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Blog Government Digital Service

https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/09/15/you-can-now-book-a-prison-visit-online/

You can now book a prison visit online

Booking a prison visit should be simple and straightforward. Until now that was far from the case. Booking a visit required both prisoner and visitor to jump through hoops: paper forms and drawn-out phone calls. And if the visit date turned out to be impossible, they had to start all over again.

Now you can book a visit online . It takes about 5 minutes. Before, picking an available date was pot luck. Now there's a date-picker that lets you select 3 possible slots instead of 1. It’s a straight-forward service with user-needs at its heart but, if you get stuck, you can call the prison's visits booking line and someone will help you with the booking.

Here's a very short film we've made about it:

By making it easier to book visits, prisoners will see more of their friends and family. Evidence suggests this will help their rehabilitation. Transformation isn't just about websites.

The service was built by the Ministry of Justice, with a combined team from the National Offender Management Service, HM Prison Service and MoJ Digital Services.

For more of the story behind this service, read Mike Bracken's account of his trip to HMP Rochester or check out the service’s transformation page .

Join the conversation on Twitter , and don't forget to sign up for email alerts .

Sharing and comments

Share this page, 20 comments.

Comment by Pauline posted on 23 August 2015

How do you find out the prisoners number??? so you can go ahead with online booking of a visit?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 24 August 2015

You can find a prisoner using this service: https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner However it will be the prisoner's responsibility to get in touch with you to let you know their prison number etc.

Comment by linda posted on 15 August 2015

This service does not appear to work this is day 2 trying to use it

Comment by Olivia posted on 30 July 2015

Hi, If a visit is booked and someone cant make it, is it possible to change the name of one of the people to someone else?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 30 July 2015

It's best to contact the prison directly if this happens. You can find contact details here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Thanks, Louise

Comment by Paige posted on 28 July 2015

Hi my partner was sent to nottingham today, I was on his previous list 4 months ago for a visit. Will that still be on the system all will it have to he put through again if so how long does it take to be approved for a visit? Thanks Paige.

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 29 July 2015

You might want to get in touch with the prison first before booking a visit. You can find the contact details of the prison here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Comment by Debs posted on 27 July 2015

Hello Is there a list of prisons where online booking can't be used?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 28 July 2015

According to the information on this page: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits , you can arrange a visit to any prison in England and Wales through this service. If you're visiting someone in Northern Ireland or Scotland you'll need to contact the prison directly.

This link also lists the type of visits that are not covered by the online service: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits so you need to get in touch with the prison directly.

Hope that's helpful.

Comment by c.steer posted on 26 July 2015

So how do I find the booking form to fill in I am new to computers

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 27 July 2015

Here's the link to the booking form: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits

You'll need this information to complete the form:

prisoner number prisoner’s date of birth dates of birth for all visitors coming with you make sure the person you’re visiting has added you to their visitor list

Hope that's useful.

Comment by Shawnaa posted on 09 May 2015

i have a visit booked which i did online but i do not have a visiting order woll the prison let me in?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 11 May 2015

Your identity will be checked on arrival to make sure you’re on the visitor list.

Comment by jessicca posted on 27 January 2015

What happens after you book the visit and its confirmed by email do you need the visiting order ?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 29 January 2015

The Visiting Order (VO) number is generated by the booking system, it is included in your confirmation email and you will need this to change or cancel a booking.

However, if you're visiting a prison the guidance is that you only need your ID, not the VO number. If when you visit the prison you are asked for the VO number you should report this via the Contact Us link on the Prison Visits Booking form.

I hope that helps.

Comment by Ilysa Mcnally posted on 18 November 2014

How late in advance can I book e.g. book a visit today (Tuesday) for the Sunday coming???

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 19 November 2014

Hi Ilysa. Thanks for your question. A visit needs to be booked 3 working days in advance. So in this case, the visit request would have to be no later than Tuesday to allow for a visit on Sunday.

Comment by carole posted on 23 October 2014

How far in advance can you book visits

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 23 October 2014

Hi Carole. You can book up to 28 days in advance. Thanks for your question.

Comment by kimberly posted on 16 August 2015

does anyone know how to cancel a visit online?

