Thorn Cross Prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-30)

Thorn Cross is a men’s open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Warrington, Cheshire.

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Book and plan your visit to Thorn Cross

To visit someone in Thorn Cross you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit 3 to 4 days in advance
- have the required ID (#entering-thorn-cross) with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

Prisoners can have one visit a week or more if there is availability.

Contact Thorn Cross (#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 Thorn Cross
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits

Visiting times:
- Friday, 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday, 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Sunday, 9:45am to 11.45am and 1:45pm to 3:45pm
To book a visit please call the booking line: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Visits can be booked between:
- Monday to Friday, 8:30am to midday.
How to book official visits

To book an official visit, call: xx-xxxx-xxxx

The booking line operates Monday to Friday, 8:30am to midday Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Official face to face visit times:
- Friday, 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Sat, 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Sun, 9:45am to 11:45am, 1:45 to 3:45pm
Getting to Thorn Cross

Find Thorn Cross on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.5791999,13z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7540321c2eeb2e9!8m2!3d53.3492364!4d-2.5421547?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

Thorn Cross is about 5 miles from Warrington Central and Warrington Bank Quay railway stations. From the stations, use buses going to Appleton Thorn or take a taxi.

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/)
There is a visitors car park opposite the prison, including space for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Thorn Cross

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 need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Visitors should dress sensibly. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like vests, low-cut tops, high-cut shorts or dresses.

No money can be taken into the visiting area.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Thorn Cross. 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

There is a visitors centre run by the Partners of Prisoners (POPS) (http://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk/hmp-thorn-cross/) charity.

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

Family days

Thorn Cross holds family days which are longer and more relaxed than normal visits.

Prisoners can apply for them.

Keep in touch with someone at Thorn Cross

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Thorn Cross.

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

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.

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

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their cells 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 Thorn Cross using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

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 Thorn Cross (#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

Approved items such as clothing and books can be sent in by family during the first 28 days of prisoners coming to Thorn Cross. One clothing parcel per year can be sent in by families.

After that, they can receive one parcel a month. Prisoners can also buy their own goods using the catalogue system.

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, 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 Thorn Cross

Thorn Cross 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 Thorn Cross 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 a prisoners first arrives at Thorn Cross, they will be shown their cell and then 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 who arrives at Thorn Cross 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 400 prisoners live at Thorn Cross in a mixture of single and double cells.

Prisoners have access to small kitchens, a full gymnasium, sports hall, library and chapel.

Education and work

Prisoners at Thorn Cross can study or take workshops and training courses in a range of subjects, including construction trades, recycling, horticulture, hospitality, catering and rail construction.

Thorn Cross has a number of partnerships with local and national employers, including Timpsons and Max Speilmann, which offer work placements before and after release.

Temporary release

All prisoners at Thorn Cross are eligible for release on temporary licence (ROTL).

It is important to keep close contact with family for good rehabilitation. It also helps prisoners, who go out to work on day release, enter back into the community.

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).

Support at Thorn Cross

There is help and support for all families and friends of someone in prison provided by the charity, Partners of Prisoners (POPS) (http://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk/hmp-thorn-cross/).

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 Thorn Cross (#contacts).

Contact Thorn Cross

Governor: Robert Durgan

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm Weekends, 7am to 5pm The gate lodge picks up at any other times Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Fax: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Address

HMP/YOI Thorn CrossArley RoadAppleton ThornWarringtonCheshireWA4 4RL

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.5791999,13z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7540321c2eeb2e9!8m2!3d53.3492364!4d-2.5421547?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-minute survey (https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/thorncross/).