{{Short description|Category C prison in Kent, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox prison | prison_name = HMP Cookham Wood | image = | caption = | location = Rochester, Kent, ME1 3LU | coordinates = | status = | classification = Category C | capacity = | population = 188 | populationdate = December 2020 | opened = {{Start date and age|1978}} | closed = | former_name = Borstal | managed_by = HM Prison Services | governor = Paul Crossey | website = {{HM prison|cookham-wood|Cookham Wood}} }} '''HM Prison Cookham Wood''' is an adult Category C prison, using the premises of the original borstal or Young Offenders Institution in the village of Borstal (near Rochester, Kent) in England. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison and probation Service.
==History== The prison was built in 1978, next to HMP Rochester and was named Cookham Wood Young Offenders Institution. The new prison was originally for young men, but its use was changed to meet the growing need for secure female accommodation at the time.
In 1998 the prison started accepting female juvenile offenders (aged 12–14), and was refurbished for that purpose. The costs involved with the refurbishment and the new facilities provided at the prison led to the media branding Cookham Wood "Britain's most controversial jail".{{cn|date=April 2022}}
In a 2003 report the Prison Reform Trust criticised Cookham Wood for being one of the most overcrowded women's prison in the UK. The report also highlighted serious drug misuse amongst inmates at the prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2896729.stm |title=UK | England | Crowded jail 'has drug problem' |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-03-28 |access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref> However, a 2005 report by His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons commended the prison for improving standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4459518.stm |title=UK | England | Kent | Prison shows 'marked improvement' |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-11-22 |access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref>
In 2007 the Prison Service announced that Cookham Wood would be converted to accept male young offenders. This was due to increased demand for places in men's prisons in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/6919112.stm |title=UK | England | Kent | Jail to become secure youth unit |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-07-27 |access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref> Cookham Wood formally started taking male prisoners during 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/aug/05/inspector-criticises-cookham-wood-prison|title = Youths found hiding in cells at Cookham Wood, says prisons inspector|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 4 August 2009}}</ref>
==The prison today== Cookham Wood is a Category C prison. Accommodation consists of single occupancy cells
All prisoners have access to showers, and 45 minutes outside in the open air every day. The prison operates a resettlement programme for people coming to the end of their sentences, and has links to community groups and employers.
In February 2014, the UK prison watchdog - the Independent Monitoring Boards - announced that they had serious concerns over the safety and decency for children at HMYoung Offenders Institution Cookham Wood. In 2024 it was repurposed as a Category C adult prison, initially to accommodate those jailed arising from the 2024 United Kingdom riots.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Cookham Wood prison 'repurposed' to house expected influx of riot criminals {{!}} ITV News Meridian | url=https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-08-06/kent-prison-repurposed-to-house-expected-influx-of-riot-criminals | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807110213/https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-08-06/kent-prison-repurposed-to-house-expected-influx-of-riot-criminals | access-date=2026-02-12 | archive-date=2024-08-07}}</ref>
==Notable former inmates== * Myra Hindley<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/ian-brady-myra-hindley-moors-murders-pictures/myra-hindley-pictured-1994-let-cookham-wood-prison-kent-hospital/|title = Ian Brady and Myra Hindley and the Moors Murders: In pictures|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 16 May 2017}}</ref> * Judy Carne<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-25-ca-20197-story.html|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times|date=25 June 1986 }}</ref> * Sandra Gregory<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jul/22/drugsandalcohol.thailand|title = Pardon for drug smuggler jailed in Thailand|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 21 July 2000}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/cookham-wood/ Ministry of Justice pages on Cookham Wood] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013051117/http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/cookham-wood/ |date=13 October 2011 }} * [http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/?s&location=cookham-wood HMYOI Cookham Wood - HM Inspectorate of Prisons Reports]
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{{Prisons in South East England}} {{Women's prisons in England}}
Cookham Wood Category:1978 establishments in England