HMP Hindley: What Kind of Prison Is It Now?
Last reviewed: July 2026
What type of prison is Hindley?
Hindley opened in 1961 and for many years operated as a young offender institution. Today it is a category C training and resettlement prison for adult men, many of them from the Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire areas. As a resettlement-focused jail, part of its job is preparing men for release back into the North West — sorting out accommodation, work prospects and support before the gate.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Category | C (training and resettlement) |
| Who it holds | Adult men, up to around 600 |
| Location | Bickershaw, near Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN2 4TH |
| Operator | HMPPS (public sector) |
| Opened | 1961 (adult category C role in recent years) |
| Visit booking | GOV.UK online visit booking |
What have inspectors said?
HM Inspectorate of Prisons carried out a full inspection at the end of 2023 — the first for seven years in its adult category C role — and the findings were blunt. The positive drug-testing rate was the highest in England and Wales, with more than half of tests coming back positive, and news coverage described the jail as dealing with a near-tsunami of drugs. Violence was high, there had been hundreds of self-harm incidents in a year, many staff were new and inexperienced, and men spent too long locked in their cells, particularly those without jobs. The report and any follow-up reviews are on the HMIP website.
For families, the practical message is that support matters: staying in touch, encouraging engagement with education or work, and flagging any safety worries to the prison’s safer custody team can all make a real difference.
Daily life at Hindley
There are workshops, education classes and prison jobs, though inspectors found too few men engaged in them. The prison runs resettlement services to help men approaching release with housing, benefits, ID documents and job applications. Time out of cell varies considerably depending on whether a man is working.
Visiting HMP Hindley
Book through the GOV.UK visit service. Hindley is a few miles south-east of Wigan; the nearest stations are Wigan North Western and Wigan Wallgate, with taxis and buses covering the last leg. See our dedicated guide to booking a visit to Hindley.
Our founder Daniel Hockey served a sentence himself (HMP Wandsworth through to open conditions at HMP Ford) and wrote The Secret Prisoner (2021). His advice for families visiting any prison with a difficult reputation: do not be put off by headlines — regular visits are one of the strongest protective factors a prisoner can have. More about Daniel here.
• “Hindley is still a young offenders’ prison.” Not any more — it now holds adult men, though the YOI signage and history cause confusion.
• “Category C means the regime is relaxed.” Recent inspections found men spending long periods locked up, which is the opposite of relaxed.
• “Hindley has anything to do with Myra Hindley.” No — the prison is named after the nearby town of Hindley. See our page on Myra Hindley for that separate topic.
Keeping in touch with someone at Hindley
Prisoners can call approved numbers from PIN phones, and families can write by post, use Email a Prisoner where available, and send money through the official GOV.UK service. If you are worried about a man’s safety at Hindley — for example because of debt or threats — contact the prison’s safer custody line and say so plainly; prisons treat these calls seriously and they can lead to real protective steps. The Prison Reform Trust also runs an advice service for families navigating these situations for the first time.
Frequently asked questions
Where is HMP Hindley?
At Bickershaw near Wigan in Greater Manchester, roughly 20 minutes from the M6 and M61.
Is HMP Hindley safe?
Inspectors have raised serious concerns about drugs and violence. That said, conditions vary between wings and over time, and the prison has been under pressure to improve since the 2023-24 inspection cycle.
What sentences do men at Hindley serve?
Mostly determinate sentences, with a focus on men in the later stages preparing for release in the North West.
Where can I check official details?
The GOV.UK Hindley page for visiting times and contacts, and HMIP for inspection reports.
