United Kingdom: England & Wales

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CountryUnited Kingdom: England & Wales
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)
Contact address
Clive House, 70 Petty France, London SW1H 9EX, England
Telephone
+44 300 047 6325
Website
http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/hmps
Head of prison administration (and title)
Amy Rees
Director General/Chief Executive
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
86 256
at 27.9.2024 (Ministry of Justice - not including juveniles in Secure Training Centres and Local Authority Secure Children's Homes, of whom there were 154 at 31.3.2024)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
140
based on an estimated national population of 61.61 million at end of September 2024 (from Office for National Statistics figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
18.7%
(31.3.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.0%
(27.9.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(31.3.2024 - under 18. In addition to these 264 juveniles, a further 70 were being held in Secure Training Centres and 84 in Local Authority Secure Children's Homes.)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
11.9%
(31.3.2024 - including those whose nationality is unknown)
Number of establishments / institutions
120
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
79 333
(30.8.2024 - certified normal accommodation in use)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
111.4%
(30.8.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 64,602 124
2002 70,861 135
2004 74,657 141
2006 78,150 145
2008 82,636 152
2010 84,725 153
2012 86,634 153
2014 85,307 149
2016 85,348 146
2018 82,773 140
2020 79,514 133
2000 64,602 124
2002 70,861 135
2004 74,657 141
2006 78,150 145
2008 82,636 152
2010 84,725 153
2012 86,634 153
2014 85,307 149
2016 85,348 146
2018 82,773 140
2020 79,514 133

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                   UNITED KINGDOM: ENGLAND AND WALES

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

11,433
12,864
13,004
11,785
11,388

17.5%
16.9%
15.3%
13.7%
14.3%

22
24
24
20
19

2024

16,458

18.7%

27

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.                                                      

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                UNITED KINGDOM: ENGLAND AND WALES

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

3,350
4,467
4,236
3,885
3,255

5.2%
5.9%
5.0%
4.5%
4.1%

6.4
8.4
7.7
6.7
5.5

2024

3,492

4.0%

5.7

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.  

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate