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HMP Warren Hill

Warren Hill is a male adult prison near Hollesley village in Suffolk. HMPPS places it in the "Category C Trainer/Resettlement" functional group. Band 3 prison officer pay here starts at £37,131 on a 39-hour contract (2026/27 rates). At 250 places it is the smallest of the 12 establishments we list in East of England with a published capacity.

Jobs at Warren Hill (HMPPS)Work out my take-home hereCompare with other prisons

HMP Warren Hill at a glance

  • At 250 places it is the smallest of the 12 establishments we list in East of England with a published capacity.
  • Among the 26 prisons in the HMPPS "Category C Trainer/Resettlement" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 25th by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 3 June 2025) graded safety "good" and purposeful activity "reasonably good".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: Melton.
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
near Woodbridge, Suffolk
Postcode
IP12 3BF
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
None listedHMPPS pay page, 3 October 2026
Operational capacity
250As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
3 June 2025
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
Melton

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Warren Hill is a male adult prison near Hollesley village in Suffolk.” Official page.

A closed progression prison with a long history

In shortWarren Hill is a specialised category C progression prison for adult men serving life, IPP or extended determinate sentences, with Enabling Environments accreditation.

  • Serving life sentences93%HMIP 2025 profile
  • Aged over 5043%
  • Operational capacity250HMPPS August 2026 bulletin
  • Prisoners held228On 24 August 2026

GOV.UK describes single cells and education leading to qualifications in mechanics, IT, media or sport, plus welding, carpentry and catering workshops and a drug rehabilitation centre. Our categories guide explains what a category C progression prison does.

Oak, Alder and Sycamore
Progression units; Sycamore is for older prisoners and those with social care needs.
Elm
A therapeutic community with 40 places.
Maple
A psychologically informed planned environment with 20 places.
Willow
A four-place independent living unit mirroring an approved premises in the community.
Enabling Environments
Accreditation from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, reaccredited in 2024.

History (HMIP)

  1. 1982Opens

    To accommodate category C young offenders in a closed environment, as part of the Hollesley Bay Colony.

  2. April 2002The colony splits

    The open complex kept the name Hollesley Bay, and the juvenile prison became HMP & YOI Warren Hill.

  3. 2014Category C adult male prison

    Delivering a progression regime for men serving life sentences, indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP) or extended determinate sentences, including those excluded from open conditions and those who have been recalled.

HMIP inspection, February 2025

In shortWarren Hill is a safe, decent prison with very good staff-prisoner relationships, but half of released prisoners were recalled and ROTL remained suspended.

  • SafetyGood
  • RespectGood
  • Purposeful activityReasonably good
  • Preparation for releaseGood
  • Released and recalledHalf

HMIP inspected without notice from 3 to 21 February 2025 and published its report on 3 June 2025. The Chief Inspector wrote that Warren Hill has a well-established reputation as a safe, decent prison and that standards had generally been maintained since the 2019 inspection.

  • Seven key concerns, four of them priorities: the high recall rate, suspended ROTL, healthcare risks including clinical space and the lack of emergency radios, and employer links and digital access.

Strengths

  • Staff-prisoner relationships were very good, with a level of engagement rarely seen elsewhere.
  • Drug use and violence were rare.
  • A planned expansion and integration with Hollesley Bay was highlighted as a reason for leaders to keep innovating.

Weaknesses

  • Half of prisoners released were recalled, and inspectors said leaders had not done enough to understand why.
  • Release on temporary licence (ROTL) remained suspended.
  • Links with employers prepared to recruit people convicted of serious offences were weak, and the health needs assessment was out of date.
  • A surprising amount of disgruntlement among prisoners, some of whom expected more from the jail.

What inspectors said about officers

In shortThe prison had recruited its full quota of officers, a third with under two years' experience but well supported, under a temporary governor at inspection.

  • Officers with under two years' experienceA thirdFull quota recruited
  • Temporary governor in postEight monthsAt inspection
  • Many experienced staff took responsibility for maintaining a strong, supportive culture.
  • Newer officers were well supported and integrated into the culture and ethos of the prison.
  • Some senior managers were visible and approachable, others rarely seen around the jail.
  • A temporary governor had been in post while joint governance with neighbouring HMP Hollesley Bay was introduced and a governor for both prisons was being recruited.
  • The prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), covering 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025, described a well-run, generally safe and secure prison with good staff-prisoner relations, where helpfulness seemed to be the dominant theme on both sides.

