Former Staff Describe 'Chaotic Atmosphere' at HMP Fosse Way Prison

Former staff at the recently opened HMP Fosse Way prison have detailed significant operational failures, including a severe shortage of personnel and inadequate training for new recruits. The Category C facility, near Leicester, began operations in May 2023.

Reports from those previously employed at the prison describe a “chaotic atmosphere” where new staff were reportedly left without essential training for up to eight weeks. One former employee highlighted a critical incident involving a detainee requiring hospitalisation, where a lack of trained staff meant officers were forced to improvise a response. Issues also extended to a lack of basic equipment, such as correctly sized uniforms and operational security keys.

HMP Fosse Way, built by Serco under a 10-year contract, is designed to house 1,716 male detainees. The Ministry of Justice indicated that new prisons are expected to take time to reach full operational capacity and staffing levels.