HM Prison Frankland

HM Prison Frankland is a Category A men's prison located in the village of Brasside in County Durham, England. Frankland is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service, and is located next to HM Prison Low Newton, a closed women's prison. The prison has been nicknamed "Monster Mansion" along with HM Prison Wakefield due to the high number of murderers, rapists and terrorists imprisoned there. History Frankland opened in 1983 with four wings, each holding 108 in single cells. A further two wings opened in 1998 to an open gallery design to hold an additional 206. A specialist Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) unit opened at the prison in May 2004. The prison has increased in size in recent years following major redevelopment including the construction of the new DSPD "Westgate Unit". In March 2008, the Ministry of Justice announced that Frankland would be expanded again, with planning permission being granted for an additional 120 places at the prison. In 2011, two convicted prisoners, Nathan Mann and Michael Parr, disemboweled fellow inmate Mitchell Harrison in order to eat his liver. In 2025, an investigation by The Times revealed that prisoners who refused to convert to Islam and join Islamic gangs operating in Frankland were placed into isolation units for their own safety. Measures designed to stop imprisoned Islamist terrorists from radicalising other inmates had become obsolete due to the sheer number involved in Islamic gangs. Attempts to exert authority by prison staff had been hampered due to fears of being labelled racist and cultural sensitivities. In 2024, Steve Gallant, a former inmate of Frankland who intervened to stop the London Bridge attack in 2019, also claimed that the balance of power in Frankland had been ceded to Islamist gangs with prison staff failing to sufficiently intervene due to fears of being called racist. A prison service spokesman denied the findings reported by The Times. On 12 April 2025, inmate Hashem Abedi, brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, attacked three prison officers using hot cooking oil and homemade weapons. The officers suffered burns, scalds and stab wounds and were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. On 26 February 2026, inmate Ian Huntley, a convicted child murderer, was left blinded and suffering from severe head injuries after being attacked in the prison workshop with a spiked metal pole. He ultimately died after having his life support switched off. Facilities Frankland is a dispersal prison that holds male prisoners over 21 years of age, and whose sentence is usually four years or more, including life sentences and high-risk remand prisoners. The prison has been dubbed the "Monster Mansion" due to many of its inmates being murderers, high-risk sex offenders and those convicted of terrorism-related offences. Prison accommodation is divided between wings, with wings A to D holding 108 inmates each, wings F and G holding an additional 208, with J holding 120. All cells are single occupancy. The Healthcare Centre at the prison consists of a four bedded ward and ten furnished rooms, a dental suite, X-ray and a Suicide Crisis Suite. A number of clinics are held, many conducted by visiting specialists. There are also telehealth services and wing-based treatment rooms. Primary care is contracted to Spectrum Community Health. Education at the prison is provided by The Manchester College, with a range of courses provided - from basic skills to higher education level. Frankland also runs workshops in furniture production, a charity workshop and a sight-and-sound workshop. The prison has a library and gym to support inmates' learning and recreation. Frankland Prison has a visitors' centre. Facilities include a canteen and children's play area, all with disabled access. Notable prisoners Current inmates Former inmates References External links Ministry of Justice pages on Frankland Archived 28 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine HMP Frankland - HM Inspectorate of Prisons Reports