Woodhill inspection report 2023
Report for Woodhill Prison
Summary
Opened in the early 1990s and situated in Milton Keynes, Woodhill has several functions: it is a category B trainer, but also holds a small number of category A prisoners as well as operating as a site for several specialist units and facilities. Although it can hold up 644 adult men when fully operational, the temporary closure of a houseblock due to staff shortage had reduced its capacity to 570, with the actual roll standing at about 514 during the inspection. The focus of our visit was the category B training function, and we will return to inspect the specialist units at a later date. Following this inspection I wrote to the Secretary of State on 30 August to invoke the Urgent Notification process for HMP Woodhill. In that letter, and in the inspection debriefing paper that accompanied it, I set out the concerns and judgements that had led me to that course of action. Under the Urgent Notification protocol, the Secretary of State commits to respond publicly within 28 days, explaining how outcomes for those detained will be improved.