Garth Prison
Garth is a men’s high security prison near Leyland, Lancashire.
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Book and plan your visit to Garth
To visit someone in Garth you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 2 days in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
Up to 2 adults and 2 children can visit at a time. At least one visitor must be 18 or older.
Contact Garth if you have any questions about visiting.
Help with the cost of your visit
If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:
- travel to Garth
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone
Visits booking line: 01772 443503
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
You should arrive early to allow time to get through security.
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits booking line: 01772 443 503
The booking line is open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges
Legal visiting times
- Tuesday to Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
Getting to Garth
Garth is about 5 miles from Leyland station. Local buses run towards Croston Park but you will need to walk the last 2 miles to Garth. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the station.
To plan your journey by public transport:
If coming by car, use the postcode PR26 8LW for sat nav.
There is a visitor’s car park outside the prison, including space for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Garth
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors will pass through a metal detector and be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Garth has a family-friendly dress code policy which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like vests, low-cut tops, high-cut skirts or dresses, shorts, see-through or ripped clothing, flip-flops or headwear other than that worn for religious reasons. Additionally, you cannot wear anything with offensive patterns or slogans, football shirts, cargo or combat trousers, uniforms (except school uniforms), hi-visibility clothing, steel toe-capped footwear or football boots. You will need to remove hats, scarves, sunglasses, gloves, large belt buckles, metal hair clips and excessive jewellery before you go in.
Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Refreshments will be available to purchase during your visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Garth. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a £1 coin for this) in the visitors centre. This includes pushchairs and car seats.
You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors centre run by Partners of Prisoners (POPS).
The centre is open on visiting days from 11:30am to 4:30pm.
Telephone: 01772 622 129
Find out about call charges
The visiting hall is on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible. There is a children’s play area with activities organised by a play worker. Parents and guardians remain responsible for their children at all times.
Family days
HMP Garth run 12 family visits a year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting: FamilySupportCOVID.Garth@justice.gov.uk.
Keep in touch with someone at Garth
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Garth.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the prisoner to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
Phone calls
Prisoners have phones in their cells and are able to make calls every day between 6am and 10pm.
Phones do not accept incoming calls so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.
They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.
You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.
Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.
You can send emails to someone in Garth using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Garth.
Letters
You can write at any time.
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Garth.
All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.
Send money and gifts
You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.
You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.
If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:
- are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
- do not have a debit card
This will allow you to send money by post.
Gifts and parcels
Prisoners can apply for permission to receive items from friends and family. The items can then be handed in at the visitors entrance before a visit between 1:05pm and 1:30pm.
There are limits to the number of parcels a prisoner can receive. Only specific items are allowed. Ask at the visitors centre for details.
Items are not normally accepted by post. However, a prisoner who is a foreign national or does not get visits can apply for permission for a family member or friend to send items in.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.
For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
Life at Garth
Garth is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners convicted of serious offences can make positive use of long sentences.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Garth has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.
Arrival and first night
When someone first arrives at Garth, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.
They will be seen by a member of the nursing team to talk about immediate health needs, including medication.
They will also get to speak with a member of the First Night team to discuss any concerns and learn about Samaritans phone access, the prison Listeners scheme, use of the emergency cell bell and unit rules.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Garth gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:
- health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
- any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
- personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
- other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions
They will also meet the chaplaincy team and get a gym induction.
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Around 800 prisoners live at Garth. Most get their own cell.
Education and work
Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities provided by Novus. These include literacy and numeracy, skills for life, personal and social development and distance learning. Garth is part of the Prisons ICT Academy (PICTA) which helps prepare prisoners for work in information and communications technology (ICT) roles.
Training is available in motor mechanics, light engineering, industrial cleaning and joinery.
Work is available throughout the prison, including the kitchens, PE department, farms and gardens and waste management. Prisoners are also employed by several industrial workshops, including:
- plastic injection moulding
- textiles
- DHL
- wheelchair and bike repair
- print shop
- light fittings and fire alarm assembly
- industrial cleaning
- braille book printing
- tool hire
- construction joinery manufacturing
Most roles include the opportunity to study for qualifications.
Garth runs a peer tutor scheme where prisoners support each other with employment opportunities.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head of family provision at HMP Garth: familySupportCOVID.Garth@justice.gov.uk
Support at Garth
Partners of Prisoners (POPs) can provide information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners.
You can ask for more information in the visitors centre or contact them by email and telephone.
Email: garthvc@partnersofprisoners.co.uk
Telephone: 01772 622 129
Find out about call charges
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01772 443 300 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01772 443 676 | Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem contact Garth.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Garth in response to independent inspections.
Contact Garth
Governor: Andy Lund
Telephone: 01772 443 300
Fax: 01772 443 301
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Garth
Ulnes Walton
Leyland
Preston
PR26 8NE
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Updates to this page
Published 5 May 2020Last updated 2 August 2022 + show all updates
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Secure video calls update.
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Updated Governor
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Updated operating times for the social and legal visits booking line.
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated physical contact guidance
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison has resumed visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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Additional guidance about new COVID-19 variant in the Bolton and Blackburn areas.
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Updated visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting restrictions
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Added confirmation of secure video calls being made available at this prison.
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First published.