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HMP Rochester

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Inspection report - Rochester (PDF, 1.0 MB)

Report on an independent review of progress at HMP Rochester by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons 2–4 June 2025.

What we found

The appointment of a permanent governor early in 2025 seemed to have created more structure at Rochester, and the leadership team was beginning to work collectively to improve outcomes for prisoners. Progress had been made against two-thirds of the concerns raised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons in 2024, with commendable efforts to reduce recorded levels of self-harm and violence, and to significantly improve living conditions.

Points to note:  Substantial concerns persisted regarding the availability of drugs in the prison, as well as outcomes in the provision of health services. More needed to be done to improve education and training.