HMP Liverpool

If you have are concerned for the wellbeing of a  prisoner in relation to vulnerability,  self harm or bullying then call 0800 528 0970. Alternatively you can email
safercustodyliverpool@hmps.gsi.gov.uk  

Key Contact Details

The prison is run by HMPS as part of the North West region. It has a capacity of 1224, but currently holds around 800 men. The #1 governor is Rob Luxford, who has been in charge since April 2023

HMP Liverpool, also known as Walton, is a large Victorian local prison built between 1848 and 1855, and today operates as a Category B reception prison serving Merseyside courts, holding around 800 men against a much larger original capacity of 1,224. The prison has a troubled recent history: a 2017 inspection famously found cells with broken windows, exposed wiring, and vermin, prompting the governor’s dismissal and a major, sustained refurbishment programme that brought real improvement by the time of a 2022 inspection, which described a calmer, more caring prison.

More recently, the Independent Monitoring Board’s 2024 annual report painted a more mixed picture, describing chronic staffing shortages as an everyday struggle affecting almost every part of the regime. Self-harm incidents rose sharply, from 400 to 557 over the year, and only around a third of planned education and activity sessions could actually be delivered because of staffing gaps. The Board also raised concerns about prisoners with serious mental illness waiting too long in segregation for hospital transfers, and a rise in drones and mobile phones being smuggled in. On a more positive note, the Board welcomed strong leadership changes, improving healthcare provision, and effective resettlement support that helped nine in ten releases secure accommodation.

Given the pressures described above, families in touch with someone at Liverpool may find it worth asking directly about access to activities and healthcare during visits — the contact details set out above remain the best way to stay in touch.