HM Prison Norwich

HM Prison Norwich is a Category B/C multi-functional prison for adult and juvenile males, located on Mousehold Heath in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

HMP Norwich
LocationNorwich, Norfolk
Security classAdult Males/Juveniles
Population767 (as of February 2010)
Opened1887
Managed byHM Prison Services
GovernorDeclan Moore
WebsiteNorwich at justice.gov.uk

History

Norwich opened as a prison in 1887, on the site of the Britannia Barracks (the former home of the Royal Norfolk Regiment). The prison has had a variety of roles over the years, but today acts as a prison for Category B & C inmates. The impressive barrack block which stood behind the facade served as a Category C prison for some years from the 1970s but was demolished in the 1980s and replaced by a modern Category B prison block. The Victorian prison which stands at the end of Knox Road behind the old Barracks site was built in the mid-19th century as part of the reformation of the penal system brought about by the great prison reformers of that time. These included Elizabeth Fry.

In January 2003 a report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons severely criticised Norwich Prison for factors including poor cleanliness and the failure of its anti-drug and anti-bullying programmes. The report also criticised the lack of work and education opportunities at the jail for inmates.[1]

In November 2004 the Prison Reform Trust criticised levels of overcrowding at Norwich Prison. The trust stated that nearly half of all single cells at the jail here holding two prisoners, and inmates were spending too much time locked up in their cells.[2]

At around this time Norwich became the only prison in England and Wales to have a unit exclusively for elderly male prisoners (mainly serving life sentences). This has meant that a number of high-profile elderly prisoners have been held at HMP Norwich in recent years.

The prison today

The site is divided into various wings and units which house different facilities and categories of prisoners:

  • Wing A1 - Induction Wing
  • Wing A2 - Induction Wing
  • Wing A3 - Induction Wing
  • Wing A4 - Induction Wing
  • Wing A5 - Induction Wing
  • Wing A6 - Induction Wing
  • Wing B1 - Category B & C prisoners
  • Wing B2 - Category B & C prisoners
  • Wing B3 - Category B & C prisoners
  • Wing C1 - Sex offenders & vulnerable prisoners
  • Wing C2 - Sex offenders & vulnerable prisoners
  • Wing C3 - Sex offenders & vulnerable prisoners
  • Wing D - Britannia House (Category D prisoners)
  • Wing E - Older prisoner Wing (Category B & C)
  • Wing F - Local discharge unit (Category C)
  • Wing G - Local discharge unit (Category C)
  • Wing H - Healthcare Centre
  • Wing L - Elderly prisoners (mainly serving life sentences)
  • Wing M - Category C prisoners with 24 months or less to serve

Education provision for inmates at Norwich Prison is mainly centred on basic and key skills. Other courses offered include ESOL, Food Hygiene, First Aid, Health and Safety, NVQ Catering, Art and Craft and pre-release work programmes. A number of workshop places are available across the prison for inmates including Printing, Textiles, Contract packing Services and Gardens. Other facilities at the prison include a gym and a multi-faith chaplaincy.

There is also a Prison Visitor Centre which is operated by the Ormiston Children and Families Trust.

On 4 May 2016, ITV broadcast Her Majesty's Prison: Norwich. The documentary records the daily life of the inmates and their families.[3]

Notable former inmates

References
  1. "Inspector criticises prison's dirt and drugs". bbc.co.uk. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  2. "Norwich jail overcrowding slammed". bbc.co.uk. 4 November 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  3. ITV press release Retrieved 5 May 2016
  4. "Reggie Kray recovers after surgery". bbc.co.uk. 4 August 2000. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  5. Freeman, Simon (7 November 2005). "Nazi war criminal dies in UK prison". The Times. London. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  6. "Train Robber Biggs wins freedom". bbc.co.uk. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  7. Ben Kendall (14 September 2009). "Inside Norwich's lifers' unit". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  8. Christine Cunningham (24 January 2018). "Autistic man Marcus Potter freed from Norwich prison". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

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