# HMP Five Wells: cost, population and staff

url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/justice/prisons/five-wells/
updated: 29 September 2026
licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources.
publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk)

# HMP Five Wells: cost, population and staff



Last updated 29 September 2026.
Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/).





**£64m** for HMP Five Wells in 2024-25, +12.6% on a year earlier after inflation. It cost £37,289 per prisoner in 2024-25, and held 1,733 people in August 2026 (100.6% of its uncrowded places).



Figure as of 26 March 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods).





## Key figures



- £64m2024-25, cash

+17.3% on a year earlier
As of 26 March 2026
- £37,289Cost per prisoner, 2024-25

Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons: £50,531
As of 26 March 2026
- £37,657Cost per place, 2024-25

Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons: £51,625
As of 26 March 2026
- 100.6%Population as a share of uncrowded places, 2026-08

Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons: 99.5%
As of 7 September 2026
- 1,733 prisonersPopulation, 2026-08

Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons: 41,155 prisoners
As of 7 September 2026




Source: [Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods).






## Over time: cash, real terms and per resident




**HMP Five Wells: spending in cash and in 2025-26 prices, £ million**








Real terms use HM Treasury’s GDP deflator, 2025-26 prices. Breaks in the series: 2007-08: The Ministry of Justice was created in May 2007 from the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Home Office’s prisons and probation. 2011-12: HM Courts and Tribunals Service formed in April 2011 from HM Courts Service and the Tribunals Service. The departmental series starts in 2011-12. 2013-14: The Legal Aid Agency replaced the Legal Services Commission in April 2013 (and legal aid was cut back by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012); Central Funds moved to it. 2014-15: Probation was split between the National Probation Service and 21 community rehabilitation companies (2014-15). 2017-18: HM Prison and Probation Service replaced the National Offender Management Service in April 2017. 2021-22: Probation was brought back into one public Probation Service in June 2021.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Cash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-22Details | £9.6m | £7.9m |
| Cash£7.9m | | |
| 2022-23Details | £46.1m | £40.7m |
| Cash£40.7m | | |
| 2023-24Details | £58.4m | £54.2m |
| Cash£54.2m | | |
| 2024-25Details | £65.8m | £63.6m |
| Cash£63.6m | | |






Figure as of 26 March 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods).





Source: Ministry of Justice, [Costs per prison place and cost per prisoner by individual prison, 2015-16 to 2024-25 (HMPPS annual report and accounts, management information addendum)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods), published 26 March 2026.





## At a glance





| What | Figure |
| --- | --- |
| Function | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement |
| Where | not found on its GOV.UK page |
| Overall cost, 2024-25 | £64m |
| Cost per prisoner, 2024-25 | £37,289 |
| Cost per place, 2024-25 | £37,657 |
| Population, August 2026 | 1,733 |
| Operational capacity | 1,733 |
| Staff in post (FTE) | not on the HMPPS payroll (contracted prison) or not published |







## Where it sits, and what is below it



- UK total
- Nation
- Department or service body
- Local body
- Spending category
- Line or transaction not published





- United Kingdom
- England and Wales
- Ministry of Justice
- HM Prison and Probation Service
- [Prisons in England and Wales](/justice/prisons/)
- HMP Five Wells





### HMP Five Wells



Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement. Overall resource expenditure: the prison’s own net spending plus its share of regional and national costs, as HMPPS allocates them for its cost per place figures.