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Crime, justice and law
Justice system transparency
Get help with prison visits
HM Prison Service
HM Prison & Probation Service
Ministry of Justice

Help With Prison Visits: A guide to claiming help with the cost of prison visits

Updated 21 February 2024

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Publication for Northern Ireland

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assisted-prison-visits-form/help-with-prison-visits-a-guide-to-claiming-help-with-the-cost-of-prison-visits

1. Help With Prison Visits

The Help With Prison Visits scheme (HWPV) provides a contribution towards prison visit costs for close relatives, partners or sole visitors. The visitor must be on a low income. Help is provided for English, Welsh and Scottish prisons. Limited help is available for Channel Island prisons.

Different rules apply to Northern Ireland prisons (ask at the prison you are visiting for information).

The minimum age to apply for help with visits is 18 years (16 years when visiting a prison in Scotland). Eligible children are included on the claim.

Claims are processed by Family Services in Birmingham, which is a part of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.

To get help you must be listed on both the visitor and low income list below:

Husband, Wife or Civil Partner

Partner - living as a couple before the prisoner went into prison

Parent or Grand-parent (includes step-parent or adoptive parent)

Brother or Sister (includes half-sibling or step-sibling)

Son or Daughter (includes step or adoptive)

Next of Kin (as noted by the prisoner in prison records)

Sole Visitor (only Social visitor in the four weeks before a visit claimed)

Escort to a qualifying adult or child (see Escort Section)

Low income:

Income Support

Income - based Job Seekers Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (Income related)

Universal Credit*

Working Tax Credits (with Disability or Child Tax)*

Child Tax Credits*

Pension Credit

Hold HC2 or HC3 Certificate

*An income limit applies to Universal Credit and Tax Credits (see Payment Rates Section)

If someone else claims benefits for you, make your claim online and we will contact you for further details if required. If you are taking a qualifying child on behalf of a parent who is on low income, see Escort Section.

You can apply online

The online application process allows you to upload your income details, receipts and visit confirmation. Payment is made into your bank account or cashed at a Post Office.

1.1 Key Facts

How do i claim.

Most visitors claim their costs back after the visit, and you must claim within 28 days of the visit. You can apply for a payment in advance if you cannot afford to pay yourself. The quickest and easiest way to claim is online

To apply online you will need to have an email address. For advice on how to get an email address contact us. The benefits of adding an email address are that we can contact you direct if there are issues and for rail tickets, we can send them by email. If you don’t have an email address please contact us and we can send you a paper application.

What is paid?

The scheme provides help for one visit every two weeks. The maximum number of assisted visits is 26 in any 12 month period. A contribution is made towards travel costs, a light refreshment allowance for longer journeys and in limited cases a contribution towards overnight costs. Money is paid towards petrol costs or the cheapest method of public transport for the journey to the prison. If you choose to use a more expensive way of travelling to the prison, for example a peak time train, the extra costs will not be refunded. A light refreshment allowance is paid if you are away from home for over 5 hours and expenditure incurred. Please keep receipts. Checks are carried out frequently.

How am I paid?

Payment is made directly into your bank account. For an advance claim, a fast ticket reference is issued to collect rail tickets at the station.

The new quick and easy online claim process relies on uploading documents and receipts – request the upload guide document online at “contact us” on the website or email us at the address below. Your claim will take much longer if you post things in. You must get a confirmation of visit form stamped at the prison and keep all receipts. You can get a confirmation of visit form

or email: [email protected]

or write to:

Help With Prison Visits Family Services PO Box 17594 Birmingham B2 2QP

1.2 Qualifying Income

Income support, income based job seeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance (income related).

We check receipt of these benefits with the Department for Work and Pensions. We may contact you for further details.

Universal Credit

If you get Universal Credit include the current award notice with your first claim and attach a new award notice every four months after that.

The total monthly household income limit is below £1,250.

Working and Child Tax Credits

If you get Working and Child Tax Credits include the current award notice with your first claim and when a new or amended award notice is issued. The yearly gross household income limit is below £17,474 per annum.

If you get Pension Credit include the current award notice with your first claim and when a new or amended award notice is issued.

Health Certificate 2 or 3

If you hold a Health Certificate 2 or 3 include the certificate with the first claim and when a new or amended certificate is issued.

The contribution shown on the HC3 certificate for travel to receive NHS treatment is deducted from the Help With Prison Visits payment.

1.3 Prison establishments

All prison establishments (includes Young Offenders Institutions) in England, Wales and Scotland are covered by the scheme.

Qualifying visitors living in England, Wales or Scotland can apply for help to visit a prisoner held in a Northern Ireland prison.

Qualifying visitors living in England, Wales or Scotland can apply for help to visit a prisoner held in Guernsey prison. Help is given for one visit every 6 months by a maximum of 3 qualifying adults and qualifying children per visit. One visit will be assisted where the prisoner is serving a sentence of 6 months or less.

On sentence a UK citizen can request a transfer back to a UK prison. Guernsey Prison operates a policy of repatriation for all those sentenced to 5 years and above.

Qualifying visitors living in England, Wales or Scotland can apply for help to visit a prisoner held in Jersey prison. The same two conditions for visiting Guernsey prison apply.

Residents of Northern Ireland can get details of the Northern Ireland Prison Visits Scheme from the prison visited or on nidirect.gov.uk

1.4 Entitlement

Help is normally given towards a visit every two weeks, and for up to 26 visits per 12 month period.

Visits can be saved up to allow two or more consecutive visits to take place during one return journey. A contribution towards an overnight stay will be considered.

Each visiting day will count towards the annual allowance. Family Days are not counted, and are in addition to your entitlement.

An assisted visit can be used to meet, at the establishment, a prisoner who is released on temporary licence. The confirmation of a visit form must be date stamped at the prison.

Each return journey will count towards the annual allowance and payment of expenses will be restricted to the cost of a normal visit.

The prison governor may authorise additional visits if it is considered necessary for resettlement purposes or the welfare of the prisoner or you. Payment will not count towards the annual allowance.

Some prisons may refuse to allow visits to take place if you arrive late. In these cases you will not normally be able to claim your costs.

Assistance will normally be authorised if you travel to the prison but the visit is cancelled for operational reasons or the prisoner has been transferred to another prison.

The confirmation of a visit form must be date stamped and, if possible, a reason stated for the cancellation. Payment will not count towards annual allowance.

1.5 When to apply for Help With Prison Visits

You should make a claim within 28 days of making the visit. An advance payment can be claimed towards a visit.

You should go by the cheapest method of travel available, using off peak trains where possible. We will issue rail tickets for the cheapest journey possible.

If travelling by rail you will need to put the visit date, stations and train times for your journey on the claim, allowing time to get to the prison. It is very important that you inform us if your visit date changes before you get the tickets.

0300 063 2100 for online application issues 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays)

[email protected] for all other issues or queries.

If the tickets you receive are for the wrong date you should return them to us with a covering letter. You will also need to make a new claim if you want to go on a different date. We may ask you to pay for tickets that have been issued if you do not tell us about changed or cancelled visits.

Tickets will be posted to you or you will be sent a collection code to collect the tickets at a collection machine at the station. The ticket collection machine will require you to insert a debit or credit card to confirm your identity (you will not be charged for the tickets).

If you cancel or do not visit within 7 days of the planned visit, all monies rail tickets must be returned to us. Send a cheque / postal order payable to “APVU”.

1.6 Proof required

Proof of expenditure.

Public transport, car hire, car park, bridge/tunnel tolls and overnight accommodation costs will only be reimbursed where receipts and/or used tickets are included with the claim.

You will be paid for the cheapest method of public transport available, even if your receipts show a higher cost (if this happens you will be notified by email).

Confirmation of visits

It is essential to get a Confirmation of a Visit form completed at the prison, your payment will be delayed if you do not have one. This is submitted with your claim.

If you are requesting an advance, the confirmation form is either uploaded online or posted to us after the visit.

You can go by car, motor cycle or public transport. You will be paid for the cheapest method of public transport available for the journey you are making.

Ensure you obtain receipts and upload or include all used receipts and tickets with your claim.

Car / Motorbike

A fixed rate per mile is paid. The distance of the return journey (normally the shortest route) is calculated using a computerised journey planner.

Receipted car parking charges will be reimbursed for visits to those establishments where car parking is not provided or restricted.

Unavoidable bridge and tunnel tolls will be reimbursed where a receipt is enclosed.

The cost of a “Park and Ride” bus service will be met where used tickets or a receipt is enclosed. The mileage claim should be from home to the Park and Ride, not the prison.

Bus / Coach

Check if you can make the journey by bus or coach before considering going by train.

Regular bus users can apply for the reimbursement of a discount travel card.

However, we must be satisfied that the cost of the card will be recovered through lower fares when visiting a prison establishment. Ask the bus operator for details of any local schemes.

Rail / Underground

Look for the cheapest train for your journey to the prison, check standard off-peak first. You will be paid for the cheapest rail fare available, we may limit your payment if you choose to use a more expensive train.

Light Refreshment Allowance

If you need to buy food or drink on the day of your visit and are away from home for more than 5 hours you may get a light refreshment allowance. We reserve the right to ask for receipts and may do so up to six months after the journey. If you cannot produce receipts then we reserve the right to recover payments.

Overnight Accommodation

If you need to leave home before 6am or arrive home after 12am (midnight) you may qualify for an overnight allowance (before 7 and after 10pm if you are taking children under 3).

The cost of travel between accommodation address and establishment is payable but subject to a maximum published rate.

You must get approval from us before incurring overnight expenses.

Regular checks are carried out to validate claimed overnight accommodation costs.

The reimbursement of the taxi fares for journeys to bus stops or railway stations will only be considered where the walking distance exceeds 20 minutes in one direction or you are aged 75 years or over.

Taxi journeys should wherever possible be booked through a taxi office.

Checks are regularly carried out with the taxi operator to validate claimed taxi fares.

Taxi receipts should include the following details:

Date of journey

Name, address and telephone number of taxi company

Name / signature of driver

Details of journey

Community bus or similar

Payment will be restricted to the actual fare charged or if cheaper, the cost of the same journey by public transport.

You can arrange car hire from a private company.

Reimbursement of a hire car plus the petrol allowance must not exceed the cost of the same journey by public transport.

However, we do take into account the number of assisted visitors travelling with you and any savings in fares, light refreshment allowance etc.

Please contact Help With Prison Visits

Visits to a prison on the Isle of Wight

Car parking charges at the mainland port are refundable. Your mileage claim should be between home and car park.

The cost of taking a car on the ferry will only be met if you are unable to use a bus on the Isle of Wight due to a medical condition.

Foot passengers are restricted to the cheapest ferry to get to the visit.

The cost of the return journey by bus from the port to the prison is refundable.

Escort to an adult

If you qualify for help and are over 75 you can claim for an adult to escort you to the visit, put the adult’s costs on your claim.

If you qualify for help but are too ill to travel alone you may get help for an adult to escort you on the visit.

You will need your doctor or medical professional to state in writing: ‘this patient cannot make the prison visit without the help of an escort’, the letter must also say if the condition is temporary or permanent.

If you are unable to get to train stations on public transport the letter must state: ’this patient cannot use public transport to get to train stations’.

If the condition is temporary a new letter is required every four months.

Escort to a child

If you are the prisoner’s spouse or partner and are on a low income you may decide to ask someone else to take your children on the visit as an escort. In this case the escort will not be able to claim online, but contact us for a form.

The parent must write to us to authorise the escort by providing information, as shown below, and evidence to confirm the prisoner is the mother/father of the child/ children being escorted to the prison:

Parent’s name, address and National Insurance number

Name and date of birth of the child/children being escorted to the prison and their relationship to the prisoner

Details of the parent’s income. If the parent is in receipt of Income Support or Income - based job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance (income related) we may need to contact the local office that issued the award. To give your permission, state the name and address of the local office.

Name, prison number and location of mother/ father in prison. Name and address of escort.

Unless you withdraw permission by writing to us, we will assume the named escort is authorised to take your child/children on all claimed assisted prison visits. One of the following is acceptable proof of parentage by confirming the surname of the child/children is the same as the prisoner’s.

Original short birth certificate; or

Original long birth certificate; or

Original medical card; or

Child Benefit award notice; or

Official letter e.g. from a school, health centre etc.

If you are unable to send proof to confirm the prisoner is the father you should contact your local Register Office for advice on adding the father’s details to the birth record.

Original documentation from the Register Office to confirm the birth record has been amended must be sent to us.

If you do not qualify as a spouse or partner but are looking after the prisoner’s child/ children you may be able to claim assistance as an escort. You must meet the qualifying rules on income. Proof of parentage to confirm the prisoner is the mother or father of the escorted child/children must be sent with the application form. See above.

1.8 General information

Independent advice, information and support to anyone with a relative or friend in prison (with the exception of Help With Prison Visits casework enquires) can be obtained from:

Prisoners’ Families Helpline (for prisons in England & Wales)

Tel no: 0808 808 2003 (calls are free)

Website: Prisoners’ Families Helpline

Information and support may be available locally from the National Probation Service, Youth Offending team, Social Services and Citizens Advice Bureau.

Lost or stolen rail tickets issued by us

Report any loss or theft of rail tickets to the Police.

Contact us to confirm the following details: circumstances of the loss or theft, date reported to the police, crime reference number, name of the Police Officer who dealt with you and address of the police station.

This guide to Help With Prison Visits does not include all the rules of the scheme. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information given is correct at the time of publishing. The rules and payment rates in this booklet are subject to change. Your application will be considered using the rules and rates applicable at the time of processing.

1.9 Standards of service

We aim to provide the best possible service:

We will be helpful, polite, and treat you fairly and with respect

Your application will normally be considered within 1 week of receipt

Your enquires will normally be answered in full within 5 working days of receipt, or an acknowledgement will be issued if we require further information

What we expect from you

Give us the correct information at the right time

Tell us when something changes

Treat our staff with respect

Help With Prison Visits reserves the right to limit your use of the scheme if you make a false claim or misuse the service.

1.10 Equal opportunities statement

Help With Prison Visits is committed to treating staff and customers in an open, courteous and respectful manner and anyone who contacts us will be dealt with without prejudice.

1.11 Complaints procedure

If you are not satisfied with our service or wish to make a complaint please write to:

Or email: [email protected] (Between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays)

We will carry out a full investigation and you will receive a telephone or written reply within 5 working days of receipt or a progress report if the investigation takes longer. We will do our best to put the matter right, give an explanation and, where appropriate, issue an apology. Should you feel the response is unsatisfactory you can write in the first instance to:

Head of HMPPS Family Services Family Services PO Box 17594 Birmingham B2 2QP (for prisons in England & Wales)

Directorate of Partnerships and Commissioning Scottish Prison Service Calton House 5 Redheughs Rigg Edinburgh EH12 9HW (for prisons in Scotland)

If you still feel your complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily, contact your local Member of Parliament and ask that they raise the matter with the Minister of State responsible for Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (for prisons in England & Wales) or the Minister of State responsible for the Prison Service in Scotland (for prisons in Scotland).

You can also complain to the Parliamentary Ombudsman who will investigate complaints from members of the public about the way they have been treated by government departments and / or their executive agencies. Further information can be obtained from:

Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman

Helpline: 0845 015 4033

1.12 Data protection

The Ministry of Justice (Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service) uses and retains the personal data of Help With Prison Visits customers for the purposes of the provision of expenses from the scheme. Assistance from the scheme can only be granted by supplying the prescribed information in order to allow the assessment of claims and any necessary checks to be undertaken.

You have the right to request details of the personal information we hold about you, and subsequently request that we correct any personal information if it is found to be inaccurate or out of date.

We will not share your information with other organisations unless it is required for the prevention or detection of crime; apprehension, prosecution or management of prisoners; prevention of terrorism; National Security; or we are required to do so by law.

For more information please contact the Information Access Representative at:

Or see our Privacy Policy

1.13 Payment rates and income limits

Car mileage allowance.

13 pence per mile

Over 5 hours £2.55 Over 10 hours £5.10 Children must be 12 months or over to receive the refreshment allowance

Overnight Allowances

London and the South East: Adult £34 per night (maximum) Child £17 per night (maximum) Elsewhere: Adult £28 per night (maximum) Child £14 per night (maximum) Adult includes children 14 and over Children aged between 3 and 13 The maximum cost payable for a single journey between the prison and the accommodation address is £10

£40 per day (inclusive) plus 18 pence per mile

Annual household income limit £17,474

Monthly total household income limit is £1,250

Rates correct at 1 January 2024

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Supporting families and visitors

While every Centre is different, our teams provide consistent support for family members, friends and visitors. This includes emotional and practical support before and after your visit, and additional reassurance if it is your first visit or you are particularly anxious about going through the gate.

We can also offer guidance and resources around:

Travel and transport

Financial assistance for prison visits

Signposting to Pact services and other helpful organisations

Supporting children and young people affected by imprisonment

Raising concerns or making a complaint

We offer an inclusive service that is culturally sensitive and responsive to the diverse needs of prisoners and visitors.

Our staff team also act as a vital support point for visitors where the visit has not gone well, or they have concerns about the prisoner. Our staff can then liaise with Safer Custody and other teams within the prison where concerns over prisoner safety are shared.

Pact works closely alongside the prison to provide staff and resources to ensure visitors can access all the information they need in accessible formats. We also provide toys and activities for children to make the visiting process more enjoyable.

