book a prison visit to kirkham

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• Crime, justice and the law
• Prisons and probation

Visit someone in prison

Use this service to request a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales. There’s a different way to book a prison visit in Northern Ireland or a prison visit in Scotland .

To use this service you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

If you do not have the prisoner’s location or prisoner number, use the ‘Find a prisoner’ service .

You can choose up to 3 dates and times you prefer. The prison will email you to confirm when you can visit.

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can request a visit. This can take up to 2 weeks.

Request a prison visit

Visits you cannot book through this service.

Contact the prison directly if you need to arrange any of the following:

• legal visits, for example legal professionals discussing the prisoner’s case
• reception visits, for example the first visit to the prisoner within 72 hours of being admitted
• double visits, for example visiting for 2 hours instead of 1
• family day visits - special family events that the prison organises

Help with the costs of prison visits

You may be able to get help with the cost of prison visits if you’re getting certain benefits or have a health certificate.

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Blog Government Digital Service

https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/09/15/you-can-now-book-a-prison-visit-online/

You can now book a prison visit online

Booking a prison visit should be simple and straightforward. Until now that was far from the case. Booking a visit required both prisoner and visitor to jump through hoops: paper forms and drawn-out phone calls. And if the visit date turned out to be impossible, they had to start all over again.

Now you can book a visit online . It takes about 5 minutes. Before, picking an available date was pot luck. Now there's a date-picker that lets you select 3 possible slots instead of 1. It’s a straight-forward service with user-needs at its heart but, if you get stuck, you can call the prison's visits booking line and someone will help you with the booking.

Here's a very short film we've made about it:

By making it easier to book visits, prisoners will see more of their friends and family. Evidence suggests this will help their rehabilitation. Transformation isn't just about websites.

The service was built by the Ministry of Justice, with a combined team from the National Offender Management Service, HM Prison Service and MoJ Digital Services.

For more of the story behind this service, read Mike Bracken's account of his trip to HMP Rochester or check out the service’s transformation page .

Join the conversation on Twitter , and don't forget to sign up for email alerts .

You may also be interested in:

• Prison visit booking: using digital analytics to inform alpha development
• Making prison visits easier to book
• Meet the Transformation team

Sharing and comments

Share this page, 20 comments.

Comment by Pauline posted on 23 August 2015

How do you find out the prisoners number??? so you can go ahead with online booking of a visit?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 24 August 2015

You can find a prisoner using this service: https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner However it will be the prisoner's responsibility to get in touch with you to let you know their prison number etc.

Comment by linda posted on 15 August 2015

This service does not appear to work this is day 2 trying to use it

Comment by Olivia posted on 30 July 2015

Hi, If a visit is booked and someone cant make it, is it possible to change the name of one of the people to someone else?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 30 July 2015

It's best to contact the prison directly if this happens. You can find contact details here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Thanks, Louise

Comment by Paige posted on 28 July 2015

Hi my partner was sent to nottingham today, I was on his previous list 4 months ago for a visit. Will that still be on the system all will it have to he put through again if so how long does it take to be approved for a visit? Thanks Paige.

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 29 July 2015

You might want to get in touch with the prison first before booking a visit. You can find the contact details of the prison here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Comment by Debs posted on 27 July 2015

Hello Is there a list of prisons where online booking can't be used?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 28 July 2015

According to the information on this page: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits , you can arrange a visit to any prison in England and Wales through this service. If you're visiting someone in Northern Ireland or Scotland you'll need to contact the prison directly.

This link also lists the type of visits that are not covered by the online service: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits so you need to get in touch with the prison directly.

Hope that's helpful.

Comment by c.steer posted on 26 July 2015

So how do I find the booking form to fill in I am new to computers

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 27 July 2015

Here's the link to the booking form: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits

You'll need this information to complete the form:

prisoner number prisoner’s date of birth dates of birth for all visitors coming with you make sure the person you’re visiting has added you to their visitor list

Hope that's useful.

Comment by Shawnaa posted on 09 May 2015

i have a visit booked which i did online but i do not have a visiting order woll the prison let me in?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 11 May 2015

Your identity will be checked on arrival to make sure you’re on the visitor list.

Comment by jessicca posted on 27 January 2015

What happens after you book the visit and its confirmed by email do you need the visiting order ?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 29 January 2015

The Visiting Order (VO) number is generated by the booking system, it is included in your confirmation email and you will need this to change or cancel a booking.