**£64m** in 2024-25 (cash); £66m in 2025-26 prices; +17.3% on a year earlier in cash, +12.6% in real terms.





| Spending category | Cash, 2024-25 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spent at the prison (direct)Details | £47m | £49m | — | +37.5% | [Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods) | Line or transaction not published: HMPPS publishes one direct figure per prison; its split into staff, maintenance, food and the rest is not published by prison. Individual payments over £25,000 are published by HMPPS as a whole, not by prison. |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£49mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier+37.5%Source[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods)Below thisLine or transaction not published: HMPPS publishes one direct figure per prison; its split into staff, maintenance, food and the rest is not published by prison. Individual payments over £25,000 are published by HMPPS as a whole, not by prison. | | | | | | |
| Share of regional and national costsDetails | £17m | £17m | — | −25.1% | [Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods) | Line or transaction not published: The costs met regionally or nationally (healthcare contracts, education, maintenance contracts, headquarters) are allocated to prisons as one figure; what they consist of is not published by prison. |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£17mPer resident—Real change on a year earlier−25.1%Source[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods)Below thisLine or transaction not published: The costs met regionally or nationally (healthcare contracts, education, maintenance contracts, headquarters) are allocated to prisons as one figure; what they consist of is not published by prison. | | | | | | |







Cash is as published. Real terms are in 2025-26 prices, using HM Treasury’s GDP deflator. Per resident divides by
ONS mid-year population for the area the body serves. Changes compare the same body in consecutive years.






## What is recorded alongside the money



These figures are published beside the funding, not as its result. Demand, geography, recording practice and
many other things differ between areas and change over time; none of these charts shows cause and effect.





| Measure | HMP Five Wells | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons | All prisons in England and Wales | Period |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost per prisonerDetails | £37,289 | £50,531 | £56,618 | 2024-25 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£50,531All prisons in England and Wales£56,618Period2024-25 | | | | |
| Cost per placeDetails | £37,657 | £51,625 | £59,026 | 2024-25 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£51,625All prisons in England and Wales£59,026Period2024-25 | | | | |
| Population as a share of uncrowded placesDetails | 100.6% | 99.5% | 101.3% | 2026-08 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons99.5%All prisons in England and Wales101.3%Period2026-08 | | | | |
| PopulationDetails | 1,733 prisoners | 41,155 prisoners | 86,843 prisoners | 2026-08 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,155 prisonersAll prisons in England and Wales86,843 prisonersPeriod2026-08 | | | | |
| Operational capacityDetails | 1,733 places | 42,641 places | 88,937 places | 2026-08 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,641 placesAll prisons in England and Wales88,937 placesPeriod2026-08 | | | | |
| Average populationDetails | 1,705 prisoners | 41,319 prisoners | 87,009 prisoners | 2024-25 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,319 prisonersAll prisons in England and Wales87,009 prisonersPeriod2024-25 | | | | |






**Cost per prisoner: HMP Five Wells and comparisons**








Overall resource expenditure (the prison’s own spending plus its share of regional and national costs) divided by the average population over the financial year, cash. Public and contracted prisons are costed differently (PFI prisons include interest on capital), and prisons of different functions do different jobs, so compare a prison with others of its function.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | HMP Five Wells | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons | All prisons in England and Wales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-22Details | £38,760 | £40,391 | £47,434 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£40,391All prisons in England and Wales£47,434 | | | |
| 2022-23Details | £51,265 | £45,678 | £51,108 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£45,678All prisons in England and Wales£51,108 | | | |
| 2023-24Details | £34,590 | £48,166 | £53,801 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£48,166All prisons in England and Wales£53,801 | | | |
| 2024-25Details | £37,289 | £50,531 | £56,618 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£50,531All prisons in England and Wales£56,618 | | | |






Figure as of 26 March 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods).





**Cost per place: HMP Five Wells and comparisons**








Overall resource expenditure divided by baseline certified normal accommodation (the uncrowded places the prison is certified for), cash.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | HMP Five Wells | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons | All prisons in England and Wales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-22Details | £8,257 | £39,632 | £46,696 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£39,632All prisons in England and Wales£46,696 | | | |
| 2022-23Details | £25,113 | £45,011 | £51,724 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£45,011All prisons in England and Wales£51,724 | | | |
| 2023-24Details | £32,270 | £50,021 | £56,987 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£50,021All prisons in England and Wales£56,987 | | | |
| 2024-25Details | £37,657 | £51,625 | £59,026 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons£51,625All prisons in England and Wales£59,026 | | | |






Figure as of 26 March 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods).





