Lancaster Farms Prison

Book and plan your visit to Lancaster Farms

To visit someone in Lancaster Farms you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a person can have. You can check this with Lancaster Farms.

Contact Lancaster Farms 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, including:

• travel to Lancaster Farms
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Lancaster Farms is running a limited visits schedule. Visits are also happening differently than normal, observing strict guidelines, which must be followed.

You can book your visit by telephone. There is no online booking service available.

Booking line: 01524 563 636
Monday to Friday, 9am to midday
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Email (enquiries only): lancasterfarmsdomesticvisitsbooking@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Visiting times:

• Tuesday and Wednesday: 2pm to 3pm and 3.30pm to 4.30pm
• Sunday: 1:45pm to 2:45pm and 3:15 to 4:15pm

How to book legal and professional visits

Email LegvisLancasterFarms@justice.gov.uk to book your visit.

The mailbox is monitored Monday to Friday 9am to midday.

Visiting times:

• Tuesday and Wednesday: 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Visiting facilities

There will be no refreshments available during your visit children’s play area will be closed.

Entering Lancaster Farms

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.

This prison has a family-friendly dress code which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items such as low-cut tops, see-through or revealing clothing, or ripped jeans. Additionally, you cannot wear football shirts, uniforms or anything with offensive patterns or slogans. Ask in the visitors centre if you have questions about the dress code.

Keep in touch with someone at Lancaster Farms

There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Lancaster Farms.

Secure video calls

Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends need to download the purple visits app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their rooms 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.

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 Lancaster Farms using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Lancaster Farms.

Letters

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Lancaster Farms.

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

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.

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 - 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

People in Lancaster Farms are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Lancaster Farms for more information on what’s allowed.

Family and friends 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 the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Lancaster Farms

Lancaster Farms is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Lancaster Farms 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.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by the Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Lancaster Farms, 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 get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Lancaster Farms 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 500 men live at Lancaster Farms. There are 4 units with a mixture of single and double rooms. There is also a first night care centre for new arrivals.

Education and work

Prisoners can take workshops in a variety of work-related subjects including:

• painting and decorating
• construction
• bricklaying
• joinery
• hospitality and catering
• car mechanics
• waste management

They have access to classroom learning and higher education in subjects such as:

• arts and media
• business
• IT
• sports

Lancaster Farms also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programmes.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Lancaster Farms.

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Lancaster Farms in response to independent inspections.

Contact Lancaster Farms

Governor: Peter Francis

Telephone: 01524 563 450
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Address

See map

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Lancaster Farms, call the safer custody (at risk) hotline.

Telephone: 01524 563 518
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