Prisons in Wales: The Complete Guide
Last reviewed: July 2026
Whether you are trying to work out where a family member might be sent after a Welsh court hearing, or planning visits, this guide covers every prison in Wales and the key gaps in Welsh provision that affect families.
The five prisons in Wales
| Prison | Location | Category / role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMP Berwyn | Wrexham, North Wales | C – training | UK’s largest prison, capacity around 2,100; opened 2017 |
| HMP Cardiff | Cardiff | B – local | Victorian local prison serving South Wales courts |
| HMP Swansea | Swansea | B – local | Victorian local prison, one of the oldest in Wales |
| HMP/YOI Parc | Bridgend | B – local/training + young people | Privately run (G4S); also holds young offenders |
| HMP Usk / Prescoed | Monmouthshire | C (Usk) / D open (Prescoed) | Two sites managed as one establishment |
North Wales: HMP Berwyn
Opened in 2017, Berwyn in Wrexham is the largest prison in the UK, built to hold around 2,100 category C men in modern accommodation with in-cell phones and laptops for education. Its size brings both advantages (modern facilities, wide range of work and courses) and challenges familiar from inspection reports. Before Berwyn opened, North Wales had no prison at all – men were held across the border in England.
South Wales: Cardiff, Swansea and Parc
Cardiff and Swansea are traditional Victorian local prisons, taking men on remand and newly sentenced from the South Wales courts. Parc, in Bridgend, is one of the UK’s larger prisons and privately operated by G4S; it also holds young people, and has faced significant scrutiny in recent years, including over a series of deaths in 2024. Men typically start at a local prison and transfer to training or open conditions as their sentence progresses – our guide to prison release dates explains the stages.
Monmouthshire: Usk and Prescoed
HMP Usk, a small Victorian category C prison, and HMP Prescoed, an open category D site a few miles away, are run as a single establishment. Prescoed is the only open prison provision in Wales, preparing men for release with work placements and temporary release.
The gaps: women and category A prisoners
There are no prisons for women anywhere in Wales, and no Approved Premises for women either. Welsh women are typically sent to HMP Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire or HMP Styal in Cheshire – often a long way from children and support networks, an issue repeatedly raised by the Welsh Affairs Committee. Similarly, no Welsh prison holds category A men, so the highest-risk prisoners from Wales go to high-security prisons in England such as Long Lartin or Belmarsh.
• “Prison policy is devolved to Wales.” No – prisons in Wales are run by HM Prison and Probation Service as part of the England-and-Wales system.
• “Welsh women go to a Welsh prison.” There isn’t one – women are held in England.
• “Swaleside is in Wales.” Despite the name, HMP Swaleside is on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
• “Everyone sentenced in Wales stays in Wales.” Transfers across the border are routine, in both directions, depending on category and space.
Frequently asked questions
How many prisons are there in Wales?
Five: Berwyn, Cardiff, Swansea, Parc, and Usk/Prescoed (counted as one establishment across two sites).
What is the biggest prison in Wales?
HMP Berwyn in Wrexham – also the biggest in the UK, with capacity for around 2,100 men.
Are there any private prisons in Wales?
One – HMP/YOI Parc in Bridgend, operated by G4S.
Where are Welsh women prisoners held?
In England, most commonly HMP Eastwood Park (Gloucestershire) or HMP Styal (Cheshire).
How do I find out which Welsh prison someone is in?
Use the free GOV.UK Find a Prisoner service – see our step-by-step guide to finding a prisoner.
Official information on every establishment is on GOV.UK, and inspection reports are published by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.