**Population as a share of uncrowded places: HMP Five Wells and comparisons**








Population divided by baseline certified normal accommodation. Above 100% the prison holds more people than it has uncrowded places for, which usually means sharing cells built for one.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | HMP Five Wells | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons | All prisons in England and Wales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01Details | 99.0% | 101.1% | 103.5% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons101.1%All prisons in England and Wales103.5% | | | |
| 2025-02Details | 99.0% | 101.6% | 104.4% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons101.6%All prisons in England and Wales104.4% | | | |
| 2025-03Details | 100.6% | 102.5% | 105.1% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons102.5%All prisons in England and Wales105.1% | | | |
| 2025-04Details | 102.7% | 101.9% | 102.8% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons101.9%All prisons in England and Wales102.8% | | | |
| 2025-05Details | 102.6% | 102.7% | 103.0% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons102.7%All prisons in England and Wales103.0% | | | |
| 2025-06Details | 102.5% | 102.3% | 102.1% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons102.3%All prisons in England and Wales102.1% | | | |
| 2025-07Details | 100.6% | 102.5% | 103.0% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons102.5%All prisons in England and Wales103.0% | | | |
| 2025-08Details | 100.6% | 103.0% | 103.5% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons103.0%All prisons in England and Wales103.5% | | | |
| 2025-09Details | 97.4% | 101.7% | 102.3% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons101.7%All prisons in England and Wales102.3% | | | |
| 2025-10Details | 98.4% | 101.5% | 102.3% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons101.5%All prisons in England and Wales102.3% | | | |
| 2025-11Details | 98.1% | 100.8% | 102.2% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons100.8%All prisons in England and Wales102.2% | | | |
| 2025-12Details | 98.7% | 100.4% | 101.3% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons100.4%All prisons in England and Wales101.3% | | | |
| 2026-01Details | 100.1% | 99.6% | 101.7% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons99.6%All prisons in England and Wales101.7% | | | |
| 2026-02Details | 101.4% | 100.4% | 102.0% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons100.4%All prisons in England and Wales102.0% | | | |
| 2026-03Details | 101.5% | 101.2% | 101.8% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons101.2%All prisons in England and Wales101.8% | | | |
| 2026-04Details | 101.5% | 99.7% | 99.9% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons99.7%All prisons in England and Wales99.9% | | | |
| 2026-05Details | 101.9% | 99.5% | 100.3% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons99.5%All prisons in England and Wales100.3% | | | |
| 2026-06Details | 100.5% | 99.0% | 100.1% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons99.0%All prisons in England and Wales100.1% | | | |
| 2026-07Details | 99.7% | 99.5% | 100.7% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons99.5%All prisons in England and Wales100.7% | | | |
| 2026-08Details | 100.6% | 99.5% | 101.3% |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons99.5%All prisons in England and Wales101.3% | | | |






Figure as of 7 September 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a9e97fd3b22fb169dc192dd/prison-pop-august-2026.ODS).





**Population: HMP Five Wells and comparisons**








Prisoners held on the last working Monday of the month, including those on authorised absence (monthly population bulletin).




