Hindley Prison
Hindley is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Bickershaw, near Wigan, for men aged 18 and over.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Hindley
To visit someone in Hindley you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Hindley prison.
Contact Hindley 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 Hindley
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online, by telephone or by email to socialvisits.Hindley@justice.gov.uk.
Booking line: 01942 663234 or 01942 663492
Find out about call charges
The booking lines are open Monday to Friday: 9am to midday and 1pm to 3pm
Visiting times:
- Monday to Sunday: 2pm to 3:30pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Book a legal or professional visit is by email, LegalVisits.Hindley@justice.gov.uk. Bookings can also be made by calling 01942 663 234 or 01942 663 492.
Legal visits booking lines are open 9am to midday and 1pm to 3pm
Visiting times:
- Monday to Friday: 2pm to 3pm and 3pm to 4pm
Each session is 1 hour long.
- there are no restrictions on who can visit a prisoner as long as they are on the prisoners approved visitors list
- visitors are restricted up to 3 adults and 3 children per visit
- children over 11 are classed as adults due to seating arrangements
- the canteen is open in the visits hall
- prisoners can have up to 2 visit per month and depending on the IEP level could also have privilege visits
- families are allowed to bring up to £25 with them in change (this may change from 1 Oct when we are planning to use card machine and go cashless)
Getting to Hindley
The closest railway stations are Wigan North Western (360 towards Warrington) and Wigan Wallgate (Line 9 towards Higher Folds) where you can catch a local bus to Hindley. There are also taxi ranks outside the stations.
To plan your journey by public transport:
By bus:
You can catch the 658 bus from Wigan bus station. The bus stops at the top of the road leading to the establishment.
By car:
Travelling from Liverpool on the A580 East Lancashire Road: Exit at the East Lancashire Road/M6 (junction 24), turning left following signs for Ashton. Continue on the A58 through Ashton town centre for approximately 3 miles. Turn right at the traffic lights/T junction (signpost HM Prison). Almost immediately, turn left into Bickershaw Lane, and continue for 1 mile until you see a signpost directing left to HMYOI Hindley. Parking is signposted on left of the main gate next to the Visitor Centre.
Travelling from Manchester on the A580 East Lancashire Road: Exit the East Lancashire Road turning right at Golbourne and following the directions for Abram. Continue for approximately 2.5 miles through Golbourne. At a public house called the Dover Lock the road will bend sharply to the right, over the canal bridge. Continue for approximately 1 mile until you reach a set of traffic lights, turn right onto Bickershaw Road. Continue for 1 mile until you see a signpost directing left to HMYOI Hindley. Parking is signposted on left of the main gate next to the Visitor Centre.
Travelling on the M61 motorway: Exit the M61 at junction 5 travelling towards Westhoughton and Wigan. Stay in the left lane, at the next roundabout, take the 2nd main exit following the signs for the A58 Wigan. Turn left at the next set of traffic lights, signposted ‘Leigh’. Proceed for approximately 1 mile, pass a train station on the left and go straight on at the roundabout. After another mile turn right at the traffic lights. Continue for 1 mile to the next set of traffic lights and turn left, following the sign for Leigh A578. Turn right at the next traffic lights into Smiths Lane. Continue for 1.5 miles until you see a signpost directing right to HMYOI Hindley.
There is a visitors car park to the left of the main gate (signposted as visitors car park).
Entering Hindley
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.
Except for urgent visits approved by the Duty Governor, all visitors to prisoners must pre-booked whether their visit is domestic or professional.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
There are refreshments available to purchase during your visit. Visitors are allowed to bring up to £25 in change, notes are not allowed.
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).
Facilities include:
- waiting room
- coin operated lockers
- general information about visiting and opportunities at Hindley
- disabled access and facilities
- disabled, male and female toilet with baby changing facilities
- refreshments available to purchase in the Visits Hall
- TV for displaying resettlement opportunities, books, and activities
- dedicated neurodiversity visits called Blue visits via application process
- family photos available to purchase on your visits
The centre is open every day from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.
