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HMP Usk

Usk is a men’s prison in the town of Usk, South Wales. It is managed jointly with Prescoed Prison. HMPPS places it in the "Category C Trainer" functional group. Band 3 prison officer pay here starts at £37,131 on a 39-hour contract (2026/27 rates). Its operational capacity of 496 ranks 4th of 5 in Wales (1 = largest).

HMPPS prison officer jobsWork out my take-home hereCompare with other prisons

HMP Usk at a glance

  • Its operational capacity of 496 ranks 4th of 5 in Wales (1 = largest).
  • Among the 15 prisons in the HMPPS "Category C Trainer" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 11th by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 12 August 2025) graded safety "good" and purposeful activity "good".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: Newport.
Type
HMP
Holds
Men
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
Wales
Region (geographic)
Wales
HMPPS prison region
HMPS WalesWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
Usk, Monmouthshire
Postcode
NP15 1XP
HMPPS functional group
Category C TrainerA 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
496As at 24 August 2026, reported jointly with a neighbouring site
Latest HMIP report published
12 August 2025
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
Newport

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Usk is a men’s prison in the town of Usk, South Wales. It is managed jointly with Prescoed Prison.” Official page.

Usk and Prescoed are jointly managed; HMPPS publishes one combined capacity figure.

Opened in 1844 and reshaped many times

In shortUsk is a small, traditional-looking 19th-century category C national sex offender treatment provider and resettlement prison in Monmouthshire, under the same operational management as the open prison HMP/YOI Prescoed.

  • Capacity (HMIP)Up to 276274 held at May 2025 inspection; baseline certified normal capacity 159, so most men shared cells
  • Usk and Prescoed combined496Operational capacity; 482 held on 24 August 2026

See our prison categories guide for how resettlement prisons work, and the Prescoed profile for the open site.

A, B and C wings
Two-storey landings, with new receptions on C wing.
D wing
A single-storey wing with an enhanced unit for life-sentenced and IPP prisoners, long-termers and an incentivised substance free living unit.
Cells
GOV.UK says most prisoners live in shared cells.

History (HMIP)

  1. 1844Opens as a house of correction
  2. 1870 to 1922County gaol for Monmouthshire

    Closed in 1922.

  3. 1939Reopens as a closed borstal

    Until 1964.

  4. 1964 to 1990Detention centre, then youth custody centre (1983), then young offender institution (1988 to 1990)
  5. May 1990Adult category C establishment

    Largely holding men convicted of sexual offences; became a resettlement prison in 2019.

HMIP inspection, May 2025

In shortUsk was good in all four healthy prison tests in May 2025, its highest assessment and better than 2021.

  • SafetyGood
  • RespectGood
  • Purposeful activityGood
  • Preparation for releaseGood
  • Key worker helpful85%Of Usk prisoners who had one; comparator 73%

HMIP inspected Usk and Prescoed together from 12 to 22 May 2025 and published one report on 12 August 2025 (previous inspection: June 2021). The Chief Inspector wrote that both prisons were safe and stable, with little violence and evidence of drug use, hardly any use of force and no use of segregation.

Strengths

  • Staff-prisoner relationships were overwhelmingly positive and 'at the heart of the prisons' success'.
  • Time out of cell was much better than normal.
  • Work to progress prisoners through sentences, reduce risk and confront offending behaviour was good; most surveyed prisoners said their experience would make them less likely to reoffend.
  • Notable positive practice: parent-teacher meetings for some prisoners and their children, after risk assessment, and free legal advice clinics on family issues provided through connections made by the family services provider.

Minor concerns

  • Wear and tear in older facilities.
  • Weaknesses in clinical healthcare governance (low incident reporting).
  • Limited ranges of prescribed medication.

Leadership, staffing and monitoring

In shortHMIP found staffing levels, experience and retention all good, and the IMB described strong leadership and very low use of force.

