HM Prison Altcourse, men's prison and young offender institution in Liverpool
HM Prison Altcourse is a facility in Liverpool that holds adult men either awaiting trial or serving sentences. Built in the late 1990s, it was the first prison in the United Kingdom funded through a Private Finance Initiative arrangement. The facility is divided into seven wings named after fences from the Grand National horse race, with a design that allows staff to observe all areas, and houses around 1,100 inmates in small cells equipped with a bed, sink, and toilet. The prison has been operated by G4S since opening and is located near the M57 motorway and train stations.
The prison was established in the late 1990s and was the first in the UK to be funded through Private Finance Initiative arrangements, with this financing model introduced in 1995. In the early 2000s, it housed more than 1,000 inmates at times, exceeding its intended capacity and creating management challenges.
The name comes from its location in the Altcourse area of Liverpool. The prison chapel serves inmates of different faiths, and religious chaplains offer spiritual support to those who seek it.
Visitors must book a visit at least two days in advance, with each session lasting about 50 minutes, and photo identification is required with only three adults and some children under 18 allowed at once, while sharp objects, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited. The facility is accessible by car near the M57 motorway or by public transport from Rice Lane or Fazakerley stations, both less than a mile away, and offers free parking for visitors.
The seven wings are each named after jumps from the famous Grand National horse race, an unusual naming convention for a prison that reflects British culture. Inmates can also make video calls with family members, a service that is particularly popular when in-person visits are difficult to arrange.
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