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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
Approximate postcode location
View on the prisons map
Location information checked 13 September 2026.
26 May 2026
Report on an announced inspection of HMP Winchester by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons 9–19 February 2026. The challenges at Winchester prison are well known: a deteriorating and overcrowded Victorian site, a transient population with complex needs, staff shortages and a history of instability across…
21 January 2025
Built in the mid-nineteenth century, Winchester is a category B reception prison capable of holding up to 649 adult male prisoners from across southern England. While the population was made up of mostly remanded or newly convicted individuals, 129 were longer-term category C prisoners held…
24 October 2024
Urgent Notification for HMP Winchester issued on 23 October 2024. HM INSPECTORATE OF PRISONS 3rd floor 10 South Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 4PU Tel: 020 3334 0353 E-mail: [email protected] HM Chief Inspector of Prisons CHARLIE TAYLOR Date: 23 October 2024 The Rt Hon Shabana…
9 January 2023
we found a prison facing significant challenges, and we judged it to be one of the most violent establishments in the country. The culture of the prison was one of low expectations and apathy among staff and prisoners, and difficulties with recruitment and retention meant…
25 May 2022
Winchester is a small, Victorian, local prison that serves the courts in south and central England. At the time of our inspection it held nearly 500 prisoners in the main category B prison and a small, separate category C facility. Over half of the prisoners…
7 January 2020
The external and communal environments were clean and cells on the category C unit were well equipped and reasonable. In the local prison living conditions were not as good, and overcrowding and poorly equipped and damaged cells were common. Although most prisoners could keep their…
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