Everything You Need To Know About HMP Garth

HMP Garth is a Category B men’s prison located in Leyland, Lancashire. Opened in 1988, it is a modern prison compared to many in the UK, with a design intended to hold long-term prisoners in secure but purposeful conditions. With a capacity of over 800 inmates, HMP Garth houses some of the country’s more serious offenders who are serving lengthy sentences.

The prison is known for its focus on rehabilitation, education, and vocational training, but like many UK facilities, it has faced challenges with safety, staffing, and drug misuse.

History of HMP Garth

HMP Garth opened in 1988 as part of the UK government’s prison expansion programme in the late 20th century. Built with a modern layout, it was designed to be more efficient and secure than older Victorian prisons such as HMP Leeds or HMP Pentonville.

Initially, the prison focused on providing safe containment for long-term prisoners while also offering education and skill-building opportunities. Over the years, it has expanded its facilities and is now recognised as one of the larger Category B prisons in the North West.

Prison Category and Population

HMP Garth is a Category B training prison, holding adult men who require secure custody but are not considered the highest escape risk.
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- Population: Around 800 prisoners.
- Demographics: Primarily men serving long sentences for serious offences.

The population at Garth tends to be stable, with many inmates serving extended terms. This allows for long-term rehabilitation and structured routines.

Facilities and Structure

The prison is divided into multiple residential wings, including newer accommodation blocks added in the 1990s. Prisoners are generally held in single cells, though some shared accommodation is used.

Facilities include:
- Education centre providing courses in basic literacy, numeracy, IT, and vocational skills.
- Workshops, including production industries and trades.
- Healthcare services, with a focus on long-term physical and mental health needs.
- Recreational facilities, including gym access and exercise yards.
- Chaplaincy services, supporting multiple faiths.

The emphasis at Garth is on training and purposeful activity, ensuring that prisoners engage in work or education throughout the day.

Education and Rehabilitation

HMP Garth runs a variety of rehabilitation programmes tailored for men serving long sentences. These include:
- Accredited offending behaviour programmes, such as violence reduction and anger management.
- Drug and alcohol treatment to help tackle substance misuse.
- Vocational training, giving prisoners qualifications in trades such as plumbing, carpentry, and catering.
- Partnership work with charities and external organisations to support resettlement.

The prison’s role as a training facility means rehabilitation and personal development are central to its regime.

Visiting HMP Garth

Booking a Visit
Visits must be booked in advance using the GOV.UK prison visits booking system or by phone. Families will need the prisoner’s details, including number and date of birth.

Visiting Times
Visits usually take place several times per week, including weekends. However, times are subject to change depending on staff availability and prisoner schedules.

What to Expect
Visitors must bring valid photo identification and pass through security checks. Restrictions on items are strict, with lockers provided for belongings that cannot be taken inside.
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The visiting hall includes seating, refreshments, and limited facilities for children. Visits are considered a key part of rehabilitation, helping prisoners maintain crucial family connections.

Phone Calls from HMP Garth

Prisoners at Garth can make outgoing calls only, to pre-approved numbers. Calls are monitored and recorded for security, except those made to legal representatives.

Like elsewhere in the prison system, calls to mobiles are more expensive than calls to landlines. To save money, families can use services like Prison Call, which provide a virtual landline that connects to a mobile. This allows prisoners to pay the cheaper landline rate while families answer on their mobiles, keeping communication affordable.

Challenges at HMP Garth

While Garth is a relatively modern prison, it still faces many of the challenges seen across the UK prison system:
- Violence and safety concerns, with inspection reports highlighting incidents of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults.
- Drug misuse, particularly the presence of synthetic substances.
- Staff shortages, impacting access to education and work opportunities.
- Overcrowding pressures, with the population often close to capacity.

These issues underline the ongoing struggles within the prison estate, though Garth continues to be recognised for its efforts in providing purposeful activity.

Things to Know About HMP Garth

- Opened in 1988 as part of a prison expansion programme.
- Classified as a Category B training prison.
- Houses around 800 men, many serving long sentences.
- Focuses on rehabilitation, training, and education.
- Located in Leyland, Lancashire, serving the North West region.

HMP Garth is a modern Category B men’s prison designed to hold long-term prisoners in secure conditions while providing opportunities for rehabilitation. Since opening in 1988, it has become a key part of the prison estate in the North West.

Though challenges remain — particularly with safety and staffing — the prison continues to focus on education, skills, and rehabilitation programmes. For families, understanding the visiting process and the cost of calls is essential. Services like Prison Call make staying connected easier and more affordable, ensuring loved ones can maintain vital contact throughout their sentence.