HMP Spring Hill

Key Contact Details

HMP Spring Hill is run by HMPS as part of the South Central Region. The prison has a capacity of 241 and the #1 governor is Rebecca Hayward who has been in charge since January 2019.

HMP Spring Hill, in Buckinghamshire, was established in 1953 as the UK’s first open prison, on a site that started life as a Victorian country house before serving as a wartime training base for the Special Operations Executive. It remains a Category D open prison today, with an operational capacity of around 335, holding long-term prisoners in the final stages of their sentence as they prepare to return to the community.

The Independent Monitoring Board’s most recent annual report found self-harm and violence remained low throughout the year, with risk generally assessed as manageable, though drug access, particularly cannabis, cocaine, and steroids, remained an ongoing challenge. The prison’s ageing buildings caused recurring problems, including power cuts, unreliable fire alarms, and leaks, though 41 new single cells were delivered during the year as a genuine improvement. A mass release in October put unprecedented pressure on the mental health team, and only around a third of prisoners found employment within six weeks of release, below target and behind comparable prisons, partly due to unfilled teaching posts.

As an open prison, Spring Hill often allows for day releases and more flexible contact than closed establishments — the contact details above are the best starting point for confirming current visiting arrangements.