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A prison near Preston was found to have one of the highest cannabis use rates in the country in a damning inspection.
Inspectors said they regularly encountered strong smells of the drug during a visit to HMP Kirkham. Meanwhile, other problems included a £10m gym being barely used, while other areas of the open prison were full of mould and damp.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons has now published its report of the inspection, issuing 11 ‘key concerns’ which require immediate action from leaders.
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Among those, the Freckleton Road prison was found to be badly failing at administering the release on temporary licence (ROTL) scheme. ROTL is seen as a vital way to integrate prisoners back into open society and help set them up for a future that doesn’t involve a return to crime.
Inspectors found that a lack of ROTL opportunities for eligible prisoners meant they were denied key incentives of accessing work opportunities or seeing family, along with ways of getting into good habits, earning money and transitioning back into the community.
The proportion accessing ROTL was “far lower” than in other jails, contributed to by waits of at least four months for approval.
One factor which did influence this was the number of prisoners who were moved to Kirkham to free up space elsewhere. In 2023, it had received an influx of around 400 category C prisoners, more than the number for all other open men’s prisons combined.
According to the inspection report, 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.
Meanwhile, it was also found that a newly built £10m gym was badly underused, with low attendance and sessions frequently cancelled. It was only being used to provide one qualification, while the outdoor football pitch had even less use. Inside the main building were broken showers, mouldy walls and ceilings, and little on offer to occupy inmates during the 12 hours a day outside their cells.
Despite all the problems which were uncovered during the visit, there remained cause for optimism that change could be coming.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: “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.”
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