Norwich (HM Prison)

HMP Norwich
Opened	1887
Management	HM Prison Service
Prison type	Adult Males/Juveniles
Prisoner figures	767 (February 2010)
Location	Norwich, Norfolk
Governor	Will Styles
Information	www.justice.gov.uk

HM Prison Norwich is a Category B/C multi-functional prison for adult and juvenile males, located on Mousehold Heath in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

History

Norwich opened as a prison in 1887, on the site of the Britannia Barracks (the former home of the Royal Norfolk Regiment). The prison has had a variety of roles over the years, but today acts as a prison for Category B & C inmates.

In January 2003 a report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons severely criticised Norwich Prison for factors including poor cleanliness and the failure of its anti-drug and anti-bullying programmes. The report also criticised the lack of work and education opportunities at the jail for inmates.^[1]

In November 2004 the Prison Reform Trust criticised levels of overcrowding at Norwich Prison. The trust stated that nearly half of all single cells at the jail here holding two prisoners, and inmates were spending too much time locked up in their cells.^[2]

At around this time Norwich became the only prison in England and Wales to have a unit exclusively for elderly male prisoners (mainly serving life sentences). This has meant that a number of high-profile elderly prisoners have been held at HMP Norwich in recent years.

The prison today

The site is divided into various wings and units which house different facilities and categories of prisoners:

• Wing B1 - Category B local prisoners
• Wing B2 - Category B prisoners drug treatment unit (IDTS)
• Wing B3 - Category B vulnerable prisoners (mainly sex offenders)
• Wing C1 - Category C local prisoners
• Wing C2 - Category C local prisoners
• Wing C3 - Category C prisoners drug treatment unit (RAPT)
• Wing D - Britannia House (staff & administration block)
• Wing E - First Night Centre (newly arrived prisoners)
• Wing F - Young Offenders
• Wing G - Young Offenders
• Wing H - Healthcare Centre
• Wing L - Elderly prisoners (mainly serving life sentences)
• Wing M - Category C vulnerable prisoners (mainly sex offenders)

Education provision for inmates at Norwich Prison is mainly centred on basic and key skills. Other courses offered include ESOL, Food Hygiene, First Aid, Health and Safety, NVQ Catering, Art and Craft and pre-release work programmes. A number of workshop places are available across the prison for inmates including Printing, Textiles, Contract packing Services and Gardens. Other facilities at the prison include a gym and a multi-faith chaplaincy.

Notable inmates

Current inmates

• Donald Neilson^[3]

Former inmates

• Reggie Kray^[4]
• Anthony Sawoniuk^[5]
• Ronnie Biggs^[6]

References

1. ^ "Inspector criticises prison's dirt and drugs". bbc.co.uk. 07 January 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2634623.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-19. 
2. ^ "Norwich jail overcrowding slammed". bbc.co.uk. 04 November 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/3980729.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-19. 
3. ^ EDP24 (14 September 2009). "Inside Norwich's lifers' unit: home to Britain's most notorious criminals". http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED14%20Sep%202009%2011%3A59%3A14%3A753. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
4. ^ "Reggie Kray recovers after surgery". bbc.co.uk. 04 August 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/865107.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-19. 
5. ^ Freeman, Simon (07 November 2005). "Nazi war criminal dies in UK prison". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1081468.ece. Retrieved 2008-12-19. 
6. ^ "Train Robber Biggs wins freedom". bbc.co.uk. 06 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/8188479.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 

External links

• Ministry of Justice pages on Norwich

Coordinates: 52°38′12″N 1°19′04″E / 52.6367°N 1.3179°E / 52.6367; 1.3179