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A–D category: Not yet verified.
Predominant function (2025/26): Category C Trainer/Resettlement
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.
7 September 2026
we found a quarter of men behind their doors. The offer for purposeful activity was better with some popular, employment-focused courses run by Railtrack and XO bikes. Standards of teaching had improved, but attendance at education was still poor and the prison needed to continue…
22 July 2024
Report on an independent review of progress at HMP High Down by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (3-5 May 2024) Leaders at High Down had done some positive work in response to the earlier full inspection however, despite extensive steps to try to prevent drugs…
13 November 2023
The transition of High Down from a reception prison to a category C training and resettlement jail was originally announced as far back as 2015, with the first prisoners moved over the next three years. Further delays meant that the change was only finally completed…
13 May 2021
Progress had been too slow to provide prisoners with purposeful activity 12 months into COVID-19 restrictions. Most prisoners still had only one hour out of their cells each day, sometimes less when time in the open air was cancelled. It had taken five months to…
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