Verne Citadel - HMP Verne

 military, scheduled ancient monument

The Verne Citadel was built between 1848 and 1869 on the highest point of Portland Island. Two sides are protected by steep cliffs, the other two by a deep ditch carved out of the rock. It was armed with eight guns, including two of the 12.5", 38 ton Rifled Muzzle Launched (RML) guns. It is now used as a prison. Private

The Verne Prison opened in 1949 on the site of a former military barracks dating from the end of the nineteenth century. The prison, which sits high above the harbour on the Isle of Portland off the Dorset coast, is a Cat C Training Prison for adult males. The population consists of life sentence prisoners and determinate sentenced prisoners, many serving four years or over. About sixty per cent of the prisoners are foreign nationals, over fifty different nationalities represented.

In 1847 a start was made on temporary prison buildings known as The Verne Citadel for prisoners building the Prison Breakwater. The first sixty-four prisoners were landed on 24 November 1848 at Castletown from HM Steamer Driver. The Verne Citadel was designated by Captain W Crossman of the Royal Engineers and enclosed an area of fifty-six acres. A full workforce of one hundred and eighty prisoners laid three million convict-made bricks in two years.

Governor: Denise Hodder

Accommodation: Three accommodation blocks built 1970 and nine dormitories (D Wing). Each accommodation block divided into two, giving a total of six separate wings (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) each with eighty rooms on their second and third floors. Ground floor used as association, dining and office areas. All prisoners have keys to their rooms, and access to twenty-four hour sanitation facilities. The dormitory accommodation is contained in twelve casements which make up D wing. The dormitories have been refurbished to provide cubicles and an association area in each dormitory. Approximately 540 prisoners are on VT compacts with CARATS and drug awareness courses available. A Twelve-Step Drug Rehab Unit is in operation on B1 Wing. A comprehensive induction programme on A2 Wing addresses resettlement needs to produce individual learning plans. D Wing operates Kainos programme.

Operational capacity: 587 as of 31st August 2007

Reception criteria:

Must be 25 years of age or over
Must have at least 9 months left to serve
Progressive life sentence moves only
Must have no history of escape or attempted escape
Must have no history of racism
Must have no significant history of prison drug trafficking or dealing
If sex offender, must have completed SOTP
Must not require intensive psychiatric intervention
Must not be assessed as “high risk” on cell-sharing risk assessment.