HMP Northumberland
Inspection Report - Northumberland (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Northumberland by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (27 August – 12 September 2025).
What we found (Back to top)
Conditions at HMP Northumberland were reasonably good in all areas, and – thanks to strong leadership and a positive culture – prisoners were benefitting from impressive provision in education and other purposeful activity.
Inspectors found that education, work and training provision at the category C training prisons was a real strength, with most prisoners allocated to full-time activity and able to spend around 9.5 hours a day out of their cell during the week. Attendance at activities was better than at many prisons, the quality of teaching was high, and prisoners were enthusiastic and interested in their work.
Work to prepare prisoners for release – rated poor in 2022 – had improved markedly. Community offender managers were visiting the prison regularly to work with high-risk men, and the timeliness of housing referrals to local authorities had improved, helping to reduce the likelihood of homelessness and reoffending.
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