Holloway is the largest female prison in Europe and is located in urban north London. Holloway opened in 1852 as a prison for men and women but became an all female prison in the early 20th century. Rebuilt during the 1970s and 1980s in a style designed to meet the perceived needs of women prisoners, it is a hybrid between a prison and a hospital. There are single and double rooms and multi-occupancy dormitories. About a third of the population are foreign national prisoners and around 5% are young women aged 18 to 20. 45%of the population are from black or minority ethnic groups, as are 46% of the staff.
Accommodation
The accommodation is a mixture of small 4 bed dormitories and single cells.
- A3 – First night centre
- A4 – Ordinary location residential unit
- A5 – Lifer unit
- B3 – Ordinary location residential unit
- B4 – Ordinary location residential unit
- B5 – Ordinary location residential unit
- C3 – Ordinary location residential unit
- C4 – Pregnant women’s unit
- C5 – Ordinary location residential unit
- D3 – Opiate maintenance and recovery unit
- D4 – Mother and baby unit
- C1 – Mental health assessment unit (including day care)
- D1 (also known as Ivor Ward) – Substance misuse unit
- CSRU – Segregation unit
- D0 – Enhanced/standard unit