HMP Durham
Opened	19th century
Management	HM Prison Service
Prison type	Adult Male/Category B
Prisoner figures	981 (October 2006)
Location	Durham, County Durham
Governor	Alan Tallentire
Information	www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk
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HM Prison Durham is a local Category B men's prison, located in the Elvet area of Durham in County Durham, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

Contents 1 History 2 The prison today 3 Notable former inmates 4 Film and TV links 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

Durham Prison was built in the early 19th Century, and is adjacent to Durham's Crown Courts. The prison was the site of a number of executions, and has held a variety of different categories of prisoners, both male and female over the course of its history.

In 2001, Durham (which was a Category A prison for men and women at the time) was praised by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for its progressive regime, integration of inmates and falling levels of violence.^[1] However in 2003 it was revealed that Durham had the highest suicide rate of all prisons in England.^[2]

In 2004, a further report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised Durham Prison for being severely overcrowded. The report also highlighted the lack of education and work opportunities for inmates at the prison.^[3]

HMP Durham previously operated a female high security wing with 120 prisoners but this was discontinued and the prisoners transferred elsewhere following reports from HM Inspectorate of Prisons concluding that HMP Durham was unsuitable for housing female prisoners, following several suicides.^[4]

[edit] The prison today

Durham is currently a Category B local prison for convicted and remand adult male prisoners, primarily serving the courts of County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Teesside. Accommodation at the prison is divided into 7 wings plus Segregation and Healthcare sections.

Durham Prison offers Full and part time education to all inmates. Courses include Data Input, Bricklaying, Woodwork, Painting and Decorating, Waste Management and Gardening.

[edit] Notable former inmates

• Rose West^[5][6]
• Myra Hindley^[5]
• Sandra Gregory
• Carole Richardson ^[7]
• Judith Ward ^{[8] [9]}
• Mary Ann Cotton^[10]
• Ian Brady^[11]
• Ronald Kray^[5]
• Charlie Richardson^[12]
• Eddie Richardson^[11]
• Frankie Fraser^[5]
• John Straffen^{[13] [14]}
• John McVicar^[5]

[edit] Film and TV links

• The 1980 British film McVicar starring Roger Daltrey is primarily set in Durham Prison.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Clark, Richard. "History of Durham Prison". www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk. http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/durham.html. Retrieved 2008-02-19. 
• HM Prison pages on Durham

Coordinates: 54°46′24″N 1°34′05″W / 54.77333°N 1.56806°W / 54.77333; -1.56806