Guidance

Haverigg Prison

Haverigg is a men’s open prison near Millom in Cumbria.

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Book and plan your visit to Haverigg

To visit someone in Haverigg you must:

  • be on that person’s visitor list
  • book your visit at least 3 days advance
  • have the required ID with you when you go

Up to 3 adults over the age of 18 can visit at a time, plus 3 children under 18.

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

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Haverigg.

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 Haverigg
  • somewhere to stay overnight
  • meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 01229 713 016
Monday to Friday, 1pm to 4pm
Find out about call charges

Let Haverigg know when you book your visit if any visitor requires wheelchair access or needs to take medicine into the visiting hall.

Visiting times:

  • Every other Friday: 10:30am to 4pm
  • Saturday: 10:30am to 4pm
  • Sunday: 10:30am to 4pm

You can book your Legal visit by telephone, for either a virtual visit or an in person visit.

Visiting times:

  • Friday: 1:30pm to 4:15pm

Booking line: 01229 713 016
Monday to Friday, 1pm to 4pm
Find out about call charges

Getting to Haverigg

Find Haverigg on a map

The closest railway station is Millom, which is about 3 miles from Haverigg. There are no local buses but there are taxis available.

Use National Rail enquiries to plan your journey by public transport.

There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Haverigg

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.

All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Haverigg has a family-friendly dress code policy which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like low-cut tops, see-through clothing or shorts and dresses above the knee. Additionally, you cannot wear anything with offensive patterns or slogans. You will need to remove sunglasses, scarves and headwear other than that worn for religious reasons.

Refreshments will be available to purchase during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Haverigg. You will have to leave most of your things in a locker in the visitors centre, which takes a £1 coin. Visitors with young children will be able to take a pushchair or car seat in with them.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre run by the Visitors’ and Children’s Support Group. It has toilets and baby changing facilities.

The centre is open on visiting days 30 minutes before visit times, and refreshments will be available.

Family days

Family Days take place at least 6 times a year and are often themed. Your loved one can give you more details about these. Dates may also be advertised on Social Media. You can also contact Haverigg.families@justice.gov.uk if you require any further information or guidance.

Keep in touch with someone at Haverigg

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

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their cells 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 at any time. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so that they are able to call and speak to a loved one immediately. It takes a few days to get new names added to the list.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

All telephone calls are recorded and officers may listen to them as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Haverigg using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Haverigg.

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

  • Download the Prison Video app
  • Create an account
  • Register all visitors
  • Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

Read more about how it works

Letters

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

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Haverigg.

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

Friends and family can send parcels of clothing at set times of the year. The prisoner will be able to tell you more about this.

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

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Friends and families 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.

Life at Haverigg

Haverigg is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Haverigg 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.

Arrival and first night

When someone first arrives at Haverigg, 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 prisoner who arrives at Haverigg 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 300 prisoners are accommodated at Haverigg in a broad range of residences. All prisoners get their own cell with in-cell toilet facilities and many include their own showers.

Prisoners have access to a library, IT training centre and gym facilities.

Haverigg also has chaplaincy, safety and equalities teams providing support to prisoners.

Education and work

All prisoners work or train full time at Haverigg.

Training and learning opportunities are focused on skills gaps in the job market and designed to improve prisoners’ chances of getting work on release. Professions include timber manufacturing, building, plastering, plumbing, industrial cleaning and agriculture.

Prisoners can also train and work towards qualifications in the leisure industry through the gym.

Release on temporary licence

Prisoners can be assessed for temporary release. This time can be used for work experience or education in the local community, as well as preparing for release. Prisoners can apply for this within the prison.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Support at Haverigg

To contact our Head of family provision at HMP Haverigg please email Haverigg.families@justice.gov.uk.

Family services at Haverigg are provided by POPS.

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call 01229 713 000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

Contact category Phone number Additional information
Non-emergency 01229 713075 Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.
Staff Integrity Hotline 0800 917 6877
(24 hours answering machine)
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously.
Prisoners’ Families Helpline 0808 808 2003 The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance.
Unwanted Prisoner Contact 0300 060 6699 If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service.

You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problems, you can contact Haverigg.

Contact Haverigg

Governor: Adam Connolley

Telephone: 01229 713 000
Fax: 01229 713 027
Find out about call charges

Follow Haverigg on Twitter/X

Address

HMP Haverigg
North Lane
Millom
LA18 4NA

See map

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.

Published 11 March 2020
Last updated 3 August 2022 + show all updates
  1. Changes to prison visiting times.

  2. Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

  3. Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.

  4. Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

  5. Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.

  6. Updated name of Governor

  7. New visiting times and booking information added.

  8. Prison has resumed visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.

  9. Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.

  10. Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.

  11. Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.

  12. Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.

  13. Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

  14. Updated video call info

  15. added survey link

  16. Prison visits update

  17. Visit information update

  18. First published.