However, if you're visiting a prison the guidance is that you only need your ID, not the VO number. If when you visit the prison you are asked for the VO number you should report this via the Contact Us link on the Prison Visits Booking form.

I hope that helps.

Comment by Ilysa Mcnally posted on 18 November 2014

How late in advance can I book e.g. book a visit today (Tuesday) for the Sunday coming???

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 19 November 2014

Hi Ilysa. Thanks for your question. A visit needs to be booked 3 working days in advance. So in this case, the visit request would have to be no later than Tuesday to allow for a visit on Sunday.

Comment by carole posted on 23 October 2014

How far in advance can you book visits

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 23 October 2014

Hi Carole. You can book up to 28 days in advance. Thanks for your question.

Comment by kimberly posted on 16 August 2015

does anyone know how to cancel a visit online?

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Book a visit to prison

You will need to book a visit if you want to see someone in prison. You can book online to arrange an in person visit or a virtual visit with a prisoner or you can telephone the prison Visits Booking Office.

This service is currently unavailable due to technical issues. We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Apologies for any inconvenience. 

If you haven't visited a prison before you will need to phone to book your visit. You will be provided with your unique visitor identification number. Once  you have this you can start to book online.

Booking online

To book online for an in person visit or a virtual visit you will need:  

• to have previously booked a visit
• the visit reference number for the prisoner
• the prisoner's number
• your unique visitor identification number
• your date of birth
• your e-mail address and contact number
• the unique visitor identification number and dates of birth for all additional visitors (not needed for a virtual visit)

If you do not have these details, you should phone the relevant booking office.

Booking by telephone

To book a visit by telephone you will need:

• the visit reference number for the prisoner 
• the unique visitor identification number and dates of birth for all additional visitors

If you don't have a unique visitor identification number, you can get one from the booking office which you can use for future visits.

If the person you are visiting has just arrived in prison you will need to ring the booking office and they can arrange a visit.

Virtual visits

A virtual visit can last up to 20 minutes. The visitor can use a personal computer, mobile device or smartphone to have this meeting with the prisoner.

All virtual visits are supervised, if NIPS become aware of any behaviour, language or actions which are considered inappropriate, this will result in the visit ending early and possible removal of the facility in the future.

• Guide to arranging an online visit
• Privacy notice  explaining your rights to privacy when you arrange an online visit

Registering for visits

All visitors need to be registered in the prison they are visiting. When you arrive at Visits Reception you need to be photographed, have a scan taken of your finger and you should bring identification.

• more information about registering for visits

Bringing proof of identification to prison

When you first visit someone in prison, you will need to be registered on the prison system as a visitor. You will need to bring proof of identification with you when you are being registered.

• more information about the types of identification needed

Useful links

• Visiting someone in prison

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to [email protected] 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 Email  [email protected]

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Call 0800 587 2750  Email  [email protected]

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Call 0800 587 0912  Email [email protected]

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Hmp kirkham.

• Inside Time Reports
• 13th December 2014
• Male Cat. D , North West , Prison Visit

Prison information

Address:  Freckleton Road, Kirkham,  Preston PR4 2RN

Switchboard: 01772 675 400 Managed by: HMPPS Region:  North West Category:  Male Cat. D Link to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/kirkham-prison

Description

Kirkham is a category ‘D’ training prison

Visit Booking: On-line

Use this online service to book a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can book a visit.

You’ll get an email confirming your visit. It takes 1 to 3 days.

ID: Every visit Children’s Visits:  Code Club, homework club, family day (full day) each school holiday, by application

Acceptable forms of ID

Search reports

IMB Reports

Prison Inspectorates Reports

Probation Service Reports

Prisons and Probations Ombudsman

Search the InsideTime library

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Please visit POPS’ Facebook page for HMP Kirkham  for all the latest information and updates.

At Kirkham we understand the distress and disruption a prison sentence can have on a family unit and know the importance and difference maintaining family ties can have during this difficult period in your lives. Through POPS’ Visitor Centre families can access advice and support for all visitors on a range of issues. We also offer one to one support at times to suit families, please ask for more information.

We host Family Days, giving adults and their children the opportunity to participate in a range of fun activities. Please ask one of the POPS’   Visitor Centre staff for further information.

Family Forums are also available for families to get involved in, allowing families the opportunity to express any concerns that they may have. Your views and ideas are important to us.

