Five Wells inspection report 2024

Summary

One of the newest prisons in the country, HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire opened on the site of the old Wellingborough prison in early 2022 and is operated by the private company G4S. A modern and spacious campus, the prison comprises seven house blocks, each capable of holding over 240 adult men, although at the time of the inspection we were told of plans to increase the population still further during 2024. There was a significant turnover of prisoners in this category C resettlement prison, with the prison planning to receive and discharge 90 new men every month in the coming year. This inspection was the establishment’s first following two years of operation, and it was clear that leaders and staff had contended with some significant challenges. Not least of these was an instability of leadership, with the prison having recently appointed its third director since opening. There had also been problems with staff attrition, concerns over staff confidence and capability, as well as general weaknesses in the quality of governance and oversight; this had culminated in several ‘improvement notices’ the delays in building up the population to full capacity.

Inspection ratings