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HMP Whitemoor

Whitemoor is a men’s high security prison in March, Cambridgeshire. HMPPS places it in the "High Security" functional group. Band 3 prison officer pay here starts at £37,131 on a 39-hour contract (2026/27 rates). Its operational capacity of 458 ranks 10th of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).

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

HMP Whitemoor at a glance

  • Its operational capacity of 458 ranks 10th of 12 in East of England (1 = largest).
  • Among the 5 prisons in the HMPPS "High Security" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 5th by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 2 February 2026) graded safety "good" and purposeful activity "poor".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: March, which is about 1.
Type
HMP
Holds
Men
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
England
Region (geographic)
East of England
HMPPS prison region
Long term & High Security SouthWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
March, Cambridgeshire
Postcode
PE15 0PR
HMPPS functional group
High SecurityA 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
458As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
2 February 2026
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
March, which is about 1

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Whitemoor is a men’s high security prison in March, Cambridgeshire.” Official page.

A dispersal prison that opened in 1991

In shortWhitemoor opened in 1991 and is a high-security prison for category A and B adult men holding mostly long-sentenced, high-risk prisoners.

  • Held at 2025 profile455Over a third category A
  • On indeterminate sentences76%Nearly all serving over ten years
  • High or very high risk of serious harmOver 80%
  • Operational capacity458457 held on 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin)

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) records it as part of the HMPPS long-term high security estate. GOV.UK says Whitemoor is committed to helping prisoners convicted of serious offences make positive use of long sentences, and describes assessment, work, education and offending behaviour programmes. See our prison categories guide for how high security prisons are classified.

A to C wings
The main units, with one C wing spur designated as a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE).
D wing (Fens unit)
A therapeutic unit holding up to 70 prisoners with personality disorders, in partnership with Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust.
E wing (Bridge unit)
A 12-cell reintegration wing; there is also an 18-cell segregation unit and a nine-bed inpatient healthcare unit.
F wing
A close supervision centre, a small national unit for some of the most disruptive prisoners in custody, which HMIP inspects separately.

The October 2025 inspection

In shortWhitemoor was an improved prison doing a difficult job reasonably well in October 2025, but an inadequate regime kept purposeful activity poor.

  • SafetyGoodImproved on 2022
  • RespectReasonably goodImproved on 2022
  • Purposeful activityPoor
  • Preparation for releaseReasonably goodImproved on 2022

HMIP carried out an unannounced inspection from 13 to 23 October 2025 and published the report on 2 February 2026 (previous inspection: 2022; three of four tests improved). Of 13 key concerns, four were priorities, all around regime and activity.

Strengths

  • Visible and approachable governors.
  • Investment in staff training, coaching and mentoring.
  • Strong leadership in safety and offender management.
  • Effective partnerships with key providers.

Concerns

  • The regime was inadequate, primarily because of staffing shortfalls and a high level of absence across all grades; education, skills provision, hospital appointments and suspicion drug testing were not delivered consistently.
  • These issues reflected wider systemic recruitment and retention difficulties, forecast to worsen, and too many prisoners were locked up during the working day.
  • High use of PAVA incapacitant spray compared with other dispersal prisons.
  • Inconsistent cleanliness, long waits and escort cancellations for external health appointments, and delays transferring patients to secure hospital beds.
  • A staff member's allegation of racial victimisation had not been dealt with promptly, and leaders had not done enough to understand the experiences of Black staff.

Staffing: figures and context

In shortWhitemoor was about 90 officers short of target at 30 June 2026, a pressure HMIP and the IMB had both already described.

  • Officers, 30 June 2026293 FTEBand 3 to 5, hours adjusted
  • Target383Shortfall of about 90
  • Health appointments missed9%Over 1,000, because officers did not escort prisoners (IMB)

HMIP's earlier comments in the October 2025 report make clear the pressure was already visible and expected to worsen. The prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) report for 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025 describes the same pattern from the outside.