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Before your visit make sure you download and read the following documents:

• 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Prisoner Debt and Money
• Dress Code for Visitors

Safer Custody

• Prison Life Videos

Important Contact Information

Visitor Centre:                    01772  675 452 Prison Switchboard:          01772 675 400

POPS’ Family Lead:  [email protected]

Visiting Times

Financial assistance with visiting.

If you qualify to receive help with your finances such as benefits, you may be able to recoup all or part of the cost of your travel expenses.

If you have concerns about a loved one at HMP Kirkham you can contact the prison or submit your concerns using the online Safer Custody portal on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website (link below).

Last updated 08/01/2024.

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• September 25, 2023 September 25, 2023

How to Book a Prison Visit Online

Scheduling an in-person visit with an incarcerated loved one is important for maintaining connections. Many corrections departments now allow online prison visit reservations to improve convenience and efficiency. This article outlines the typical process for booking online prison visits.

Check Visitation Eligibility Requirements

Before scheduling visits, confirm eligibility with the facility’s policies:

• Age minimums – Adult visitors usually required.
• Visitor approval – Visitors must be on inmate’s approved list.
• ID/documentation – Valid photo ID often required.
• Allowed items – Review dress code and authorized items.
• Health requirements – Some facilities require COVID vaccination proof.

Ensure you meet all criteria to avoid wasted trips or denied entry.

Create a Visitor Account on the Facility’s Website

Most prisons with online scheduling require creating a visitor account:

• Enter your personal details like name, address, email, phone number.
• Create a username and password for the visitor account.
• Provide your ID number and type (driver’s license, passport, etc).
• Electronically sign any waivers or terms required.

This information links you to the inmate and confirms identity upon arrival.

Schedule Visit Date and Time

With an approved visitor account, you can view visitation calendars and schedule dates/times:

• Select day(s) – Weekends and holidays are busiest.
• Choose time slot(s) – Typical windows are 1-2 hours long.
• Check-in 15-30 minutes prior – To clear security screening.
• Bring printed or digital confirmation – Shows your scheduled slot.

Visits are usually first-come, first-served for available times. Book well in advance for best selection.

Understand Cancellation and No Show Policies

Review policies if you must cancel or miss scheduled visits:

• Timeframe – Cancel at least 24-48 hours in advance when possible.
• Allowed frequency – Too many cancellations or no shows may restrict future visits.
• Notifications – Call the visitation hotline as soon as possible.
• Exceptions – Illness or family emergencies may qualify for waivers.

Follow proper procedures to avoid penalties like temporary visit suspensions.

Arrive Prepared on Visitation Day

Give yourself extra time and arrive prepared:

• Dress appropriately – Follow dress code to get cleared for entry.
• Limited belongings – Carry only approved items needed for children.
• Check in at gate – Provide printed or digital confirmation and ID.
• Clear security – Successfully pass through metal detectors and searches.
• Confirm visitation rules – Keep physical contact limited if prohibited.
• Enjoy visit! – Make the most of this valued time together.

Proper planning ensures visitation goes smoothly.

Online scheduling systems are making arranging prison visits easier and more efficient. Visitors can quickly check availability and reserve slots after creating an approved account. Following facility policies ensures a smooth visitation process. While in-person time is limited, it remains invaluable for maintaining inmate connections and support systems.

FAQs About Booking Online Prison Visits

How far in advance can visits be booked.

Most facilities allow booking 1-4 weeks in advance. Holidays and weekends fill up quickly.

Can visitors schedule multiple back-to-back time slots?

Usually not – facilities limit visits to 1-2 hour sessions with buffer times in between.

Is there an age limit or requirement for minor visitor approval?

Yes, approval rules vary but most prisons prohibit visitors under 18 years old.

Can online visit reservations be made on a mobile device?

Some systems only allow scheduling on the desktop website. But mobile-friendly platforms are becoming more common.

What if a visitor’s plans change after booking?

Notify the prison as soon as possible if you cannot make the booked time. Schedule changes are limited.

How do waiting lists work if times are fully booked?

Waiting lists prioritize visitors by order and frequency since last visit. Openings from cancellations are first-come, first-served.

What happens if a visitor is late for check-in?

You may forfeit that day’s visit. Arrive well before the scheduled window to ensure entry.

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How to book a prison visit

If you’re looking to visit a friend or family member in a UK prison, it’s important to know the steps you need to take to book a visit. In this blog post, we’ll go through the process of booking a visit, as well as how children can be included in visits.

