HMP Blakenhurst

HMP Blakenhurst is a Local Category B prison serving courts from the West Midlands and West Mercia area.

Governor: Terry Witton

Accommodation: HMP Blakenhurst has five Houseblocks divided into wings. One wing (75 capacity) on Houseblock 2 is specifically for Vulnerable Prisoners (Sex Offenders). The cells are either single or double occupancy. There is a 28 place Segregation Unit and a Healthcare Centre with individual cells and an activity room.

Operational capacity: 1060 as of 21st December 2006

Reception criteria: HMP Blakenhurst accepts prisoners from a variety of courts. Prisoners will be of minimum age 21. Remand prisoners, convicted prisoners awaiting sentence and sentenced prisoners of Category B or lower are accepted. Prisoners identified as Category A are removed to other establishments.

Regime: Regime includes incentives, education, workshops, farms and gardens, training courses and a works department. There are various offending behaviour groups e.g. an enhanced thinking skills course, and a sex offender treatment programme. Other special features include a listener scheme, and an accredited ‘Coping with Dyslexia' skills course.