HM Prison La Moye

HMP La Moye

Location	Vingtaine de la Moye, Jersey, Channel Islands
Coordinates	49°10′45″N2°13′10″W / 49.1791°N 2.2195°W / 49.1791; -2.2195
Status	Operational
Security class	Medium Security
Capacity	268 (Dec. 2009)
Population	178 (avg. 2010) [1]
Opened	1974
Managed by	States of Jersey Prison Service
Governor	Paul Yates

HM Prison La Moye is a mixed-use prison on the island of Jersey. La Moye is currently Jersey's only prison, and is situated within the boundaries of the Vingtaine de la Moye. It is operated by the Jersey Prison Service, part of the Department of Home Affairs.

The prison was opened in the mid-1970s, and originally built to house 150 inmates. Because La Moye is the island's only jail, it has to provide accommodation for men, women and vulnerable prisoners. The young offenders wing was closed due to no funding. Consequently, there are four distinctive areas of the prison which have been set aside for each category of inmate.

Facilities

The prison has an active education programme and all prisoners are encouraged to participate. Prisoners are usually assessed to determine their level of education within a short time of arriving at La Moye. Inmates can study both academic and vocational qualifications. ^[2] La Moye also has a library which was opened in November 2007. ^[3]

Overcrowding concerns

In July 2005, a report from HM Inspector of Prisons stated the prison had 172 inmates, with capacity for 184. This led to concerns about possible overcrowding at the prison. In November 2007, Jersey's Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard expressed fears that Jersey had a higher pro rata prison population when compared to other European countries of a similar size. She called for alternative punishments to be introduced to ease pressure on the prison. ^[4]

Modernisation and wing renaming

In 2023, as part of an ongoing modernisation programme at HM Prison La Moye, the prison’s original A–G wings were demolished. These were replaced by newer facilities H, J, K, and L wings, which were subsequently renamed in honour of notable Jersey citizens who served during World War I and World War II.

• J Wing was renamed Journeaux Wing, after a Royal Navy sailor.
• K Wing became Kendal Wing, in honour of a sailor who served aboard HMS Indefatigable.
• L Wing was renamed Lugard Wing, after an Army sergeant.
• H Wing, the women's unit, was designated Hogarth Wing, commemorating two nurses who served in the Second World War.

According to then-Governor Susie Richardson, the renaming formed part of a broader effort to "deinstitutionalise the environment" within the prison. A new administration block was also opened during the same period and dedicated to Len Norman, former Minister for Home Affairs in the States of Jersey. ^[5]

Notable inmates

Inmates of La Moye Prison have included:

• John Hervey, 7th Marquess of Bristol, British aristocrat and businessman
• Curtis Warren, English gangster, subsequently transferred to HMP Belmarsh ^[6]

See also

• Guernsey Prison
• Isle of Man Prison

References

1. "HM Prison La Moye Annual Report 2010" (PDF). States of Jersey Prison Service. 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
2. "HMP LA MOYE Prison Regime Info". Inside Information. Retrieved 16 October 2010.^{[ dead link ]}
3. "Prison Library". States of Jersey. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
4. "Prison numbers concern minister". BBC News. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
5. "New Names For Parts Of La Moye Prison". Channel 103. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
6. "Gangster 'addicted to drug dealing'". BBC News. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2009.

External links

• Jersey Prison Service
• Prison Me No Way information on La Moye Prison's Young Offenders Unit
• HMI Report 2006 ^{[ dead link ]}