Step 1: Find out the prisoner’s details

Before you can book a visit, you’ll need to know the prisoner’s full name, date of birth, prisoner number and prison location. You can find this information by contacting the prisoner or using the ‘ Locate a prisoner ‘ section of the UK Gov website.

Step 2: Complete the application form.

Once you have the prisoner’s details, you’ll usually need to complete an application form to request a visit. You can usually find the application form on the prison’s website or by contacting them directly.

Step 3: Wait for approval

Once you’ve submitted the application form, you’ll need to wait for approval from the prison. This can take several days or even weeks, so it’s important to plan ahead.

Step 4: Book the visit

Once your application has been approved, you can book the visit. You’ll usually need to provide the prisoner’s details again, as well as your own details and the details of any other visitors.

Step 5: Attend the visit

On the day of the visit, you’ll need to bring a valid form of ID, such as a passport or driving licence. You’ll also need to follow any rules and regulations set by the prison, such as dress code and prohibited items.

Including children on visits

If you’re planning to bring children on a prison visit, it’s important to know that there may be additional rules and regulations. Some prisons have age limits for visitors, while others require children to be accompanied by an adult.

You may also need to provide additional information about the children, such as their full names and dates of birth, when booking the visit. It’s important to check with the prison beforehand to make sure you have all the necessary information.

Please note, all UK prisons have different rules when it comes to visitations, so the above helpful hints and tips may not always be relevant to every UK prison. To find out more, visit the prison information page for the prison your loved one is located in for further information.

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Kirkham Prison

Tel: 01772 675 400  –  Freckleton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR4 2RN

HMP Kirkham is a category D open training prison , which is situated close to Preston, Lancashire. It has a capacity of 630 and accepts all offenders who can be trusted in open conditions, apart from sex offenders. The prison was built on the site of a former RAF training centre and most of the buildings date from that period, with the exception of the prisoner accommodation. If you’d like to find out how to get to HMP Kirkham, please refer to the map on this page.

Tel: 01772 675 400

Operational capacity: 630

Freckleton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR4 2RN

Prison Phone have been saving inmates at HMP Kirkham money on their calls from the prison to any UK mobile phone since 2013.

We do this by allocating a dedicated and secure local number to your mobile phone, this means when the inmate at Kirkham prison calls the new local number we have provided they will be charged at just the local landline rate (around 10p per minute) rather than the standard mobile rate (which is around 40p per minute).

This in turn helps to stretch the inmates PINS phone credit further and reduces the amount you need to send in for them to top up!

Send me Kirkham prison details via FREE SMS

Mobile number:

Here’s some facts about Kirkham Prison

HMP Kirkham is a category D prison in Kirkham, Lancashire. Opened in 1962, the prison has capacity for 657 men.

There are 24 small residential units, providing living accommodation, 13 were 20- and 22-person units and two were 40-bed units with integral sanitation. There is also a 77-bed admissions unit, which had been developed as a reception and first night centre.

Before its opening in 1962, the site was used as an RAF technical training center. The Home Office took over the site in the early 1960s to convert it to hold male prisoners. Additional accommodation units were added in the 1990s, but some parts of the prison date back to the 1940s.

George Reynolds, former owner of Darlington FC, spent part of a three year sentence for tax evasion here after £500,000 cash was found in the boot of his car. After 14 months, in December 2006, he was released on curfew, but was recaptured in April 2007 for breaking the terms of his curfew, and held for two weeks.

To view the latest HMIP inspection report, click here .

Visiting hours are 13:00 – 15:30 Fri-Sun.

The prison has had more inmates absconding than any other establishment in the UK.

HMP Kirkham, along with HMP Morton Hall, was the first prison to trial intermittent prison sentences. These sentences allowed inmates to serve their sentences on a part-time basis. The scheme was dropped just two years later.

Prison Phone offers phone tariffs that reduce the costs of calls from this prison by up to 75%! This enables prisoners to get the support and love that they are missing from home, while reducing costs for the inmate. Find out more below.

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

21 April 1926 to 8 September 2022

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• / HMP Kirkham - an impressive resettlement prison

HMP Kirkham - an impressive resettlement prison

HMP Kirkham was a very effective prison which successfully addressed the complex needs of some prisoners, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons. Today he published the report of an unannounced inspection of the Lancashire open prison.

HMP Kirkham holds up to 630 men, nearly a quarter of whom are either life sentence prisoners or subject to indeterminate sentences for public protection. Previous inspections have found Kirkham to be an impressive institution with a balanced approach to risk management and an appropriate focus on resettlement. This inspection found that progress had been sustained.

