HMP Fosse Way

The United Kingdom's justice system is perpetually under scrutiny, facing the twin challenges of overcrowded, dilapidated Victorian jails and the critical need to reform and rehabilitate. Into this complex landscape arrived HMP Fosse Way, a new-generation Category C prison in Leicestershire, built on the principles of sustainability and resettlement. Costing a staggering £286 million, the facility was designed not just to house offenders, but to act as a launchpad for their reintegration into society. Yet, as with any grand, state-run project, the reality of its operation quickly exposed a host of complex challenges, from internal safety concerns to the enduring issue of maintaining family ties through prohibitively expensive prison telephone calls. This post delves into the history of this ambitious project, its current operational status, the problems it faces, and the essential role of affordable communication in its resettlement mission.

From Glen Parva to Fosse Way

The story of HMP Fosse Way is deeply rooted in the history of its location. The new prison stands on the site of the former HMP Glen Parva, a Young Offenders Institution (YOI) that closed its gates in 2017. Glen Parva had a long and, at times, controversial history, making the choice of the site for a new-build a powerful statement of intent—to replace an old, outdated model with a modern, future-proof facility.

The planning and construction phase was part of the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) wider Estates Transformation Programme, an ambitious government commitment to create 20,000 new prison places to address the nationwide capacity crisis. Construction, overseen by Lendlease, began in August 2020. The project was hailed as a benchmark for modern, sustainable building in the public sector. The MoJ explicitly billed HMP Fosse Way as the "greenest prison ever constructed" in the UK, a designation earned through the use of greener fuels, renewable energy systems, and an innovative, less wasteful construction process. The prison’s very name, 'Fosse Way,' was chosen in consultation with the local community, referencing the ancient Roman road that once connected much of the country, symbolising connection and journey—themes central to the prison’s resettlement mission.

The facility, which is operated by the private firm Serco under a ten-year contract, officially opened and began accepting its first cohort of prisoners in May 2023. With a planned capacity of between 1,715 and 1,930 male inmates, it instantly became one of the largest correctional facilities in the UK.

The Current State and Resettlement Model

HMP Fosse Way is designated as a Category C resettlement prison. This category signifies that it is intended for offenders who are not deemed to be a high security risk, with a primary focus on education, training, and preparing men for their eventual release. The design of the building itself reflects this goal. It boasts 24 dedicated workshops, offering prisoners the chance to gain practical skills in key industries, from construction vehicle operation (via simulators) to manufacturing. The ultimate vision is to equip inmates with the qualifications and work experience necessary to secure meaningful employment—a factor widely recognised as one of the most effective ways to reduce reoffending rates.

However, the initial operational phase has been marked by a rapid, and at times overwhelming, ramp-up in population. Originally, the intake of prisoners was to be gradual, reaching capacity by May 2024. Due to the acute nationwide prison capacity crisis, the intake was significantly accelerated, and the prison reached operational capacity by February 2024, five weeks ahead of schedule. This acceleration, and the sheer demand for prison places, forced the facility to begin accepting a broader mix of offenders, including Category D and young offenders, blurring its initial "offence-neutral" Category C focus and adding strain to its intended operational model.

Problems and Challenges in a New Prison

Despite its state-of-the-art infrastructure and progressive mission, HMP Fosse Way has not been immune to the deep-seated problems that plague the wider UK prison estate. Its first Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) report and an unannounced inspection by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) highlighted significant concerns that underscore the difficulty of starting a complex facility from scratch during a national crisis.

A primary concern is staffing and safety. The accelerated intake of prisoners was not fully matched by the growth in an experienced workforce. The inspection noted that the majority of staff were young and inexperienced—a phenomenon seen across the service—leading to a lack of consistency in the daily regime and difficulties in staff retention. This inexperience, coupled with the rapid rise in population, has contributed to significant issues:

Rising Violence and Unsafety:
Violence was reported as "too high and rising," with a considerable number of prisoners reporting they felt unsafe. One tragic death had occurred in a serious incident. The inexperience of staff was linked to an over-reliance on force, including the use of batons and PAVA spray, rather than effective de-escalation techniques.

Illicit Drugs Crisis:
The availability and use of illicit drugs were found to be widespread, with the mandatory drug test rate among the highest of all Category C prisons. This reflects an endemic issue in the UK prison system that even a modern design struggles to contain.

Local Community Impact:
Separately, local residents have voiced strong complaints about the noise emanating from the prison, citing constant alarms and loud music, an unexpected consequence of the new facility's location and design.

These issues demonstrate the tension between the modern, rehabilitative architecture and the overwhelming pressure of a national capacity crisis, which forced the prison to abandon its planned, measured operational rollout.

Prison Phone Call Charges At HMP Fosse Way

The success of a resettlement prison like HMP Fosse Way hinges on the strength of the prisoners’ ties to the outside world. Research consistently shows that maintaining strong family links is one of the single most important factors in reducing reoffending. Yet, in the UK prison system, the cost of communication remains a major hurdle.

Prisoners must pay for their phone calls from their small weekly wages—typically between £5 and £15 per week. The standard charges from prison payphones, while subsidised, still create a financial burden for both the inmate and their family.

Current rates across the UK prison network typically stand at:
Landline Calls: Around 6p to 8.4p per minute.
Mobile Calls: Significantly higher, at around 14p to 18.4p per minute.

For an inmate wanting to call a loved one who only has a mobile phone, a 30-minute conversation could cost over £5. Given the low wages, a single regular call can consume a vast portion of a prisoner’s weekly income, creating an economic barrier to essential family contact. This reality gave rise to a necessary market for services designed to lower these costs, chief among them, callfromprison.co.uk.

HMP Fosse Way represents a considerable investment in the future of the UK’s correctional system, embodying the principles of modern, rehabilitative, and sustainable design. Its Category C resettlement mission is a vital component in addressing the UK's high reoffending rates. However, the initial operational reports from HMIP and the IMB serve as a stark reminder that infrastructure, no matter how green or modern, cannot solve systemic issues like staff inexperience, high levels of illicit drugs, and the pressure of a national capacity crisis alone.

For the vision of HMP Fosse Way to be truly realised, its leaders must stabilise the environment by addressing the safety and staffing issues. Simultaneously, services like callfromprison.co.uk highlight a crucial area where innovative private solutions are filling a gap left by the state. The true measure of HMP Fosse Way’s success will not be the money saved during its construction, but the human connections it preserves, and the number of reformed individuals it successfully returns to their communities. A lifeline of affordable calls is, arguably, just as essential as the workshops and resettlement programs in achieving that noble goal.