An inspection of HMP Birmingham — known locally as Winson Green Prison — published in January 2026 found the jail was being systematically targeted by organised crime gangs using drones to deliver drugs, while violence, self-harm, and poor mental health provision continued to pose serious challenges to staff and prisoners alike.

About HMP Birmingham (Winson Green)

HMP Birmingham, still widely known as Winson Green Prison after the district it occupies, is a Category B men’s prison on Winson Green Road in Birmingham. Designed by Victorian architect D.R. Hill and opened in 1849, it has a capacity of approximately 1,028 adult male prisoners. The prison holds a mix of remand prisoners awaiting trial and sentenced men, and serves as the primary local jail for the West Midlands.

Its recent history has been turbulent. In 2011 it became the first publicly operated prison in England and Wales to be fully privatised, passing to the management of G4S. However, following a series of serious incidents — including a major riot in 2016 driven by poor conditions, staff shortages, and the widespread availability of drugs and mobile phones — the Ministry of Justice intervened and returned the prison to public sector management in 2018. Since then, successive governments have committed to stabilising the establishment and driving down violence. For visiting information, see our guide to Birmingham Prison visits and contact details.

What Did the 2026 Inspection Find?

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) conducted an unannounced inspection of HMP Birmingham between 6 and 16 October 2025. The report was published on 19 January 2026. Inspectors found a jail where some positive signs of progress were visible — including a weekly inter-wing football league that fostered genuine staff-prisoner relationships — but where deeply serious problems persisted and, in some areas, had worsened.

Illicit drug use across the prison was described as high. Rates of violence remained elevated, and self-harm incidents were a continuing concern. Inspectors noted that approximately 40 per cent of the prison population were unemployed — that is, not allocated to education, work, or vocational training — and that unemployed prisoners were receiving very little time out of their cells each day. Extended periods of cell confinement are widely recognised as a driver of poor mental health, frustration, and violence within custodial settings.

The inspection also found that the prison’s leadership and management team were aware of the challenges and were working to address them, which inspectors acknowledged as a positive foundation for improvement. An action plan was submitted to HMIP in February 2026 following publication of the report.

Drugs, Drones and Organised Crime

One of the most significant findings in the 2026 inspection was the scale of organised criminal activity targeting HMP Birmingham from outside the prison walls. Inspectors confirmed that the jail was being systematically targeted by organised crime gangs using drones, throw-overs, and corrupted staff or visitors to smuggle large quantities of drugs and contraband into the establishment.

The use of drone deliveries to supply drugs and mobile phones to prisoners has become an increasingly serious problem across the English and Welsh prison estate, but the inspection suggested that HMP Birmingham was particularly affected. The prison’s city-centre location, surrounded by residential streets and high-rise blocks, makes it relatively straightforward for individuals to fly drones over the perimeter wall at night without being detected. The Ministry of Justice has been rolling out counter-drone technology across the estate, but the January 2026 report indicated this had not yet been fully effective at Birmingham.

The availability of drugs — particularly synthetic cannabinoids such as spice — inside the prison was directly linked by inspectors to the high rates of violence and self-harm. Prisoners under the influence of synthetic drugs can present with extreme and unpredictable behaviour, placing other prisoners and staff at risk. Read more about how drugs get into prisons in our guide to prison contraband in the UK.

Mental Health and Vulnerable Prisoners

The inspection raised particular concern about the treatment of prisoners with acute mental health needs. A change in policy by the local police force meant that acutely mentally unwell men — including individuals experiencing active psychotic episodes — were no longer being diverted to NHS mental health services before entering custody. Instead, they were arriving at HMP Birmingham without adequate care plans or prior assessment, placing significant pressure on the prison’s healthcare team and creating risk for both the individuals concerned and other prisoners.

In England and Wales, liaison and diversion services are intended to identify vulnerable individuals at police stations and courts and route them to appropriate health or social care pathways rather than custody. The apparent breakdown in this process in the West Midlands was flagged as a systemic failure requiring urgent attention from both the Prison Service and NHS England.

Despite these concerns, inspectors highlighted the prison’s healthcare team as working hard under difficult circumstances, and acknowledged that relationships between staff and prisoners on many wings were positive. The inter-wing football league, in particular, was singled out as an example of purposeful activity generating community spirit within the prison.

The Action Plan and What Comes Next

Following the January 2026 HMIP report, HM Prison and Probation Service submitted a formal action plan to the Inspectorate on 10 February 2026. The plan sets out specific steps for addressing the priority concerns raised, including reducing drug supply, improving prisoner activity levels, enhancing mental health pathways, and strengthening oversight of use of force.

HMIP will monitor progress against the action plan and may return for a follow-up inspection if it believes improvements are not being delivered sufficiently quickly. The prison’s new governor, appointed in late 2025, is expected to be central to driving the reform programme forward.

Families and friends of prisoners held at HMP Birmingham can find support and practical guidance through our site. If you need to book a visit to Birmingham Prison or find the right contact number, all the details are available in our Birmingham Prison guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the 2026 inspection of HMP Birmingham find?

The January 2026 HMIP report found high levels of illicit drug use, persistent violence and self-harm, 40 per cent of prisoners unemployed with little time out of cell, and systematic targeting of the prison by organised crime gangs using drones. Mentally unwell men were not being diverted to NHS services before entering custody. Some positive aspects were also noted, including good staff-prisoner relationships in certain areas.

Why is HMP Birmingham also called Winson Green Prison?

HMP Birmingham is located in the Winson Green district of Birmingham and was known as Winson Green Prison for most of its history after opening in 1849. The prison is still commonly referred to by its former name in local speech and in media reporting, even though its official designation is HMP Birmingham.

Is HMP Birmingham still privately run?

No. HMP Birmingham was privatised in 2011 and handed to G4S, but following the 2016 riot and sustained poor performance, the Ministry of Justice returned the prison to public sector management in 2018. It has been run by HM Prison and Probation Service ever since.

How are drones used to smuggle drugs into UK prisons?

Organised crime groups fly commercial drones over prison perimeter walls, typically at night, and drop packages containing drugs, mobile phones, and other contraband. City-centre prisons such as HMP Birmingham are particularly vulnerable because surrounding streets and buildings provide good launch points. The Ministry of Justice has been deploying counter-drone technology across the estate, but the 2026 inspection found this had not yet eliminated the problem at Birmingham.

Can I visit someone at HMP Birmingham?

Yes. HMP Birmingham accepts social visits and you must book in advance by calling the prison or using the online booking service. The prisoner must add you to their approved visitor list before a visit can take place. Our guide to booking a visit to Birmingham Prison contains all the current visiting times and practical information you need.