Get in touch with your local team

You can find details about your Family & Visitors’ Centre and how to get in touch with the Family Services team on our Prison Visitors' Guides pages.

Your feedback is vital in helping us to develop our services. If you would like to make a comment or raise a complaint about a Visitors’ Centre or any of our services, you can submit an online form or contact us at [email protected]

Can my loved ones visit me in prison? Task

Your loved ones can visit you when you’re in prison. This includes your partner and close family members.

Your visitors will need to be over the age of 18 unless they are accompanied by an adult. The prison governor may allow people aged 16–18 years old to visit unaccompanied by an adult, as long as they have parental consent.

If you have committed a sexual or violent crime, visitors under the age of 18 are not allowed.

Prison has different rules for:

When and how often you can have visitors
The number of visitors allowed at the same time

Your loved one s will only be allowed to visit if you’ve added them to your visitor list , known as the visiting order or VO . The prison will contact your loved ones once they’re on the list.

How often can my loved ones visit?

Prison privileges

When you’re in prison, you get different levels of benefits based on how well you behav e . This can include the number of visits you can have.

If your visitor lives a long way from the prison, they may be able to make their visit longer, but less often.

Remand prisoner

If you are waiting for your trial, or on remand, you are allowed three , one -hour visits a week.

Convicted prisoner

If you are a convicted prisoner, you are allowed at least two , one -hour visits every four weeks.

How many people can visit me at one time?

Usually a maximum of three adults are allowed to visit at any one time.

The number of children can vary from prison to prison, but a child is classed as an adult for seating purposes at 10–12 years old.

What happens during a visit?

This depends on your privileges or benefits and your overall well-being . Visits can be used to reward good behaviour or to help with your well-being.

Your privileges or benefits may also be affected by the behaviour of your visitors .

I f a visitor has tried to smuggle banned items in to the prison , you may be put on closed visits for a length of time . This means there is a glass barrier between you and your visitors , and you’re not allowed any physical contact.

However, y ou may also be allowed special visits. This could mean you have the chance to do activities like sharing a meal together.

Find out more about how to book a visit, the available facilities and what happens on the day here

How do I book a visit?

Visits to most prisons can be booked online.

If this service is not available, your loved one must contact the prison to find out more .

Help with the costs of visiting

If your loved ones receive certain benefits or have a health certificate and you get no other visitors, they may be able to get help with the cost of visiting you.

This could include costs for travel, accommodation or meals.

Find out more here

How else can I keep in touch with my loved ones?

Letters and telephone calls can be used to keep in touch with your loved ones when you’re in prison.

Add a new comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Visiting rules may change if there is a COVID outbreak within the prison.

If you are unable to visit someone in prison you can still keep in touch.

You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003. You will not be able to book a visit using this number.

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Visiting Rules

Those on the outside can offer a great deal of comfort and support for prisoners by doing some simple things. All prisoners crave contact with the outside, particularly those with young children. There is no limit as to the number, or length, of letter that can be sent and post is always well received. It is also sensible to send small books of stamps into the prison to encourage responses.

The vast majority of prisons do not allow you to post in items to a prisoner, if you do post items in they will just be returned to you, or held by the prison in storage until release date. Prison does, however, allow you to take things into the prison on visits subject to a number of restrictions. Look at the individual prison pages for more detailed information on how visits are run at each prison.

The first of restrictions are that the item you are bringing in is an allowed item, ie it is on the facilities list as being permitted by the prison. You will not be allowed to bring in tobacco or other related items, neither will food and drink be allowed. The actual rules applied alter form prison to prison, eg some prison only allow item brought in on weekend visits, or within the first month of custody, so look at the individual prison pages for information.

Visits are important to everybody involved. Whilst some visiting areas are not very welcoming the prison do try very hard to make the visit an enjoyable and stress free occasion. You book visits direct with the prison on a dedicated phone number, and when confirmed you will be given a specific date and time. It is wide to arrive for the visit in good time as you will be subjected to a search, which will vary between an airport style pat down, a drug dog investigation to a full body search. These full searches are undignified and unpleasant for you and the prison officer, but it best to grin and bear it. If you refuse the search you will be denied access to the visit.

It is also wise to check with the prison what items you are allowed to take into the visit hall with you. Obviously electronic items such as mobile phones or tablets are not permitted, but some prison do not allow any money to be taken in, or others coins only. In other you exchange money for tokens which you can exchange for tea & coffee etc while in the visit hall.

