Privately managed prisons (England & Wales): reading the thematic list
20 March 2026Counts and labels reflect the prison import in this site build. They are not live government data.
Thematic graphic — not a photograph of a named facility.
This thematic slice currently includes 15 establishments. The article explains the filter in plain English and points you to the hub grid for the full set.
What this thematic list means
“Privately managed prisons (England & Wales)” is a thematic slice of our England and Wales directory. This article explains the intent of that slice and how many prisons it currently contains.
From the collection hub: Identified from operator names (e.g. Serco, G4S, Sodexo) and HMPPS sub-group labels referencing private management.
Size of the group today
The current import places 15 establishments in this thematic group. Counts change when the underlying export changes.
Examples include: HMP Ashfield, HMP Dovegate, HMP Five Wells, HMP Forest Bank, HMP Lowdham Grange.
Figures and labels on Prisons Online come from the HMPPS prison export used in this build. Security category and function wording are administrative fields in that source (and category may be inferred where the export does not map cleanly). Always confirm visiting rules, contact details, and regime information with official HMPPS or GOV.UK sources.
Using the collection hub
The linked collection page is the canonical card grid for this filter. Use this article when you want narrative context and quick links into examples before browsing the full set.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is a prison missing from this thematic list?
- Thematic groups use explicit rules on gender, function text, category, and operator fields. If the source label differs, the site may classify the prison under another collection or only under the general UK browse.
Related listings
Thematic collections
Related Guides
Related directory articles
More articles
Related prisons
HMP Ashfield
Cat C Trainer
Ashfield Prison is a privately run adult male prison in Pucklechurch, Bristol.
HMP Dovegate
Cat B Trainer
Dovegate is a privately run male prison in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.
HMP Forest Bank
Reception
Forest Bank is a privately run male prison in Pendlebury, Salford.
HMP Lowdham Grange
Cat B Trainer
Lowdham Grange is a privately run male prison in Lowdham, Nottingham.
HMP Northumberland
Cat C Trainer
Northumberland is a privately run male prison in Morpeth, Northumberland.
HMP Oakwood
Cat C Trainer
Oakwood is a privately run male prison in Featherstone, West Midlands.
HMP Peterborough
Reception
Peterborough is a privately run prison for both male and female residents in Westwood, Peterborough.
HMP Rye Hill
Cat B Trainer
Rye Hill is a privately run male prison near Rugby, Warwickshire.
HMP Thameside
Reception
Thameside is a privately run male prison in Thamesmead, London.
HMP/YOI Altcourse
Reception
Altcourse is a privately run male prison in Liverpool.
HMP/YOI Bronzefield
Female
Bronzefield is a privately run female prison in Ashford, Middlesex.
HMP/YOI Doncaster
Reception
Doncaster is a privately run male prison in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
HMP/YOI Parc
Cat C Trainer
Parc is a privately run prison and young offender institute (YOI) in Bridgend, South Wales.
Oakhill Secure Training Centre
Secure Training Centre
Secure Training Centre
HMP Five Wells
Cat C Resettlement
Five Wells prison, is built on the same site as the old Wellingborough Prison and is a Category C men's prison. The largest prison in the East Midlands, and one of the largest in the UK.