Kirkham Prison
Kirkham is a men’s open prison in the village of Kirkham, Lancashire.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Kirkham
To visit someone in Kirkham you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 24 hours in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Kirkham.
Contact Kirkham 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 Kirkham
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
Prisoners can also book a visit in the mail room.
Visiting times:
- Thursday: 1:15pm to 4pm
- Friday: 1:15pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 1:15pm to 4pm
- Sunday 1:15pm to 4pm
Visitors can book in and access the visits hall from 12:30pm on these days.
There is a tea bar open during the visits to allow for visitors to buy refreshment. Please be aware that it is cash only.
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book a legal visit by emailing: LegalVisits.Kirkham@justice.gov.uk
No bookings can be accepted after 12pm on Wednesday’s, the day before a visit.
Legal visit times:
- Tuesday: 9am to 11am
- Thursday: 9am to 11am
Getting to Kirkham
The closest railway station is Kirkham and Wesham, which is about 2 miles from Kirkham Prison. Local buses running between Preston and Blackpool stop in Kirkham.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Kirkham
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.
Visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like vests, low-cut tops, short skirts or clothes with offensive statements on them.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Kirkham. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. 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
A family worker is on hand to offer support and advice to families and friends before and during visits.
Family days
Family and significant other days are once a month. These are to be booked via prisoner application.
Keep in touch with someone at Kirkham
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Kirkham.
Secure video calls
Video calls are available using the Phone Hub app that can be downloaded onto your smart phone or tablet. The times available are:
- Monday 6pm to 7:30pm
- Thursday 6pm to 7:30pm
- Friday 6pm to 7:30pm
- Saturday 9:30am to 11am
- Sunday 9:30am to 11am
These calls can be booked via application from prisoners to the mail room.
Phone calls
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always have to call you. They have access to telephones on their unit 24 hours a day. They have to buy phone credits to use them.
They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. These names are screened and approved in advance by security.
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 Kirkham using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from someone, depending on the rules at Kirkham.
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 Kirkham.
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
People in Kirkham can buy approved items from a catalogue on their unit.
Family and friends can:
- Have clothing parcels sent in by post to the prison if the prisoner has asked for permission to receive a parcel first. This is within the first 28 days of arriving at Kirkham.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
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.
Contact Kirkham if you have any questions.
Life at Kirkham
Kirkham 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 Kirkham 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 Kirkham, 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 get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and well-being needs.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Kirkham gets an induction that lasts a couple of days. 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
- planning for their release
They will receive a gym induction and get a tour of the facility by a fellow prisoner.
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Around 699 prisoners live at Kirkham in 28 units. Each unit has at least 1 telephone and a kitchen with a fridge, microwave, toaster and hot water boiler.
There are specific units for prisoners who are accessing the Custody to Work programme, or over 40 years old. There is also accommodation for prisoners with accessibility needs including wheelchair access.
Prisoners have access to a gym that includes weights, fitness equipment and snooker, pool and table tennis tables. Outdoor spaces include a bowling green and gym trail.
Kirkham has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support.
People cannot smoke in any building at Kirkham.
Education and work
People in Kirkham have access to a diverse range of learning, training and employment opportunities.
Qualifications are available in classroom-based subjects as well as vocational subjects like bricklaying, painting and decorating, industrial cleaning and fork-lift truck driving.
Prisoners can work in horticulture, gardening, waste management, catering, timber, industrial cleaning and community work. There are also opportunities to work with private businesses that have set up partnerships with Kirkham.
Temporary release
Prisoners may be considered for temporary release with the proper checks and planning.
Prisoners can also qualify for Kirkham’s Custody to Work programme. This allows them to work in the community with a number of local and national employers later on in their sentence. These opportunities can lead to jobs after release.
Support for family and friends
To contact our head of family provision at HMP Kirkham email: safercustodykirkham@justice.gov.uk. Please state that your email is for the attention of Head of Reducing Reoffending.
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Partners of Prisoners (POPs) can provide information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01772 675 521 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 | 0800 5280 248 | 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 Kirkham.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Kirkham in response to independent inspections.
Contact Kirkham
Governor: Alli Black
Telephone (24 hours): 01772 675 400
Fax: 01772 675 401
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Kirkham
Freckleton Road
Kirkham
Preston
Lancashire
PR4 2RN
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Updates to this page
Published 15 January 2020Last updated 21 June 2022 + show all updates
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Updated Governor
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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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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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Update to visits in line with new Covid guidelines
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updated Covid visit times
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updated survey link
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Visit information update
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Update to contact details
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First published.