  • Officers, Usk and Prescoed115 FTE30 June 2026, band 3 to 5, hours adjusted; target 115, no shortfall
  • Use of force (IMB)5 at Usk, 3 at PrescoedPAVA spray never used at either site
  • Out of cell at Usk10 hoursDuring the week; around eight at the weekend
  • HMIP: leaders were approachable and experienced, and staff at both prisons were positive about their morale and commitment.
  • The prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), in its report for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, described strong leadership and vision from the governing governor.
  • Prisoners told the Board they felt safe, with strong community feeling at Usk.
  • A cell refurbishment programme had been completed.
  • A rise in hospital transfers had cut officer numbers and reduced time out of cell at times.

Rating, pay and getting there

In shortHMPPS rated Usk 4 of 4, "outstanding performance"; it is on national pay with no recruitment page of its own.

  • HMPPS rating 2025/264 of 4"Outstanding performance"; overall score 84.9%
  • Market supplementNone listedHMPPS pay page, checked 3 October 2026

GOV.UK says the closest railway station is Newport, with a taxi or direct bus to Usk town, and that there is a free visitors car park. This is visitor guidance rather than staff travel advice, so check shift patterns and local transport before planning a commute.

Pay and applying

Officer pay at HMP Usk

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

Band 3, 39 hours, entry£37,131No market supplement listed
Band 3, 37 hours, entry£34,928Trainee contract
Band 3, 41 hours, top pay point£41,417Highest Band 3 option here
Band 3 prison officer pay at HMP Usk, 2026/27 (£ a year, base rates before supplement)
Contract hoursEntry (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.

Other grades at HMP Usk (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.

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 Usk

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 496, population 482 (97%), certified normal accommodation in use 374. HMPPS publishes one combined figure for this site and its neighbour, so these numbers cover both. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingOutstanding performance
Overall score84.9%
Functional groupCategory C Trainer

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

Officer staffing against target

At 30 June 2026: 115 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 115 (0, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.

Category C Trainer 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 prisons.

Latest inspection

HMIP's most recent report on Usk was published 12 August 2025 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetygood
respectgood
purposeful activitygood
preparation for releasegood

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 12 August 2025.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 36 share its "good" safety grade and 9 its "good" purposeful-activity grade. 27 of the 122 had no test below "reasonably good".

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP Usk and how to apply

There is no Usk-specific page on the HMPPS jobs site; adverts are listed by location. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.

Postcode: NP15 1XP. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: Newport.

Other prisons in Wales and similar prisons

These establishments are in the same county or region (6 listed in Wales). See all of them in one table.

Similar by HMPPS functional group (Category C Trainer)

Compare Usk side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP Usk: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP Usk?

From £37,131 a year on 39 hours at the entry pay point, rising to £39,097 (National zone, 2026/27).

What category is HMP Usk?

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

How many prisoners can HMP Usk hold?

Operational capacity 496, population 482 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin); reported jointly with HMP & YOI Prescoed.

When was HMP Usk last inspected?

HMIP's latest report, published 12 August 2025, is a full inspection. Grades at the latest full inspection (12 August 2025): safety good, respect good, purposeful activity good, preparation for release good.

How do I apply to work at HMP Usk?

There is no Usk page on the HMPPS jobs site, so use the general HMPPS prison officer page, where adverts are listed by location.

What is the nearest train station to HMP Usk?

GOV.UK gives: Newport.

What is HMP Usk known for?

HMIP describes Usk as an adult men's category C national sex offender treatment provider and resettlement prison, in a 19th-century site in Monmouthshire that opened in 1844. Since May 1990 it has largely held men convicted of sexual offences. It is jointly managed with the open prison Prescoed.

What did HMIP say about staffing at Usk?

HMIP's May 2025 report said leaders were approachable and experienced, staff at both Usk and Prescoed were positive about morale and commitment, and staffing levels, experience and retention were all good. It rated Usk good in all four healthy prison tests.

Does Usk have a market supplement?

No. Usk does not appear in the list of market supplements on the HMPPS prison officer pay page (checked 3 October 2026), so national pay applies. Confirm in the live job advert. HMPPS can add, change or withdraw supplements at individual sites, so check the live advert and your offer letter before relying on any figure.

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: No Usk-specific recruitment page was found on the prison and probation jobs site; The officer staffing figure covers Usk and Prescoed combined; No HMIP inspection after May 2025 was found.