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | HMP Five Wells | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons | All prisons in England and Wales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01Details | 1,698 | 41,031 | 86,463 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,031All prisons in England and Wales86,463 | | | |
| 2025-02Details | 1,698 | 41,250 | 87,199 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,250All prisons in England and Wales87,199 | | | |
| 2025-03Details | 1,725 | 41,633 | 87,919 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,633All prisons in England and Wales87,919 | | | |
| 2025-04Details | 1,761 | 41,874 | 88,084 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,874All prisons in England and Wales88,084 | | | |
| 2025-05Details | 1,760 | 42,067 | 88,103 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,067All prisons in England and Wales88,103 | | | |
| 2025-06Details | 1,758 | 41,875 | 87,334 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,875All prisons in England and Wales87,334 | | | |
| 2025-07Details | 1,726 | 41,973 | 87,966 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,973All prisons in England and Wales87,966 | | | |
| 2025-08Details | 1,726 | 42,175 | 88,273 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,175All prisons in England and Wales88,273 | | | |
| 2025-09Details | 1,670 | 41,634 | 87,336 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,634All prisons in England and Wales87,336 | | | |
| 2025-10Details | 1,688 | 41,554 | 87,413 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,554All prisons in England and Wales87,413 | | | |
| 2025-11Details | 1,682 | 41,345 | 87,332 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,345All prisons in England and Wales87,332 | | | |
| 2025-12Details | 1,693 | 41,175 | 86,596 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,175All prisons in England and Wales86,596 | | | |
| 2026-01Details | 1,717 | 41,153 | 87,212 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,153All prisons in England and Wales87,212 | | | |
| 2026-02Details | 1,739 | 41,492 | 87,367 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,492All prisons in England and Wales87,367 | | | |
| 2026-03Details | 1,748 | 41,837 | 87,292 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,837All prisons in England and Wales87,292 | | | |
| 2026-04Details | 1,748 | 41,244 | 85,704 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,244All prisons in England and Wales85,704 | | | |
| 2026-05Details | 1,754 | 41,157 | 85,992 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,157All prisons in England and Wales85,992 | | | |
| 2026-06Details | 1,731 | 40,943 | 85,761 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons40,943All prisons in England and Wales85,761 | | | |
| 2026-07Details | 1,717 | 41,140 | 86,267 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,140All prisons in England and Wales86,267 | | | |
| 2026-08Details | 1,733 | 41,155 | 86,843 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,155All prisons in England and Wales86,843 | | | |






Figure as of 7 September 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a9e97fd3b22fb169dc192dd/prison-pop-august-2026.ODS).





**Operational capacity: HMP Five Wells and comparisons**








The most prisoners the prison can hold taking account of control, security and its regime, set by the prison group director. For the estate, the sum of every prison’s, before the operating margin.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | HMP Five Wells | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons | All prisons in England and Wales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01Details | 1,715 | 42,143 | 88,662 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,143All prisons in England and Wales88,662 | | | |
| 2025-02Details | 1,715 | 42,174 | 88,635 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,174All prisons in England and Wales88,635 | | | |
| 2025-03Details | 1,751 | 42,426 | 88,925 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,426All prisons in England and Wales88,925 | | | |
| 2025-04Details | 1,769 | 42,684 | 89,228 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,684All prisons in England and Wales89,228 | | | |
| 2025-05Details | 1,769 | 42,864 | 89,551 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,864All prisons in England and Wales89,551 | | | |
| 2025-06Details | 1,769 | 42,862 | 89,573 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,862All prisons in England and Wales89,573 | | | |
| 2025-07Details | 1,733 | 42,818 | 89,373 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,818All prisons in England and Wales89,373 | | | |
| 2025-08Details | 1,733 | 42,893 | 89,627 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,893All prisons in England and Wales89,627 | | | |
| 2025-09Details | 1,715 | 42,776 | 89,437 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,776All prisons in England and Wales89,437 | | | |
| 2025-10Details | 1,715 | 42,632 | 89,311 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,632All prisons in England and Wales89,311 | | | |
| 2025-11Details | 1,715 | 42,625 | 89,334 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,625All prisons in England and Wales89,334 | | | |
| 2025-12Details | 1,733 | 42,660 | 89,464 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,660All prisons in England and Wales89,464 | | | |
| 2026-01Details | 1,769 | 42,791 | 89,671 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,791All prisons in England and Wales89,671 | | | |
| 2026-02Details | 1,769 | 42,841 | 89,792 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,841All prisons in England and Wales89,792 | | | |
| 2026-03Details | 1,787 | 42,988 | 89,795 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,988All prisons in England and Wales89,795 | | | |
| 2026-04Details | 1,787 | 42,950 | 89,765 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,950All prisons in England and Wales89,765 | | | |
| 2026-05Details | 1,787 | 42,806 | 89,662 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,806All prisons in England and Wales89,662 | | | |
| 2026-06Details | 1,733 | 42,638 | 89,120 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,638All prisons in England and Wales89,120 | | | |
| 2026-07Details | 1,733 | 42,610 | 88,895 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,610All prisons in England and Wales88,895 | | | |
| 2026-08Details | 1,733 | 42,641 | 88,937 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons42,641All prisons in England and Wales88,937 | | | |






Figure as of 7 September 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a9e97fd3b22fb169dc192dd/prison-pop-august-2026.ODS).