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Examining the Duration and Rules for Prison Visits in the UK

Visitations play a vital role in maintaining ties between inmates and their loved ones while they serve out their sentences. But visits are administered under strict supervision and limitations. For those hoping to see friends or family inside, how long can they expect to spend together on a typical prison visit in the UK? In this comprehensive guide, we will examine the standard visitation duration along with the various regulations governing these cloely monitored encounters.

Overview of Visitation Rights

Prisoners in the UK are permitted to have regular visitors throughout their sentence, with some exceptions:

Inmates on remand awaiting trial may have restrictions placed on visitations.
Those segregated for behavioral issues may have visits temporarily suspended.
Individuals banned under restraining orders cannot visit the inmate.

Barring such special circumstances, most prisoners can receive regular visitors who are family members or existing friends. Prisoners submit a list of approved visitors they wish to see.

Visits take place in a dedicated room under observation by guards. Physical contact like hugs or hand-holding is typically now allowed for security reasons. Conversations can be monitored to prevent suspicious activity.

Typical Visitation Duration

The length of a standard social visit session for an adult inmate to receive friends/family is:

1 hour – This is the most common duration allocated. Sufficient time is given for meaningful conversation and connection. Some flexibility may be allowed such as combining two 1 hour slots consecutively.
30 minutes – For young offenders under 18 or in certain high-security conditions, visits may be set at just 30 minutes per session.
2 hours – Some facilities may permit sessions up to 2 hours for family events like a child’s birthday or graduation. Special occasions warrant more generous time.

So for adult prisoners in general population, one hour is the standard visit duration before parties must conclude their encounter and exist the secured visitation area.

Factors That May Limit Visitation Time

While one hour is the typical duration, certain factors can result in shortened visit times:

Local staffing shortages that disrupt scheduling
Security lockdowns or disciplinary issues with the inmate
Visitor showing up late and missing available slots
Non-family visitors such as friends or associates
Newly incarcerated inmates still in intake processing phase
History of contraband being passed during visits

Unless officially restricted for disciplinary reasons, most inmates eventually do work up to the standard one hour visitation allowance once settled into the routine at their assigned prison.

Number of Visits Allowed Per Week/Month

In addition to capping visit duration, prisons also limit the frequency, spread out to maintain security.

Typical allowance for number of visits per month:

2-3 – General population inmates are allowed 2-3 visits per month from their approved list.
1 – Higher risk category inmates may only receive 1 visit per month to discourage gang/criminal activity.
4 – Benchmark of good behavior can qualify prisoners for up to 4 visit sessions per month.

So for inmates exhibiting compliance and progress in rehabilitation, most UK prisons offer between 2 and 4 visits per month of 1 hour duration each.

Special Types of Visits

Beyond routine social visits from friends/family, some other unique visit types have their own duration rules:

Legal visits – No limit on duration or frequency. Solicitors can access clients when needed.
Family days – Special event annually or biannually with 5+ hour duration spent visiting.
Overnight visits – Low risk inmates allowed 1-2 day visit per year from spouse/family.
Official/social services visits – As needed for prisoner welfare and cooperation.

While regular visits operate under tight constraints, flexibility is offered for legal needs, rehabilitation, and maintaining family ties.

Visitor Qualifications and Approval Process

To maintain prison safety and prevent smuggling, visitors must pass screening:

Existing relationship from prior to incarceration – family, spouse, close friends. No new acquaintances.
Approval forms submitted and verified by staff. Criminal background checks conducted.
No banned items carried in or worn by visitors per scanning and searches.
Official ID cards or documentation required to confirm claimed identity and relationship.
All visits pre-arranged by appointment following visitation request submission procedures.
Children permitted only with guardian supervision.

The approval procedure often takes 4-6 weeks requiring patience. But this careful vetting of visitors is essential to preserving prison order.

Positive Impacts of Visitations

While highly regulated, visitations provide wide-ranging benefits:

For inmates – Maintains family bonds. Boosts morale and motivation. Incentive for good behavior. Crucial mental health support. Grounds prisoners in reality.
For visitors – Allows active role in inmate’s welfare. Eases reintegration later. Keeps relationship intact. Provides oversight and reduces worry.
For prisons – Improved inmate compliance and cooperation. Decreased disciplinary incidents and violence. Encourages participation in rehabilitation programs.

