HM Prison Kilmarnock explained

Prison Name:HMP Kilmarnock
Location:Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
Status:Operational
Capacity:500
Population:493[1]
Population As Of:October 2021
Opened:1999
Managed By:Scottish Prison Service
Governor:Craig Thomson

HM Prison Kilmarnock is a prison in Bowhouse, Hurlford near Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated 3miles south-east of Hurlford on the Mauchline Road. Its location means it is locally known as Bowhouse Prison.

The prison was opened 25 March 1999 by Premier Prison Services and was privately run by Serco (who acquired Premier in 2002[2]) until the expiry of their contract in March 2024 at which point the Scottish Prison Service took over direct management of the prison.[3]

In 2005 the BBC program Panorama uncovered several failings in the operational running of the prison, resulting in the prison carrying out internal investigations.

The prison has a design capacity of 500 places and holds short-term, long-term and remand male adults.[4]

Notes and References

  1. HMP KILMARNOCK FULL INSPECTION . October-November 2021 . His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland.
  2. News: 0307-1235. Moore. Malcolm. Serco locks on to prisons manager. The Daily Telegraph. 2019-04-26. 2002-06-05.
  3. Web site: Dunn . Ross . 2024-03-19 . HMP Kilmarnock goes public after being taken over by Scottish Prison Service . 2024-03-27 . Daily Record . en.
  4. Web site: HMP Kilmarnock . 2024-03-27 . www.sps.gov.uk . en-gb.