours, entry£36,928Trainee contract
Band 3, 41 hours, top pay point£43,417Highest Band 3 option here
Band 3 prison officer pay at HMP The Mount, 2026/27 (£ a year, base rates before supplement)
Contract hoursEntry (pay point 1)Maximum (pay point 3)Entry with supplementMax with supplement
37 hours (trainee contract) incl. 20% unsocial hours£34,928£36,778£36,928£38,778
39 hours (2 additional committed hours)£37,131£39,097£39,131£41,097
41 hours (4 additional committed hours)£39,334£41,417£41,334£43,417

PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix E. Supplement per the HMPPS jobs site, 3 October 2026; non-pensionable, may be withdrawn.

Other grades at HMP The Mount (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.

Other East of England prisons on the supplement list: Bedford (£2,000), Highpoint (£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 The Mount

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 1,078, population 1,047 (97%), certified normal accommodation in use 1,056. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingGood performance
Overall score64.7%
Functional groupCategory C Trainer/Resettlement

Scale 4 (outstanding) to 1 (serious concern). HMPPS prison performance ratings 2025/26.

Officer staffing against target

At 30 June 2026: 218 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 242 (-24, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.

Category C Trainer/Resettlement 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/Resettlement prisons.

Latest inspection

HMIP's most recent report on The Mount was published 24 February 2025 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetyreasonably good
respectreasonably good
purposeful activitypoor
preparation for releasereasonably good

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 24 February 2025.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 31 share its "reasonably good" safety grade and 38 its "poor" purposeful-activity grade. Only 41 of those 122 prisons were graded "poor" on at least one test, and this is one of them.

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP The Mount and how to apply

HMP The Mount has its own HMPPS recruitment page. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.

Postcode: HP3 0NZ. View on a map. GOV.UK gives no railway station for this prison.

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/Resettlement)

Compare The Mount side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP The Mount: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP The Mount?

From £39,131 a year on 39 hours at the entry pay point (including the £2,000 supplement), rising to £41,097 (National zone, 2026/27).

What category is HMP The Mount?

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

How many prisoners can HMP The Mount hold?

Operational capacity 1,078, population 1,047 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

When was HMP The Mount last inspected?

HMIP's latest report, published 24 February 2025, is a full inspection. Grades at the latest full inspection (24 February 2025): safety reasonably good, respect reasonably good, purposeful activity poor, preparation for release reasonably good.

How do I apply to work at HMP The Mount?

Through the HMPPS recruitment page for HMP The Mount on the Prison and Probation Jobs site (linked above).

Does HMP The Mount pay a market supplement?

Yes. The HMPPS prison officer pay page lists a £2,000 a year non-pensionable market supplement for Band 3 officers at The Mount (checked 3 October 2026), and the prison's recruitment page quotes earnings of £36,928 to £41,334 including it. Supplements can be withdrawn at a site, so confirm in your offer.

What is the Horizon wing at The Mount?

The IMB's 2025/26 report describes Horizon as a 50-room wing of single ensuite rooms with self-cooking, the fourth stage of the prison's progressive regime and closely aligned to approved premises. It came on line in February 2026. The Board questioned whether its cost, reported as above £10 million, was the best use of funds.

What did HMIP say about The Mount in 2025?

HMIP's report on the November 2024 inspection, published 24 February 2025, found safety, respect and preparation for release reasonably good, purposeful activity poor, and good staff-prisoner relations. The main concerns were drones bringing in drugs and weapons and the quality of education.

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: The cost and scope of the Horizon wing come from the IMB's understanding, not an official HMPPS statement; No HMIP inspection after November 2024 was found; The reason The Mount's supplement is set at £2,000 is not stated on the HMPPS pay page; the IMB's London weighting comparison is the Board's opinion.