HMP Lewes
Inspection report - Lewes (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Lewes by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (9–19 June 2025).
Lewes healthy prison scores (Back to top)
What we found (Back to top)
Strong leadership, with successful staff recruitment, a more positive culture and good relationships between staff and prisoners, was driving improvement at the jail. Nevertheless, problems, including drug use, self-harm, a lack of visits slots, and the number of men being released homeless, needed further work. Although the number of prisoners attending education, skills and work activity had improved, it was still too low. The quality of teaching was not always good enough.
A skilled team of prisoners was carrying out refurbishment and repairs across the prison, including in numerous cells which had been in a poor condition. This was helping to maintain good standards of decency and saving the prison considerable expense.
These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of any of these documents in a more accessible format, please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.