Merger and expansion

In shortWarren Hill is due to merge with Hollesley Bay, and HMPPS rated it 4 of 4 on its own, though no site-specific officer figure exists.

  • HMPPS rating 2025/264 of 4"Outstanding performance"; overall score 92.9%
  • Rapid deployment cells being addedAbout 90IMB 2024/25 report
  • Recall rate (IMB)About 50%
  • HMIP said the prison was due to merge with HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay.
  • The IMB asks whether ancillary services such as a dedicated kitchen would be expanded in proportion to the planned expansion.
  • The IMB welcomed work to track released prisoners and repeated a request that the Minister reconsider the cancellation of ROTL.
  • HMPPS now reports Warren Hill and Hollesley Bay as one 'Hollesley' unit in its June 2026 workforce statistics, so no site-specific officer figure exists.
  • See the neighbouring Hollesley Bay profile for the open site.

Working at Warren Hill

In shortWarren Hill shares a recruitment page with Hollesley Bay, quoting £34,928 to £39,334, with no market supplement on the HMPPS pay page.

  • Officer earnings (recruitment page)£34,928 to £39,334Depending on hours
  • Capacity (recruitment page)267
  • Market supplementNoneHMPPS pay page, checked 3 October 2026
  • A shared recruitment page on the prison and probation jobs site describes two sites on the rural Suffolk coast within a mile of each other, with Warren Hill a training and resettlement prison.
  • Free onsite parking and gym are listed.
  • GOV.UK gives Melton as the nearest station, and the recruitment page says the prisons are 30 minutes from Ipswich and an hour from Colchester.

Next steps

Officer pay at HMP Warren Hill

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 Warren Hill, 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 Warren Hill (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.

Supplements are paid at other East of England prisons: Bedford (£2,000), Highpoint (£2,000), The Mount (£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 Warren Hill

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 250, population 228 (91%), certified normal accommodation in use 250. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingOutstanding performance
Overall score92.9%
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: 1 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 0 (+1, 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 Warren Hill was published 3 June 2025 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetygood
respectgood
purposeful activityreasonably good
preparation for releasegood

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 3 June 2025.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 36 share its "good" safety grade and 22 its "reasonably good" purposeful-activity grade. 27 of the 122 had no test below "reasonably good".

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP Warren Hill and how to apply

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

Postcode: IP12 3BF. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: Melton.

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 Warren Hill side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP Warren Hill: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP Warren Hill?

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

Does HMP Warren Hill pay a market supplement?

No: it is not on the HMPPS list (checked 3 October 2026). In East of England the listed prisons are Bedford (£2,000), Highpoint (£2,000) and The Mount (£2,000).

What category is HMP Warren Hill?

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 Warren Hill hold?

Operational capacity 250, population 228 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

When was HMP Warren Hill last inspected?

HMIP's latest report, published 3 June 2025, is a full inspection. Grades at the latest full inspection (3 June 2025): safety good, respect good, purposeful activity reasonably good, preparation for release good.

How do I apply to work at HMP Warren Hill?

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

What is the nearest train station to HMP Warren Hill?

GOV.UK gives: Melton.

Who is held at HMP Warren Hill?

HMIP's 2025 report describes a category C adult male closed prison with a progression regime for men serving life, IPP or extended determinate sentences. At inspection 93% of prisoners were serving life sentences and 43% were aged over 50. It has a therapeutic community and a psychologically informed planned environment.

Is Warren Hill merging with Hollesley Bay?

HMIP's 2025 report says the prison was due to merge with neighbouring HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay, and the IMB reports a single management team with the Warren Hill governor leading both. HMPPS workforce statistics from June 2026 treat them as one 'Hollesley' unit.

What was the recall rate at Warren Hill?

HMIP reported in 2025 that half of prisoners released from Warren Hill were recalled, and called it a priority concern. The prison's IMB gave a similar figure of approximately 50% in its 2024/25 report and welcomed work to track released prisoners to understand why.

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 HMIP inspection after February 2025 was found; A published, site-specific officer staffing figure is not available because HMPPS reports Warren Hill within the combined Hollesley unit; The expansion timetable and the merged establishment's final name were not confirmed in an official announcement.