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A–D category: Not yet verified.
Predominant function (2025/26): Reception
Ministry of Justice performance classification. This describes the stated performance year, not a current A–D category or the categories of every prisoner.
Monthly snapshot: 24 August 2026
Operational capacity is the capacity reported for this prison in the same monthly bulletin.
Official monthly spreadsheet · Ministry of Justice publication
Prison site location
View on the prisons map
Location information checked 13 September 2026.
8 May 2024
In 2021 our inspection of HMP Chelmsford revealed a prison that was in a state of near collapse: morale among staff was low, the prison was violent and rife with drugs and most prisoners were locked in their cells for more than 22 hours a…
7 October 2022
We found a negative and damaging staff culture and prisoners found it very difficult to access even the most basic entitlements. We were told that this frustration had led to an increase in assaults on staff. The negative culture among some staff was compounded by…
24 November 2021
HMP Chelmsford is a category B local and resettlement prison for adult and young adult men. At the time of this inspection 712 prisoners were held in a sprawling institution, comprising older wings from the Victorian era and more modern facilities added from the late…
27 August 2021
Urgent Notification letter, issued on 26 August 2021 Debriefing paper for the inspection of HMP & YOI Chelmsford by HM Inspectorate of Prisons 9–20 August 2021 This paper represents the material presented at the full inspection debrief by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. The material and…
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