Menzies raises Kirkham Prison concerns with Minister

Fylde MP Mark Menzies has raised concerns over Kirkham Prison with the Secretary of State for Justice.
Kirkham PrisonKirkham Prison
Kirkham Prison

Mr Menzies discussed the facility with Robert Buckland, following the recent publication of the HMP Kirkham Independent Monitoring Board Annual Report which highlighted several areas of concern at the open prison.

After speaking with Mr Buckland through the Zoom conferencing facility, Mr Menzies said: “It was only right I spoke to the Secretary of State for Justice as this report highlights wider issues across the judicial system.

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“I wanted him to know I will not let these failings put any of my constituents, or the staff at Kirkham Prison, at risk.

“There were too many absconds from the prison, with the main issue appearing to be unsuitable prisoners being transferred to the facility.

“There are many dedicated prison staff working at Kirkham and these failings elsewhere in the system are making their jobs much more difficult as a result.”

The report revealed three serious incidents at the prison in the past 12 months which required the opening of the command suite and the attendance of the board. The incidents were put down to the ‘volatile’ mix of prisoners in the facility.

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The report also highlighted some 36 absconds in the year, double the 18 of the previous 12 months. The reason given was the unsuitability of many of the prisoners arriving at Kirkham.

The availability and use of drugs was also reported to have escalated in the past 12 months, which the report states is down to unsuitable prisoners being allowed to go out on community placements and not enough checks being made when they return.

Mr Menzies added: “I am now in the process of having follow-up conversations with members of the Department of Justice team about how these matters can be tackled.

“There are clearly issues with unsuitable prisoners being sent to a Category D open prison environment.

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“These prisoners must be better screened before being allowed to prisons like Kirkham, which often prepare those incarcerated for life after their release.

“I will continue pressing the matter with the DoJ and I look forward to their assurances steps have been taken to better screen prisoners before they are moved to an open prison environment.”