Stoke Heath inspection report 2023

Summary

HM Prison Stoke Heath is a category C training and resettlement prison in rural Shropshire. Holding up to 782 adult men, it serves a wide catchment area, although many prisoners originate from the West Midlands. The prison is a large campus-style institution with a mix of accommodation types, some dating back to the early 1960s, but with other units built more recently. Interestingly, the prison also retains a small open resettlement facility outside of the prison wall. Although the unit can only hold up to 16 men, it has practical and symbolic value, meeting the specific resettlement needs of a small group of prisoners, while acting as an aspirational and incentivising encouragement to others. Overall, we report on much that was positive, reflecting Stoke Heath’s continuing stability and capability.

Inspection ratings