HMP Kirkham
Inspection report - Kirkham (PDF, 1.9 MB)
Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Kirkham by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (9–19 September 2024)
Kirkham healthy prison scores
What we found
Far too few prisoners at HMP Kirkham, an open prison in Lancashire, were able to get the opportunity to work, and men said they were frustrated and bored, with little to fill their time. Many were using drugs, with the positive mandatory drug test rate the highest in the open estate at 25% and inspectors frequently smelt cannabis as they walked around the jail.
The lack of temporary release (ROTL) opportunities for eligible prisoners, either for work or family contact, meant they were denied a key incentive to behave well, get into good habits, earn some money, and transition smoothly back into the community. It was taking at least four months for most prisoners to be approved for ROTL, with the proportion accessing it far lower than in other jails.
The brand new, £10 million gym was rarely full, with sessions frequently cancelled, and the outdoor football pitch was virtually unused. These were wasted opportunities to help prisoners stay fit and off drugs.
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