HMP Berwyn is the first publically run “super-prison” built in the UK, with a capacity when fully operational of nearly 2,200 inmates. The prisoners, who are referred to as “men” while in the prison are housed in twin bedded cells (rooms) on landings with 44 rooms on each. The rooms are equipped with basic phones from which the men can make call out to numbers pre-approved and vetted by the prison. In summer 2022 the prison held 1835 men.
.The #1 governor is Nick Leader who has been in post since April 2019, and the prison is run by HMPS as part of the Welsh region
Accommodation
There are three houses. Alwen, Bala and Ceiriog, each divided into eight communities that can accommodate up to 88 general population residents, including the following.
- Alwen:
- 6 x general population,
- 1 x lifers/enhanced,
- 1 x long sentenced prisoners
- Bala:
- 5 x general population,
- 1 x enhanced,
- 1 x veterans,
- 1 x mental health support (Menai)
- Ceiriog:
- 2 x induction/reverse cohort unit,
- 2 x general population,
- 2 x vulnerable prisoners,
- 1 x enhanced, 1 x resettlement/release on temporary licence (ROTL) community