Inspectors were pleased to find that:

• Kirkham was a safe prison with a mature population profile, with about 70% of prisoners over the age of 30;
• risk was managed with proportionality and confidence;
• there were few incidents of violence or self-harm;
• the prison delivered some good drug intervention work;
• the general environment was well maintained;
• there was some good support for older prisoners and those with disabilities and care needs;
• prisoners had excellent access to facilities and services, with purposeful activity available to all;
• provision in work, vocational training and education was well planned and had a focus on employability; and
• resettlement outcomes in the prison were reasonably good although there remained some gaps in fully addressing offending behaviour.

However, inspectors were concerned to find that:

• use of illicit drugs was higher than usually seen in open prisons;
• the number of prisoners subject to segregation had increased significantly and the facility was bleak; and
• although relationships between prisoners and staff were respectful, over a quarter of prisoners said they felt victimised by staff, which needed more investigation by managers.

Nick Hardwick said:

“Kirkham is a very effective and impressive prison. Across the range of our healthy prison tests we found outcomes to be reasonably good or better, and the prison was successfully addressing some complex needs. Although some structures required attention, staff and managers exhibited a confidence, competence and sense of purpose that was equipping prisoners well through their transition from imprisonment to resettlement.”

Michael Spurr, Chief Executive Officer of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), said:

“I am pleased the Chief Inspector has recognised HMP Kirkham as a very effective prison addressing the needs of complex prisoners and maintaining its focus on providing resettlement opportunities – this is a credit to the hard work of the Governor and his staff.

“The prison will continue to build on the progress they have made and look to address any areas of concern raised in the report.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Read the report

2. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.

3. This unannounced inspection was carried out from 4-8 November 2013.

4. HMP Kirkham is a category D open prison holding adult male convicted prisoners.

5. Please contact Jane Parsons at HMI Prisons press office on 020 3681 2775 or 07880 787452 if you would like more information or to request an interview.

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HM Prison Kirkham

Table of Contents

HMP Kirkham is a fascinating example of an open Category D men’s prison located in Lancashire, England. With origins as an RAF base, Kirkham has a rich history of training and rehabilitating its residents. Today, Kirkham focuses on education and work programs to help prisoners positively contribute to society after release. However, the open prison environment has also resulted in challenges with absconding and drugs over the years. The keys to Kirkham’s future will be balancing its open approach with measures to ensure effective monitoring and rehabilitation.

History and Origins

The land that Kirkham Prison currently occupies has served multiple important purposes over the last century. Initially built up in 1939 as RAF Kirkham , the base trained over 70,000 British and Allied service members during World War 2. RAF Kirkham had extensive infrastructure including hangers, a cinema, and hospital on its large 220 acre site. After the war, the base transitioned to training RAF recruits until its closure in 1957.

RAF Kirkham

In the early 1960s, part of the vacant RAF base was taken over by the Home Office to be converted into the open HMP Kirkham . Today, many of the buildings and facilities still in use were constructed during the RAF era over 60 years ago. The prison officially opened in 1962, utilizing much of the existing infrastructure to house its open prison environment.

Facilities and Operations

As an open prison, Kirkham has a very different environment compared to a traditional closed prison. The prisoner accommodation consists predominantly of dormitory and single room billets where inmates have keys to their own rooms. There are currently facilities to house over 600 prisoners.

Prisoner Accommodations

Inmates are trusted with much more autonomy in this lower security facility. Each dormitory has its own telephone and prisoners have access to television in their rooms. Some of the billets also have en-suite toilet and shower amenities. There are even specialized facilities adapted for wheelchair accessibility.

Education and Work Programs

A key focus at Kirkham is providing education and employment opportunities to inmates. Prisoners can take morning or afternoon classes provided by The Manchester College to gain new skills and qualifications. Inmates also work a variety of jobs helping run the prison’s kitchens, workshops, farms, gardens and works departments. The goal is to help prisoners positively contribute during their sentence and prepare for success post-release.

Security Classification

As a Category D prison, Kirkham houses inmates that can be “reasonably trusted” to serve their sentence in an open environment. However, the relaxed setting has resulted in security issues at various points in its history.

Notable Events and Controversies

For an open prison, Kirkham has dealt with a number of challenging events over the years. Its inmate population and relaxed security standards have led to ongoing incidents.

High Abscond Rates

Absconding has been an ongoing issue, with nearly 1,000 escapees between 1998 to 2003. The ease of slipping away from an open prison has provided temptation for prisoners seeking to briefly escape confinement.

