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HMP Kirkham: boredom and lack of activity contributing to highest drug use in the open estate

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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. Although there was a good range of work in the jail and men could work in the market garden or look after the cattle and pigs, swathes of the extensive grounds were not in use, and there were limited other enrichment activities available. Men lived in aging billets, some with black mould on the walls and ceilings, and were overwhelmingly negative about their experiences with prison staff, describing them as rude and uncaring.

Kirkham had been severely impacted by the various strategies to alleviate population pressures across the prison estate. In 2023, it had received a large influx of around 400 category C prisoners, more than the number for all other open men’s prisons combined. These men were not always prepared for open conditions and did not qualify for ROTL. There was poor preparation for the release of higher risk prisoners, and dysfunctionality between different departments in the jail meant that bureaucratic processes were slowing prisoners’ progression.

The new, acting governor had only been in post for a few weeks when we inspected Kirkham, but she already had a good grasp of the many challenges faced by the jail and was beginning to address some of the longstanding issues. The prison service should give this troubled prison some space to reset, address the cultural problems among staff, reduce the demand for drugs and provide many more opportunities for work and family ROTL.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor

Notes to editors

  1. This inspection took place between 9–19 September 2024.
  2. A copy of the full report, published on 10 December 2024, can be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/ 
  3. 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.
  4. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.