HM Prison Five Wells

HM Prison Five Wells, commonly referred to as Wellingborough Prison or HMP Wellingborough, due to it being built on same site as the latter, is a Category C men's prison, located in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England. With a maximum capacity of 1,680, it is the largest prison in the East Midlands, and one of the largest in the UK. The prison, when complete will be operated by G4S.

HMP Five Wells
Five Wells under construction in 2020
LocationWellingborough, Northamptonshire
StatusUnder construction
Security classAdult Male/Category C
Capacity1,680[1]
Managed byG4S

History

It was announced in June 2018 that a new category C prison would be built in Wellingborough on the site of the now demolished HM Prison Wellingborough, which was closed in 2012.

In 2020, it was announced the prison would be called "HMP Five Wells", as voted for by Wellingborough residents.

The 9 buildings of the prison took 45 weeks to build and were completed in late 2020,[2] costing £253,000,000.[3]

Criticism

Multiple forms of protest occurred regarding the construction of the prison, including anti-mega prison graffiti around Wellingborough town, and most notably in April 2021, a protest outside the prison in which people concreted their arms together outside of the prison, preventing construction vehicles and deliveries entering the prison. This resulted in five arrests due to protesters allegedly becoming hostile to staff and Police.[4][5] The protest was targeted towards the prison's constructer, Kier Group. Multiple protests similar to this occurred throughout the prison's construction.

References
  1. "Wellingborough jail contract awarded and new name revealed". GOV.UK.
  2. "9 buildings and 1,680 prison cells built in just 45 weeks".
  3. "G4S wins race to run new Five Wells mega prison at Wellingborough".
  4. "Aylesbury woman charged with aggravated trespass following a protest outside Northamptonshire prison". Bucks Free Press.
  5. "Five in court after Wellingborough prison protest" – via www.northantstelegraph.co.uk.

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