Drug Abuse Issues

With more freedom and outside access, the smuggling of illegal substances into Kirkham has also been a problem. In 2004, Kirkham was found to have the highest rates of inmate drug use in the English prison system.

Intermittent Custody Scheme

In an attempt to allow prisoners to maintain jobs and housing, an intermittent custody program was tested in 2004-2006. Inmates would be held on weekends or weekdays and released for the alternate period. However, this program was discontinued after only two years.

Notable Inmates

Despite the challenges, Kirkham has also housed a number of prominent prisoners over the years. The open environment has been viewed as ideal for housing white collar and non-violent offenders.

High Profile Former Prisoners

Some of the most famous former inmates held at Kirkham include businessman George Reynolds, musician Ian Brown, and footballers Simon Garner and Jan Mølby.

Recent Developments

While struggles with drugs and absconding have continued, Kirkham has also had some positive developments in recent years.

50th Anniversary

In 2012, Kirkham celebrated its 50th anniversary as a prison. This important milestone honored Kirkham’s history and rehabilitation programs.

HMP Kirkham provides an intriguing case study of the opportunities and pitfalls faced when running an open Category D prison. The relaxed inmate freedom and facilities focused on rehabilitation and skills training align with goals of successfully reintegrating prisoners into society. However, the open environment has also repeatedly contributed to absconding and drug-related incidents over its history. As Kirkham moves beyond its 50th anniversary, the keys will be finding the right balance of freedom and accountability. Harnessing the benefits of its open approach while enforcing critical boundaries and restrictions will determine the prison’s future success.

Q1: When was HMP Kirkham first opened?

A1: HMP Kirkham first opened in 1962 after the closure of RAF Kirkham which previously occupied the site.

Q2: What security category is Kirkham classified as?

A2: Kirkham is a Category D open prison intended to house inmates that can be reasonably trusted.

Q3: What education and work opportunities exist at Kirkham?

A3: Inmates can take classes through The Manchester College and work jobs maintaining the prison’s facilities and operations.

Q4: What have been some of the biggest challenges Kirkham has faced as an open prison?

A4: High rates of inmates absconding and issues with smuggling of drugs have been two of the major ongoing challenges.

Q5: What notable people have been prisoners at Kirkham over the years? A5: Kirkham has housed famous inmates including businessman George Reynolds and singer Ian Brown.

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Prisons · Lancashire

Overcrowding.

Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA): 699

Population: 685

Kirkham is a category D training prison occupying the site of a former RAF technical training centre. The site has been used as a prison since 1962.

You can read Kirkham’s latest inspection report here.

About this information

Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA) is the prison service’s own measure of how many prisoners can be held in decent and safe accommodation. Any occupancy above CNA means that the prison in question is overcrowded.

Prisons in England and Wales fall into four separate security categories. Some prisons can operate under more than one category.

Category A: Category A prisons are high security prisons, holding those individuals considered the most threatening to the public should they escape. Category A prisons should not be overcrowded, given the high levels of security required.

Category B: Category B prisons, or local prisons, are the largest category of prison. They tend to hold un-sentenced prisoners, prisoners on remand awaiting trial, short-sentenced prisoners or those newly sentenced and awaiting transfer to another prison category. Category B prisons tend to be the most overcrowded, with a constantly churning population.

Category C: Category C prisons are sometimes called ‘training prisons’. They are meant to offer education and training to prisoners and the vast majority of prisoners on longer sentences will spend time in Category C accommodation. Historically not overcrowded, we now see more and more Category C prisons running overcrowded regimes.

Category D: Category D prisons offer open conditions and house those who can be reasonably trusted not to try to escape. Prisoners in Category D prisons will be given Release On Temporary Licence (ROTL) to work in the community or go on home leave, usually returning to the prison in the early evening. The majority of Category D prisoners will be towards the end of their sentence, and their period in open conditions is preparing them for their eventual release. Category D prisons tend not to be overcrowded.

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Librarians fear new penalties, even prison, as activists challenge books

Tom Bober, librarian and President of the Missouri Association of School Librarians, poses for a photo Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Clayton, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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When an illustrated edition of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was released in 2019, educators in Clayton, Missouri needed little debate before deciding to keep copies in high school libraries. The book is widely regarded as a classic work of dystopian literature about the oppression of women, and a graphic novel would help it reach teens who struggle with words alone.