IMB account, 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025

  1. Start of the periodLow morale after multiple incidents

    The atmosphere became more settled as inexperienced officers found their feet.

  2. From November 2024After a change of leadership

    Improvements in cleanliness and regime, and time out of cell improved significantly.

  3. From April 2025Staff shortages increased closures

    Reduced staffing hurt both cleanliness and regime towards the end of the year.

Working at Whitemoor: eligibility, pay and specialisms

In shortWhitemoor requires enhanced checks and Counter Terrorism Check clearance, is on national pay with no supplement, and quotes £34,928 to £39,334.

  • Earnings (recruitment page)£34,928 to £39,334Depending on hours; free onsite gym and parking
  • Market supplementNone listedHMPPS pay page, checked 3 October 2026
  • HMPPS rating 2025/263 of 4"Good performance"; 64.7% score
  • Whitemoor currently holds an employer recognition award from the Ministry of Defence for supporting Armed Forces veterans.
  • Specialisms after training and probation include therapeutic units, dog handler, physical education instructor, intelligence analyst and dedicated search officer.
  • A 40-minute drive from Peterborough and King's Lynn, with March station, with regular trains from Peterborough, about 20 minutes away; the page reminds applicants that shift work may not match public transport.

Requirements that differ from lower-category prisons

  • Complete enhanced pre-employment checks.
  • Hold Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) security clearance, which requires UK residence for the last three years.
  • Compare pay on the pay page and apply through the officer recruitment route.

Officer pay at HMP Whitemoor

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 Whitemoor, 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 Whitemoor (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 Whitemoor

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 458, population 457 (100%), certified normal accommodation in use 458. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingGood performance
Overall score64.7%
Functional groupHigh Security

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

Officer staffing against target

At 30 June 2026: 293 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 383 (-90, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.

High Security is HMPPS's functional-group label for the prison's role, not any prisoner's security category. Official wording: “High security”. See prison categories explained or all High Security prisons.

Latest inspection

HMIP's most recent report on Whitemoor was published 2 February 2026 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetygood
respectreasonably good
purposeful activitypoor
preparation for releasereasonably good

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 2 February 2026.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 36 share its "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 Whitemoor and how to apply

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

Postcode: PE15 0PR. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: March, which is about 1.

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 (High Security)

Compare Whitemoor side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP Whitemoor: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP Whitemoor?

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

Does HMP Whitemoor 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 Whitemoor?

HMPPS lists it in the "High Security" functional group, a label for the prison's role rather than the category of each prisoner. GOV.UK/HMIP wording: "High security".

How many prisoners can HMP Whitemoor hold?

Operational capacity 458, population 457 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

When was HMP Whitemoor last inspected?

HMIP's latest report, published 2 February 2026, is a full inspection. Grades at the latest full inspection (2 February 2026): safety good, respect reasonably good, purposeful activity poor, preparation for release reasonably good.

How do I apply to work at HMP Whitemoor?

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

What is the nearest train station to HMP Whitemoor?

GOV.UK gives: March, which is about 1.

What security clearance do you need to work at HMP Whitemoor?

The establishment recruitment page says you must complete enhanced pre-employment checks and hold Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance, which requires UK residence for the last three years. This is in addition to normal prison officer recruitment requirements, so check the live advert.

Who is held at Whitemoor?

HMIP describes a high-security prison for category A and B adult male prisoners, nearly all serving over ten years, with over three-quarters on indeterminate sentences. In October 2025, 455 men were held and over a third had category A status. It also contains a close supervision centre.

What did HMIP say about staffing at Whitemoor in 2025?

The October 2025 report said the regime was inadequate primarily due to staffing shortfalls and a high level of absence across all grades, reflecting recruitment and retention difficulties forecast to worsen. It also praised visible leadership and investment in staff training, coaching and mentoring.

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 IMB report for the year after May 2025 was found; The close supervision centre is inspected separately and is not described in detail; No official statement on recruitment targets or retention measures for Whitemoor was found beyond the inspection and IMB comments.