HMP Five Wells, which was once billed as Britain’s first “smart” prison, is now home to the highest numbers of sex offenders in Europe – and families say the impact has been devastating. The £300m Category C facility in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was hailed as a model of rehabilitation when it opened three years ago.
However, figures obtained by the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act show that, by March 2025, 1,206 of its 1,717 inmates had been convicted of sex offences – up from just one housing block in 2022. Since the integration of sex offenders into the general population in 2024, violence and self-harm have surged. Ministry of Justice figures show assaults rose by nearly 75% in 2024, compared with an 11% increase nationally. Prisoner-on-prisoner attacks jumped from 215 in 2023 to 375 last year.
Self-harm incidents climbed from 1,289 to 2,069.
The Daily Mail reports that the prison is referred to as “HMP Woke”.
Corinna, whose partner Sam is serving time for a financial offence, told the BBC he became severely depressed after being forced to live among inmates convicted of sexual crimes.
She said: “Shortly after my partner entered, they came up with this scheme to integrate every part of the prison with monsters, the worst of the worst.”
Sam, who was abused as a child, has reportedly filed six transfer requests – all denied. Corinna added: “He’s so withdrawn. He’s depressed. It makes my skin crawl.”
Former inmate Jake, who served time for a sex offence, claimed the prison had become dangerous. He claimed: “There are people getting slashed, getting beat up, they’re getting violated sexually. The screws are doing nothing about it.”
Jake said he became addicted to the psychoactive drug spice while locked in his cell, spending an estimated £6,000 on it in five months.
Another parent, Maria, said her son – jailed for burglary – had turned to self-harm and drugs.
She said: “They’ve got him so low that he’s cutting himself. He’s never done that before.”
Three prisoners have died since December, including one who was assaulted the day before his death. Footage filmed on illicit mobile phones showing violence, drug use and prisoners climbing onto roofs.
G4S, which has a ten-year contract to run the jail, said it has always housed men convicted of sexual offences and that privileges are “applied fairly and based solely on behaviour”.
A November 2024 inspection found progress in leadership and activity but said self-harm was “the highest for similar prisons” and integration had caused “anxiety” among inmates.
Express.co.uk has contacted G4S and MOJ for comment.