But after Missouri legislators passed a law in 2022 subjecting librarians to fines and possible imprisonment for allowing sexually explicit materials on bookshelves, the suburban St. Louis district reconsidered the new Atwood edition, and withdrew it.

“There’s a depiction of a rape scene, a handmaid being forced into a sexual act,” says Tom Bober, Clayton district’s library coordinator and president of the Missouri Association of School Librarians. “It’s literally one panel of the graphic novel, but we felt it was in violation of the law in Missouri.”

Across the country, book challenges and bans have soared to the highest levels in decades. Public and school-based libraries have been inundated with complaints from community members and conservative organizations such as as Moms for Liberty. Increasingly, lawmakers are considering new punishments — crippling lawsuits, hefty fines, and even imprisonment — for distributing books some regard as inappropriate.

The trend comes as officials seek to define terms such as “obscene” and “harmful.” Many of the conflicts involve materials featuring racial and/or LGBTQ+ themes, such as Toni Morrison’s novel, “The Bluest Eye,” and Maia Kobabe’s memoir, “Gender Queer.” And while no librarian or educator has been jailed, the threat alone has led to more self-censorship.

Already this year, lawmakers in more than 15 states have introduced bills to impose harsh penalties on libraries or librarians.

Utah enacted legislation in March that empowers the state’s Attorney General to enforce a new system of challenging and removing “sensitive” books from school settings. The law also creates a panel to monitor compliance and violations.

Awaiting Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s signature is a bill that empowers local prosecutors to bring charges against public and school libraries if they don’t move “harmful” materials away from children.

“The laws are designed to limit or remove legal protections that libraries have had for decades,” says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Since the early 1960s, institutions including schools, libraries and museums — as well as educators, librarians and other staffers who distribute materials to children — have largely been exempt from expensive lawsuits or potential criminal charges.

These protections began showing up in states as America grappled with standards surrounding obscenity, which was defined by the Supreme Court in 1973.

Ruling 5-4 in Miller v. California, the justices said obscene materials are not automatically protected by the First Amendment, and offered three criteria that must be met for being labeled obscene: whether the work, taken as a whole, appeals to “prurient interest,” whether “the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law,” and whether the work lacks “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

Eventually, almost every state adopted protections for educators, librarians and museum officials, among others who provide information to minors.

“Until recently, police and prosecutors were unable to pursue charges against public libraries over materials that make certain individuals uncomfortable. These exemptions have prevented spurious prosecutions of teachers over health and sexuality curriculum, art, theater, and difficult subjects in English classes,” stated a 2023 report from EveryLibrary, a national political action committee that opposes censorship.

Arkansas and Indiana targeted educators and librarians with criminalization laws last year. Tennessee criminalized publishers that provide “obscene” materials to public schools.

Some Republicans are seeking penalties and restrictions that would apply nationwide. Referring to “pornography” in the foreword to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for a possible second Donald Trump administration, the right-wing group’s president, Kevin Roberts, wrote that the “people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders.”

Arkansas’ version was temporarily blocked by a federal judge after a coalition of librarians and publishers challenged the legality of subjecting librarians and booksellers to criminal charges if they provide “harmful” materials to minors.

Indiana lawmakers stripped away “educational purposes” as a defense for school librarians and educators charged with giving minors “obscene” or “harmful” material — felonies punishable by up to 2½ years in jail and $10,000 in fines. The law also requires public catalogs of what’s in each school library and systems for responding to complaints.

Indiana’s law took effect January 1. It’s likely a matter of when — not if — a lawsuit is filed, and the anxiety has created a chilling effect.

“It’s putting fear into some people. It’s very scary,” said Diane Rogers, a school librarian who serves as president of the Indiana Library Federation. “If you’re a licensed teacher just being charged with a felony potentially gets rid of your license even if you’re found innocent. That’s a very serious thing.”

Rogers said she’s confident Indiana’s school libraries don’t offer obscene materials, but she’s seen reports that some districts have moved certain titles to higher age groups or required parental approval to check them out.

A PEN America list shows 300 titles were removed from school libraries across 11 Missouri districts after lawmakers in 2022 banned “sexually explicit” material, punishable by up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and library groups challenged the law last year, but it remains in effect pending a motion for the state to intervene.

“Gender Queer” is another title no longer available to high schoolers in Clayton, where district officials recently turned their attention to Mike Curato’s graphic novel, “Flamer,” about a teenager who struggles with his sexual identity and how to fit in at Boy Scout camp. The American Library Association included “Flamer” on its list of 2023’s most challenged and/or banned books .

