HMP & YOI Littlehey

General Information

The #1 governor is Olivia Phelps, who has been in post since January 2021. Littlehey has a capacity of 1240, and is run by HMPS as part of the East of England region.

HMP&YOI Littlehey opened in 1988 on the site of a former youth custody centre in Perry, Cambridgeshire, and was re-categorised in 2014 to specialise in holding men convicted of sexual offences. It is now the largest prison of its kind in Europe, with an operational capacity of around 1,241, and around four in ten of the men held there are over 50 years old, reflecting the older average age typical of this population.

The Independent Monitoring Board’s 2024–25 annual report found Littlehey continued to be a generally safe and secure prison, with relatively low levels of prisoner-on-prisoner violence and commendable mental health and end-of-life care. Healthcare was rated good overall, though the Board noted gaps in round-the-clock medical and social care cover. The most significant concerns raised were a 35% cut to the training budget at what is meant to be a training prison, ageing heating and hot water systems in urgent need of investment, and a long-standing problem with prisoners’ property going missing during transfers between establishments. On a more positive note, the Board praised strong participation in physical activity, expanding support for neurodiverse prisoners, and a well-regarded grounds maintenance scheme that helps prisoners build skills ahead of release.

Given the age profile and specialist nature of much of the population, families may find visiting arrangements are handled with particular care at Littlehey — the contact and booking details above are the best starting point.