Garth Prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-21)

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 (#entering-garth) 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 (#contacts) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits), including:
- travel to Garth
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits

To arrange a visit you can:
- book your visit online (https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits)
- book by telephone, xx-xxxx-xxxx
- request by email to, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 12:30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/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 official visits

To book official visits, you can:
- email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- phone xx-xxxx-xxxx
Official video visits, and official face to face visiting times are:
- Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday, 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
Getting to Garth

Find Garth on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.7561596,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x86704666b84b5a48!8m2!3d53.6796006!4d-2.7561596?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

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:
- use National Rail Enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)
- use Traveline for local bus times (https://www.traveline.info/)
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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/management-of-security-at-visits-policy-framework-open-estate/acceptable-forms-of-identification-id-when-visiting-a-prison-in-england-and-wales-annex-a).

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
- hoodies and hoodie-style clothing
Before you go in, you will need to remove:
- hats
- scarves
- sunglasses
- gloves
- large belt buckles
- metal hair clips
- excessive jewellery
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) (http://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk/hmp-garth/).

The centre is open on visiting days from 11:30am to 4:30pm.

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/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: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

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 (https://prisonvideo.com/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.

Read more about how it works (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call)

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 (https://prisonvoicemail.com/).

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Garth using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

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 (#contacts).

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.

National Prison Radio’s Family and Friends request show

National Prison Radio broadcasts into prison cells across England and Wales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Family and friends can stay connected with their loved ones in prison by sending song requests, written messages and voice recordings. They are then read and played out on weekly episodes.

You can send in a message, and hear the show, at nationalprisonradio.com (https://prison.radio/national-prison-radio/#songrequest)

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison (https://www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money).

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 (https://send-money-to-prisoner.service.gov.uk/help/apply-for-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, Prison education and library services, Annex A (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-education-and-library-services-for-adult-prisons-in-england/annex-a-sending-and-handing-in-of-books-to-prisoners).

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 (https://www.prisonersfamilies.org/pages/category/need-urgent-help?Take=24).

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 (https://www.novus.ac.uk/). 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 (delivery/logistics)
- neurodiversity upholstery workshop
- furniture up cycling
- light fittings and gate alarm assembly
- industrial cleaning
- L.M Barry &Co. (textile recycling)
- Industries: assembly/packing
- construction joinery manufacturing
- Industries land based activities (Gardens)
- waste management
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 (https://www.gov.uk/support-for-families-friends-of-prisoners).

To contact our head of family provision at HMP Garth: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Support at Garth

Partners of Prisoners (POPs) (http://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk) 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: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call xx-xxxx-xxxx if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Garth (#contacts).

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Garth (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/garth-prison-action-plan) in response to independent inspections.

Contact Garth

Governor: Andy Lund

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Fax: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Follow Garth on Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/hmpgarth)

Address

HMP GarthUlnes WaltonLeylandPrestonPR26 8NE

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.7561596,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x86704666b84b5a48!8m2!3d53.6796006!4d-2.7561596?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minutes survey. (https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/hmpgarth/)