“We had a lot of conversations about how to interpret the law and not be in violation,” Bober said. “But we also didn’t want to overreach and overcensor our collections. With ‘Flamer,’ we did not feel we were in violation of the law.”

HMIP Inspections of Kirkham

The prison was given an inspection in the summer of 2018, the full report can be read at the Ministry of Justice web site, just follow the links below. In their latest report the inspectors said:

HMP Kirkham is an open prison in the North West of England that holds up to 657 adult male prisoners, although at the time of inspection 589 men were held. They represented a broad spectrum of ages and the full range of sentences, but over 70% were serving more than four years. Nearly 90 prisoners were serving more than 10 years or life. The prison’s primary function was to resettle men, most of whom were nearing the end of their time in custody. We last inspected Kirkham in 2013, when we found a successful prison that was delivering outcomes that were reasonably good or better across all four of our healthy prison tests. At this inspection we are pleased to report that our findings were very similar.

Prisoners were received into the prison and inducted well, and most told us in our survey that they felt safe. There was little violence or bullying among prisoners and the use of force was rare. Work to create a motivational and incentivising culture within the prison was ongoing, although some of this work was developmental and needed to be refined. Prisoners were always segregated as a prelude to their prospective return to closed conditions but we were unclear as to whether segregation in a secure cell was always needed. Security arrangements were proportionate and the rate of abscond and breaches of release on temporary licence (ROTL), although high in the previous year, appeared to be reducing.

In our survey, too many prisoners told us they felt victimised by staff and many had very negative perceptions about the attitude of some staff. Significantly fewer prisoners than at the time of our previous inspection, and when compared to those at other open prisons, felt respected by staff. There was sufficient evidence, in our view, to suggest the prisoners may have had a point, and that the approach of some, certainly too many, staff was unsupportive of the ethos to which the prison aspired. Addressing this shortcoming in the quality of staff-prisoner relationships was the key priority to emerge from this inspection.

The grounds of the prison were excellent and residential accommodation was maintained reasonably well despite signs of wear and tear. The food provided was popular with most prisoners. Monthly consultation meetings with prisoners were well attended and useful but despite an efficient complaints system, prisoners were not confident in using it for fear of being seen as problematic and of being returned to closed conditions. We found no evidence to support these views, although the prison should take them seriously and address the issue as part of its drive to improve relationships and prisoner confidence. We found little evidence of discriminatory behaviour but work to actively promote equality was variable and often quite limited. Health services were generally good.

Kirkham being an open prison meant that prisoners were never locked in their rooms. The provision of learning and skills remained reasonably good and there were sufficient activity places for the whole population, including a useful range of placements accessed on ROTL Teaching, learning and learner achievements were all good although there were weaknesses in the recording of skills acquisition and in embedding the development of functional skills in English and maths in vocational and work placements. Links to local employers and employment opportunities were good. Our colleagues in Ofsted assessed the overall provision at Kirkham to be ‘good’.

Outcomes in the prisons core function of resettlement we judged to be reasonably good overall , although more needed to be done to ensure greater continuity, consistency and coherence in the work. Little strategy was evident , for example, and despite there being a substantial proportion of prisoners considered high risk , there had been no recent needs analysis. Notwithstanding, many prisoners were taking advantage of the opportunities presented by ROTL. Levels of contact between prisoners and their offender supervisors were reasonable, if inconsistent, and the focus on risk management was similarly reasonable overall. Public protection arrangements were prioritised and resettlement planning prior to release was good.

To conclude, Kirkham continues to be an effective open resettlement prison. Good outcomes were evident and this was reflected in a good report. A cautionary note would be that the prison needed to guard against complacency. Offender management provision required some new and joined -up thinking and, in our view, staff needed to ensure they were fully committed to the prisons values and purpose.

Peter Clarke CVO OBE QPM HM Chief Inspector of Prisons August 2018

Return to Kirkham

To read the full reports, go to the Ministry of Justice site or follow the links below:

• HMP Kirkham ( 1.08 MB ) , Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Kirkham (25 June–5 July 2018)
• HMP Kirkham , Unannounced inspection of HMP Kirkham (28 October – 8 November 2013)
• HMP Kirkham , Announced inspection of HMP Kirkham (30 November-4 December 2009)
• HMP Kirkham , Unannouced short follow-up inspection of HMP Kirkham (8-10 October 2007)

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