Lancaster Farms Prison
Lancaster Farms is a men’s prison in Lancaster.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Lancaster Farms
To visit someone in Lancaster Farms you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit 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 Lancaster Farms.
Contact Lancaster Farms 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 Lancaster Farms
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
If you wish to cancel your visit, this can only be done online and not via telephone.
Telephone booking line: 01524 563 636
Monday to Friday, 9am to 12pm
Find out about call charges
Email (enquiries only): LancasterFarmsDomesticVisitsBooking@justice.gov.uk
Visiting times:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 2pm to 3pm and 3:15pm to 4:15pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 3pm and 3:15pm to 4:15pm
From 1 December visiting times will be:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 1:45pm to 2:45pm and 3:15pm to 4:15pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 1:45pm to 2:45pm and 3:15pm to 4:15pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Email LegvisLancasterFarms@justice.gov.uk to book your visit.
The mailbox is monitored Monday to Friday 9am to 12pm.
Please note HMP Lancaster Farms are no longer offering Legal Calls.
Visiting times:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 2pm to 3pm and 3:15pm to 4:15pm
Getting to Lancaster Farms
Bus:
Bus service no 18 operates between Lancaster Bus Station and the prison, Monday to Friday, commencing at 6:55am to 5:30pm - buses run every half an hour.
Saturday commencing at 7:25am to 6pm every half an hour.
Sunday 10:05am to 6pm every hour.
Train:
If coming by train to Lancaster Castle Railway Station complete the journey by taxi or bus. Taxi company numbers are 01524 32090, 01524 848848. From the railway station taking a taxi to HMP Lancaster Farms will cost approximately £5.00, the bus station is less than five minutes walk from the railway station.
To plan your journey by public transport:
Car:
If travelling by car from the M6 , leave at Junction 34 and follow the Lancaster City Centre signs. Make your way round the one-way system to Dalton Square. At the traffic lights turn left along Nelson Street (sign posted Lancaster Farms) and proceed along Nelson Street, East Road and Quernmore Road taking the fourth left turn marked Stone Row Head. The prison is situated two hundred yards down this road. There is visitor parking available at the prison.
Visiting facilities
There will be a small selection of refreshments you are able to purchase during your visits, these include drinks and food. Notes and coins are allowed to the maximum of £20 in total but no tender about £10 notes, coins are advised and preferred. The Tea Bar has changed hands as of Saturday 1st October so there may be a change in stock and prices.
Entering Lancaster Farms
All visitors must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
This prison has a family-friendly dress code which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items such as: low-cut tops, see-through or revealing clothing, gloves, high cut shorts, flip flops, jackets or open fronted tops, chains that resemble key chains, ripped jeans, football shirts (anyone over the age of 13), uniforms (except children in school uniforms or police officers on a legal visit) or anything with offensive patterns or slogans. No fitbits / smart watches or devices allowed.
Ask in the visitors centre if you have questions about the dress code.
HMP Lancaster Farms has an enhanced gate security system in place, Items you bring into the establishment will be searched by a member of staff and you may be subject to a rub down search.
Keep in touch with someone at Lancaster Farms
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Lancaster Farms.
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 now have phones in their cells but these only work one way 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 Lancaster Farms using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Lancaster Farms.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Lancaster Farms.
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 in Lancaster Farms are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Lancaster Farms for more information on what’s allowed.
Family and friends 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.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Lancaster Farms
Lancaster Farms 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 Lancaster Farms 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 a prisoner first arrives at Lancaster Farms, 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 wellbeing needs.
Induction
Each prisoner arriving at Lancaster Farms 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
Around 500 prisoners live at Lancaster Farms. There are 4 units with a mixture of single and double cells. There is also a first night care centre for new arrivals.
Education and work
Prisoners can take workshops in a variety of work-related subjects including:
- painting and decorating
- construction
- bricklaying
- joinery
- hospitality and catering
- car mechanics
- waste management
They have access to classroom learning and higher education in subjects such as:
- arts and media
- business
- IT
- sports
Lancaster Farms also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programmes.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact the Governor local lead or Custodial Manager Champion for Families and Significant others please email: LancasterFarms.Families@justice.gov.uk.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01524 563450 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 | 01524 563 675 | 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 Lancaster Farms.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Lancaster Farms in response to independent inspections.
Contact Lancaster Farms
Governor: Emma Sunley
Telephone: 01524 563 450
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Lancaster Farms
Stone Row Head
Off Quernmore Road
Lancaster
LA1 3QZ
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Updates to this page
Last updated 1 April 2022 + show all updates
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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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Updated physical contact guidance
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Safer Custody telephone number update.
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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 visit details in line with new covid guidance
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updated covid social visiting times
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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 visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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added survey link
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First published.