What Is HMP Forest Bank Like?
Last reviewed: July 2026
Key facts about HMP Forest Bank
| Detail | HMP & YOI Forest Bank |
|---|---|
| Category | Category B local prison and young offender institution (men) |
| Run by | Sodexo (private); new 10-year contract from January 2026 |
| Capacity | Around 1,460 — Sodexo’s largest UK prison |
| Opened | January 2000, under a private finance initiative |
| Address | Agecroft Road, Pendlebury, Salford M27 8FB |
| Switchboard | 0161 925 7000 |
| Visit booking | 0161 925 7021 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5:30pm) or by email; max 3 adults per visit |
What kind of prison is Forest Bank?
Forest Bank is Greater Manchester’s local jail: if someone is remanded or sentenced by the courts in Manchester or Salford, this is very often where they go first. That makes it a busy reception prison with constant turnover — a very different rhythm from a settled training prison. It opened in January 2000 as a purpose-built PFI prison for 800 men and has since grown to around 1,460 places. It also holds young adults as a young offender institution. Unusually, when the original 25-year contract ended, Sodexo won a fresh ten-year contract that started in January 2026, so the private operator is staying put.
What did the latest inspection find?
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspected in December 2024 (report published March 2025) and found some of the most concerning figures in the local-prison estate: the second-highest assault rate and the highest self-harm rate among comparable jails, drugs too easily available, an over-restrictive and unreliable daily regime, barriers to healthcare, and too many men released homeless. Local prisons everywhere are under strain, but Forest Bank’s numbers stood out, and the new contract was awarded amid public questions about performance. Reports are on the HMIP website.
Daily life, work and education
Sodexo delivers education, vocational training and rehabilitation programmes in-house, from functional skills through workshop trades. Because so many men are on remand or serving short sentences, provision leans towards short courses, induction and resettlement rather than year-long qualifications. Forest Bank also offers secure video calls through the Purple Visits app, which is a lifeline for families who cannot travel regularly. If your loved one has just arrived there from court, our guide to contacting someone in prison explains how to get phone contact and money sorted in the first week, and our release dates guide explains how sentences are calculated.
Prison Guide’s founder Daniel Hockey served a sentence himself, starting in a big-city local prison (HMP Wandsworth) before progressing to open conditions at HMP Ford, and wrote The Secret Prisoner (2021). His experience of reception jails like Forest Bank: the first two weeks feel chaotic for everyone — getting a PIN phone account, visit booked and canteen order in quickly makes the biggest difference. Read more about Daniel here.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs HMP Forest Bank?
Sodexo, a private operator, under a ten-year contract that began in January 2026. It is Sodexo’s largest UK prison.
How do I book a visit?
Phone 0161 925 7021 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm) or email the social visits team. A maximum of three adults may attend, and the visitors’ centre can help first-timers.
Can I have a video call with someone in Forest Bank?
Yes — secure video visits run through the Purple Visits system; the prisoner needs to register your details first.
Is Forest Bank a safe prison?
The December 2024 inspection found high levels of violence and self-harm compared with similar prisons. Most men serve their time without serious incident, but it is a jail under pressure. See our full list of UK prisons for where men commonly move on to.
Official sources: GOV.UK – Forest Bank Prison · HM Inspectorate of Prisons · Sodexo UK
