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HMP Belmarsh

Aerial view of HM Prison Belmarsh (centre). To the left HMP Isis. To the right HMP Thameside
Location	Thamesmead, London, England
Security class	Adult Male/Category A
Population	910 (as of July 2008)
Opened	1991
Managed by	HM Prison Services
Governor	Ron Davis (Governor Grade One)
Website	Belmarsh at justice.gov.uk

Her Majesty's Prison Belmarsh is a Category A men's prison in Thamesmead, south-east London, England. It is run by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

History

Belmarsh Prison was built on part of the East site of the former Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, and became operational on 2 April 1991. Belmarsh is adjacent and adjoined to Woolwich Crown Court, as such the prison is used in high-profile cases, particularly those concerning national security.

Between 2001 and 2002, Belmarsh Prison was used to detain a number of people indefinitely without charge or trial under the provisions of the Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, leading it to be called the "British version of Guantanamo Bay".^[1] The law lords later ruled in A v Secretary of State for the Home Dept that such imprisonment was discriminatory and against the Human Rights Act.^[2]

It is often used for the detention of prisoners for terrorist related offences. In September 2006 the number of such prisoners was 51.^[3]

In May 2007, there was a violent disturbance in the prison, Sky News reported. At least four prison officers were injured.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2009, an inspection report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised the "extremely high" amount of force used to control inmates at the prison.^[4] The report also stated that an unusually high number of prisoners had reported being intimidated or victimised by staff at Belmarsh.

In 2010, HMP Isis Young Offenders Institution was opened within the perimeter wall of Belmarsh Prison.

The prison today

Car park and main entrance

Belmarsh is a Category A Prison holding prisoners from all over the United Kingdom. In addition Belmarsh is a local prison, accepting different categories of prisoners from primarily the Central Criminal Court and Magistrates' Courts in South East London. In addition the establishment serves Crown and Magistrates' Courts in South West Essex. Accommodation at the prison is a mixture of approximately 60% multi-occupancy cells and 40% single cells, distributed mainly across 4 residential units.

Inmates at Belmarsh are offered access to education, workshops, two gyms, one focusing on Physical Education courses and one recreational, with use of a sports hall and a fitness room. The gym staff also have a partnership with Charlton Athletic F.C. to deliver FA accredited coaching courses for prisoners.^{[citation needed]}

A listener scheme for prisoners at risk from suicide or self-harm is in operation at Belmarsh. There is also a support group for foreign national prisoners, providing advice on immigration law.

Notable inmates

• Aidan James, on remand from February 2018 for fighting against ISIS


• 
  Anjem Choudary, from 2016^[5] Released on probation October 2018 to north London bail hostel.


• Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale – Islamic terrorists convicted of the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby^[6][7]
  


• 
  Abu Hamza al-Masri^[8]
  


• 
  Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 2005


• 
  Jeffrey Archer, 2001 – Archer wrote about his stay in Belmarsh in the first volume of A Prison Diary and used the setting extensively in his novel A Prisoner of Birth.


• 
  Ian Huntley – Psychopathic child killer who was held there during his trial involving the Soham murders, prior to being moved to HMP Wakefield.


• Dhiren Barot


• Ronnie Biggs


• 
  Andy Coulson – Former editor of News of the World and press secretary to Prime Minister David Cameron, convicted in June 2014 of conspiracy to hack phones.


• 
  Barry George – Spent 7 years incarcerated in Belmarsh Prison after being wrongfully convicted of the 1999 murder of Jill Dando
  


• Jonathan King


• 
  David Copeland^[9]
  


• Jonathan Aitken


• Paul Magee


• 
  Lotfi Raissi, 2001


• Richard Tomlinson


• Steve Wright


• Charles Bronson


• 
  John Gilligan Irish Criminal


• 
  Curtis Warren – Removed from HM Prison La Moye in Jersey due to security risks. Will return to Jersey in December 2015 for sentencing.


• Stefan Williams-Dennis^[10]
  


• Rachid Ramda


• 
  Stuart Hazell – jailed for life after pleading guilty to the murder of Tia Sharp
  


• 
  Asil Nadir – Former CEO of Poly Peck PLC and billionaire businessman


• Gary Dobson and David Norris – Both convicted of the Murder of Stephen Lawrence
  


• 
  Karl Bishop – A sociopathic murderer serving 20 years for murdering Harry Potter actor, Robert Knox, as well as wounding his friends outside a bar where the murder took place


• Jake Fahri – A sociopathic killer serving 14 years for murdering Jimmy Mizen
  


• 
  John Worboys – taxi driver and serial rapist jailed in 2009 following conviction for raping 12 women


• Ramzi Mohammed


• Muktar Said Ibrahim


• Yasin Hassan Omar


• 
  Richard Huckle – Described as one of Britain's worst paedophiles; he was convicted of 71 serious sexual offences against children ranging from 6 months to 12 years old and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.^[11][12]
  


• 
  Momcilo Krajisnik – political leader of Bosnian Serb in period of Bosnian war
  


• 
  Denis MacShane – Labour Member of Parliament jailed for expenses fraud^[13]
  


• Thomas Mair – far-right extremist sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order for the Murder of Jo Cox^[14]
  


• 
  Stephen Port – sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order for raping and murdering four gay men^[15]
  

References

External links

• Ministry of Justice pages on HMP Belmarsh


• HMP Belmarsh – HM Inspectorate of Prisons Reports

Coordinates: 51°29′47″N 0°05′34″E / 51.4964°N 0.0929°E / 51.4964; 0.0929