**Average population: HMP Five Wells and comparisons**








The mean of the twelve month-end populations in the financial year.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | HMP Five Wells | Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons | All prisons in England and Wales |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-22Details | 205 | 35,292 | 79,113 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons35,292All prisons in England and Wales79,113 | | | |
| 2022-23Details | 794 | 38,237 | 81,822 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons38,237All prisons in England and Wales81,822 | | | |
| 2023-24Details | 1,567 | 41,586 | 87,129 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,586All prisons in England and Wales87,129 | | | |
| 2024-25Details | 1,705 | 41,319 | 87,009 |
| Male category C & YOI Trainer and Resettlement prisons41,319All prisons in England and Wales87,009 | | | |






Figure as of 26 March 2026. Source:
[Ministry of Justice](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods).




Source: Ministry of Justice, [Costs per prison place and cost per prisoner by individual prison, 2015-16 to 2024-25 (HMPPS annual report and accounts, management information addendum)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods), published 26 March 2026; Ministry of Justice, [Prison population: monthly bulletin (2025-01 to 2026-08)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a9e97fd3b22fb169dc192dd/prison-pop-august-2026.ODS), published 7 September 2026; Ministry of Justice, [HM Prison & Probation Service workforce quarterly: June 2026: time series of staff in post](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a7ed9263be22055c1aaa2f2/Time_series_of_HMPPS_staff_in_post_receiving_pay_on_staff_in_post_date_Jun_26.ods), published 20 August 2026; HM Prison and Probation Service, [Prison information pages on GOV.UK (addresses), with each postcode’s local authority from postcodes.io (ONS Postcode Directory)](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales).



## What these figures do and don't show



- **Compare with prisons of the same function.** Costs per prisoner differ by what a prison does: local prisons serving courts, training prisons, high-security, open and youth establishments.
- **Overall cost includes shared costs.** HMPPS adds each prison’s share of regional and national costs (healthcare, education, maintenance contracts, headquarters) to what it spends itself.
- **Contracted prisons are costed differently,** and their staff are not on the HMPPS payroll, so no staff figure is shown for them.
- **Nothing here shows cause and effect.** A prison’s cost, crowding and staffing sit side by side; none is presented as the result of another.




Where this sits: United Kingdom → England and Wales → Ministry of Justice → HM Prison and Probation Service → Prisons in England and Wales → HMP Five Wells. Figures from data/services/justice.json, generated 29 September 2026.



## Use this data



The figures belong to the bodies that published them and are used under their terms, listed in
[Sources for this page](#sources); most are Crown copyright under the Open Government Licence.
Only our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, published under
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/): reuse them, including
commercially, if you credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) and link back to this page.



### Download



- [HMP Five Wells: the dataset (CSV)](/data/services/justice.csv)
[JSON](/data/services/justice.json)

- [All data, field definitions and licences](/data/)







## Sources for this page





| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Costs per prison place and cost per prisoner by individual prison, 2015-16 to 2024-25 (HMPPS annual report and accounts, management information addendum)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69bbeee14b1db2e4ba9b6492/costs-per-prison-place-prisoner-individual-prison-2024-25.ods) | Ministry of Justice | 26 March 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Prison population: monthly bulletin (2025-01 to 2026-08)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a9e97fd3b22fb169dc192dd/prison-pop-august-2026.ODS) | Ministry of Justice | 7 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |





Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations
are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Related pages

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Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.