Prisons data
The government is reforming the way prisons work in order to improve how they protect the public, keep staff and prisoners safe, and turn from crime. To do this we are holding prison governors to account for improvements in the following areas:
- protecting the public;
- maintaining safety and order;
- reforming offenders to prevent more crimes from being committed; and
- preparing prisoners for life outside the prison.
Prisons overview
Prison type - public / private
At August 2022
Prison type - male / female
At August 2022. IRC = public sector immigration removal centre.
Prison population
Prison population by sex
Prison population by age
At 31 Dec 2022 (source).
To protect the public, prisons must hold prisoners securely. This not only prevents further offences being committed, but is an important foundation for the wider work of prisons in reforming offenders.
Prisons need to be and feel safe for both staff and prisoners. Violent incidents are the most obvious issue, but this is also about wider culture and atmosphere of the prison and the support it provides to vulnerable prisoners.
To reform offenders, we need to be sure they are being given the right services and opportunities across the different areas we know support rehabilitation and help prevent a return to crime.
These include improving prisoners’ mental health and tackling substance misuse, improving prisoners' progress in English and maths and increasing the numbers of offenders in employment and accommodation after release.
Positive random mandatory drug tests for new psychoactive substances
4.3 %
Value for 2019-20. View time series.
Prisons achieve rating 3 or 4 in HMIP purposeful activity inspection
43.0%
Value for 4 - good. View breakdown.
Prisons need to support offenders to prepare for their release, working together with probation and with other services that support the transition through the gate.
Prisons achieve rating 3 or 4 in HMIP Rehabilitation and Release Planning
16.5%
Value for 4 - good. View breakdown.
Prisons achieve target for accommodation on the first night following release
17.3%
Value for Achieved target. View breakdown.
Prisons achieve target for employment at six weeks following release
4.0%
Value for Achieved target. View breakdown.
Stock and flow statistics relating to offenders who are in prison.
Additional information on the safe, decent and secure running of the prison service.
Percentage of prisons meeting staff resignation target
67.6%
Value for Achieved target. View breakdown.
Prison achieve target in foreign national prisoners timely referrals
62.9%
Value for Achieved target. View breakdown.
Prisons with no statistically significant difference in MQPL - ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities)
53.8%
Value for No significant difference. View breakdown.