HMP Wakefield

From house of correction to high security centre

In shortWakefield, built as a house of correction in 1594, has been a high security dispersal prison since 1966 with a focus on serious sexual offences.

The IMB counts it as one of 13 establishments in the long-term and high security estate. GOV.UK gives its role as a high security prison for men, including men convicted of a sexual offence. Read our category A prisons guide for how this estate is organised.

Who is held and how the prison is arranged

In shortWakefield held 630 men at the July 2025 inspection, two thirds convicted of sexual offences, and is not a designated resettlement prison.

• Held (July 2025)630 men148 category A; operational capacity 648, reduced by 102 places for fire safety works
• Convicted of sexual offencesTwo thirds12.8% aged 21 to 30; 59 foreign national prisoners
• IMB roll (April 2024 to March 2025)634 + 149Non-category A and category A prisoners
• Releases11In the previous 12 months; only a small number of men are released directly

GOV.UK and the IMB both describe single-cell accommodation. GOV.UK says up to 750 prisoners live across four residential units, each with up to 180 men. Wakefield is not a designated resettlement prison, according to both HMIP and the IMB.

A to D wings

Residential wings listed by HMIP.

F wing

The segregation unit and close supervision centre. The IMB says the close supervision centre operates under a national strategy for prisoners whose behaviour is assessed as consistently and violently disruptive.

Healthcare centre

With an inpatient unit.

Mulberry unit

A residential unit for men on the autism spectrum.

Inspection findings in 2025

In shortHMIP described a prison under strain: safety not sufficiently good, purposeful activity poor, and respect and release preparation reasonably good.

• SafetyNot sufficiently good
• RespectReasonably good
• Purposeful activityPoorOfsted: education, skills and work inadequate overall
• Release preparationReasonably good
• Recorded violenceUp 62%Serious assaults up 72% since the 2022 inspection

HMIP inspected Wakefield unannounced from 30 June to 10 July 2025 and published on 29 September 2025. Many prisoners, particularly older men convicted of sexual offences sharing the prison with a growing number of younger men, said they felt unsafe.

The June 2026 review visit

In shortHMIP found good progress on two of eight concerns, with prisoner-on-prisoner violence down 68% but infrastructure and regime still poor.

• Good progress2 of 8
• Insufficient progress3 of 8
• No meaningful progress3 of 8
• Prisoner-on-prisoner violence68% lowerIn the six months before the visit than the equivalent period before the 2025 inspection
• Self-isolating out of fear12 to one

HMIP returned for an independent review visit on 27 to 29 April 2026 and published on 8 June 2026. Ofsted judged reasonable progress on two themes and insufficient progress on two. The Chief Inspector noted that serious incidents and deaths since 2025 had taken a significant toll on leaders, staff and prisoners.

Leaders had responded by reconfiguring the population, so that nearly all prisoners were now deemed vulnerable because of their offence or circumstances. Violence against staff had risen slightly, partly linked to enforced transfers and a limited regime. Inspectors also reported a new deputy governor and four other senior leaders and said leaders seemed more visible.

• Still a concern in 2026: showers and many communal areas remained in poor condition, funding for major repairs had not been approved, and much of the improvement programme was at scoping and design stage
• Regime changes in October 2025 reduced time out of cell
• Primary care clinics stopped and restarted at a lower level in December 2025
• Textiles and woodwork workshops were temporarily closed because of staff shortages; the library was closed from October 2025 to April 2026

What the IMB reported for 2024 to 2025

In shortThe IMB thought the prison less safe than in earlier years but said a new vetting unit had significantly improved recruitment.

• Violent incidents367Against 272 the year before, involving 68 individuals, about half as many as before
• Staff complement95%Reached in the reporting year
• Vetting checksUnder three weeksDown from six months

The Independent Monitoring Board's annual report for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 was published in February 2026. It described the regime as fair and humane overall, raised concern about delays in transfers to secure hospital for men with serious mental illness, and flagged drones as a serious threat.

The Board said the new dedicated vetting unit had reduced the need for bank staff to cover shifts. It also repeated its dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in upgrading the prison's infrastructure.

Working here as a prison officer

In shortHMPPS has a dedicated Wakefield recruitment page, which requires Counter Terrorism Check clearance, with national pay and no market supplement.

• Pay range£34,928 to £39,334Depending on 37, 39 or 41 contracted hours
• Market supplementNoneThe dataset shows the national pay zone (checked 3 October 2026)

The page describes a category A long-term high security prison for adult men on remand or serving long sentences, with a free onsite gym and extensive free onsite parking. Applicants need enhanced pre-employment checks and Counter Terrorism Check clearance, requiring three years' UK residence.