Telephone: 01942 663 187
Find out about call charges
Family days
These will be for those aged over 13 (with some designated for younger children) and will take place over the year. There will be some in term time and some in the school holidays.
Family days will be advertised and prisoners can apply using the internal application system.
We are also using the family room throughout the year for prisoners to use, this can also be applied to use through internal application and will go through a screening process.
Keep in touch with someone at Hindley
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Hindley.
For the main switchboard please call: 01942 663100.
Phone calls
Prisoners have phones in their cells and 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 Hindley using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Hindley.
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
Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.
You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.
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 Hindley.
All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.
Postal address:
HMP/YOI Hindley
Barracks Road
Hindley
Wigan
WN2 5TH
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.
We do not allow families to send in items or bring them on a visit.
Money can be sent to a prisoner allowing them to order clothes through the catalogue process.
Gifts and parcels
Prisoners can apply for permission to receive one parcel from friends and family when they first arrive at Hindley. The items can then be handed in at the visitors centre before a visit.
Only specific items are allowed. Contact Hindley for more information.
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 Hindley
Hindley is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Hindley 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.
Hindley’s chaplaincy team provides a wide range of multi-faith services as well as guidance and support to those of all faiths and none.
Arrival and first night
We have prisoners as transfers from other establishments. All prisoners transferring are required to be sentenced.
All prisoners arriving at Hindley follow a reception process where their immediate needs are identified and any safeguarding issues addressed.
All prisoners transferring will be provided with have access to a phone call and the first night arrangements will be explained to them by an Early Days Officer, in addition they will have an assessment with a healthcare professional.
All new prisoners will be located on Fir Wing, this is our Early Days Centre, they will spend their first night at Hindley on this wing.
Induction
There is an induction timetable in place where all prisoners will have meetings with staff and peer mentors from each department in the prison
The Early Days Process is also supported by the Insiders, these are Red Band prisoners who provide additional support to prisoners both during the early days and when they have moved to other residential units.
Each prisoner who arrives at Hindley 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
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Hindley has 8 residential units housing up to 590 prisoners:
- A-D wings each hold up to 84 prisoners
- Elm – Houses the Recovery and ISFL units
- Fir – Early Days Centre
- Acorn – Pre Pipe Unit for prisoners referred form the OPD pathway
- Care and Separation Unit
Education and work
All prisoners have access to education and training provided by Novus. Prisoners can work on their literacy and numeracy before progressing to vocational training in catering and hospitality, joinery, multi skills, barbering, highways and painting and decorating. Prisoners can also study for a range of sports qualifications.
Prisoners can work in a range of roles at Hindley following pathway progression in the following areas; kitchen, gym, chapel, library, gardens, waste centre, the laundry and Tier One workshop (laptop breakdown). There are also a wide range of peer support role opportunities for prisoners to access across the prison.
There is a large sports hall, 2 weight-lifting areas, exercise area and outdoor pitches for prisoners of all fitness levels.
The programmes team deliver the accredited Offending Behaviour Programme TSP (Thinking Skills Programme) based on assessment and need from the Offender Management Team. In addition there are also a selection of non-accredited courses available to prisoners to address identified needs.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
In case of an emergency please contact: 01942 663438
To get in touch with the Families Lead please email: safercustodyhindley@justice.gov.uk
Our family service provider is POPS (Partners of Prisoners).
Visits Centre telephone number: 01942 663187
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01942 663 100 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 | 01942 663 294 | 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 Hindley.
Independent inspections
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Hindley in response to independent inspections.
Contact Hindley
Governor: Natalie McKee
Telephone: 01942 663 100
Fax: 01942 663 101
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP/YOI Hindley
Barracks Road
Bickershaw
Wigan
WN2 5TH
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minutes survey.
Updates to this page
Published 19 May 2020Last updated 8 November 2023 + show all updates
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Updated safer custody contact information and added other useful contact numbers.
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Updated visiting information: New visiting time slots for family and friends visits, new visiting times for legal visits. Refreshments now available on visits.
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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: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Additional guidance about new COVID-19 variant in the Bolton and Blackburn areas.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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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 information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated information about secure video calls.
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Updated: Hindley visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated covid visit times
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First published.