The Isle of Wight used to have three separate prisons – Camp Hill, Parkhurst and Albany – making it one of the largest prison populations in the country, but how many prisoners does it now house?
Parkhurst and Albany Prisons were merged in 2009 to create HMP Isle of Wight, then in 2013 Camp Hill Prison was emptied of prisoners.
Latest numbers
There are currently seven wings at the Albany site, eight wings at Parkhurst and the latest official figures, dated March 2022, show:
- Baseline CNA (what’s this?): 1,064
- In Use CNA: 930
- Operational Capacity: 1,007
- Population: 823
This is a population increase on the previous month, February 2022, which saw the figures as:
- Baseline CNA: 1,064
- In Use CNA: 968
- Operational Capacity: 1,047
- Population: 772
Definitions
The prison service provides the following definitions. The prison unlock figure may be lower than the ‘Population’, as the ‘Population’ includes prisoners on authorised absence.
Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA)
Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA), or uncrowded capacity, is the Prison Service’s own measure of accommodation. CNA represents the good, decent standard of accommodation that the Service aspires to provide all prisoners.
Baseline CNA
Baseline CNA is the sum total of all certified accommodation in an establishment except, normally:
- Cells in punishment or segregation units.
- Healthcare cells or rooms in training prisons and YOIs that are not routinely used to accommodate long stay patients.
In-Use CNA
In-use CNA is baseline CNA less those places not available for immediate use, for example: damaged cells, cells affected by building works.
Operational Capacity
The operational capacity of a prison is the total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime.
It is determined by the Deputy Director of Custody on the basis of operational judgement and experience.
The future of Camp Hill site
The Ministry for Defence still own the Camp Hill site and it stands unused.
Conservative councillors have called on the Alliance Group at County Hall to prioritise former Camp Hill prison site for housing.
However, Cllr Ian Stephens, Cabinet member for housing, responded to say that the Camp Hill site is not available, so the Alliance would be prioritising other viable sites instead.
If you have ever wondered what it looks like inside, check out this footage from Abandoned Isle of Wight, filmed in 2019.
Image: © Google Maps/Streetview