Despite limitations required for safety, visitations deliver advantages that extend far beyond the individuals directly participating in these scenic encounters.

Video Visitation Options

Some UK facilities offer video visitation as an alternative to in-person visits:

Remote video visits – Visitors at home can schedule and conduct monitored video calls with inmates. More convenient but less personal.
On-site video terminals – Stations inside the prison allow virtual visits when in-person isn’t possible.

Video visits enable more frequent communication opportunities for families separated by distance. But most still prefer in-person visits when permitted for the human connection.

COVID-19 Impacts on Prison Visitation

The coronavirus pandemic resulted in an extended suspension of in-person visitation given the health risks:

From March 2020 onward, UK prisons banned in-person visits and restricted all access from outsiders.
Exceptions were made only for essential medical staff and legal advisors with PPE precautions.
Virtual visits became the temporary norm using online portals and secure video calling systems.

While vital for infection control, the long-term denial of in-person visits placed strain on inmates and families alike. Virtual visits helped fill the void but were an imperfect substitute for face-to-face interaction.

For UK inmates and their loved ones, precious visits are administered under tight constraints but remain essential lifelines. One hour is the standard duration for general population prisoner visits to balance meaningful engagement with security. The frequency is also capped at 2-4 visits monthly for well-behaved inmates. While restrictive, these reasonable limitations allow inmates to maintain bonds that improve welfare and incentive for rehabilitation. The vetting process ensures visitors are known relations without risk factors. By working within the stringent ground rules, inmates and families can safely uphold lifeline connections in the brief moments they share physically together.

FAQ About Prison Visits in the UK

How are visitors and inmates supervised during visits.

Guards observe visits from a distance. Conversations may be monitored. Non-contact rules are enforced, except some touching between parents and young children.

Can prisoners have conjugal visits with a spouse or partner?

No, conjugal visits are not normally permitted in UK prisons. The exception is 1-2 overnight family visits may be allowed annually in low security facilities.

What reasons can lead to an approved visitor being banned?

Threats of violence, repeatedly violating policies, attempting to smuggle contraband, disruptive behavior, intoxication, inappropriate attire, etc.

Are phone calls also monitored along with in-person visits?

Yes, phone conversations are subject to the same restrictions and monitoring as in-person visits to prevent criminal activity.

How has COVID impacted prison visitation rules?

The pandemic resulted in an extended suspension of normal in-person visits to protect inmates and staff from infection. Video and virtual visits became the temporary alternative.

Are ex-prisoners allowed to visit current inmates as mentors?

Sometimes, former inmates who have undergone rehabilitation can be approved for mentorship visits. But extensive screening for contraband risks occurs in such instances.

Why Did B. J. Whitmer Go To Prison?
Why Did Charles S. Dutton Go to Prison?
How Long is Life in Prison?
Why Did O.J. Simpson Go To Prison?

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The dire state of British prisons – and what they could learn from Europe to get better

Professor of Criminology, University of Portsmouth

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Francis Pakes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Prisoners and prison officers have long been familiar with the dire state of the UK’s prisons. The escape of Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth in London now has many people wondering what life is like behind bars.

The day before – and certainly overshadowed by – Khalife’s escape, a German court refused to extradite an Albanian man to the UK because of concern about the UK’s prison conditions. The man lived in the UK but was arrested in Germany, so Westminster magistrates court had requested his return.

We know that prisons in England have been worse than at least some European countries for around 250 years. This is thanks to British prison reformer and philanthropist John Howard , who made it his life’s work to visit and write about prisons in the UK and mainland Europe from the 1770s.

Howard found prisons in the UK full of emaciated, ill and suffering prisoners. These were stinking hell holes, with typhus (termed “jail fever”) taking many prisoners’ lives. He found prisons in places like Belgium and the Netherlands so much cleaner and quieter that it embarrassed him. He was “put to the blush”, as he put it, thinking of the sharp contrast between how prisoners were treated humanely in Europe but exposed to atrocious conditions in the UK.

Prisons today

Fast forward to the 21st century, and some of these differences remain apparent. The last decade or so has been especially harmful. As part of austerity, prison budgets were cut and frontline staffing was reduced by 26% between 2010 and 2017 . Staff turnover has increased, and overall the staff now are less experienced than before.

Official statistics show assaults in prisons have increased. There were 20,872 assault incidents in the 12 months to September 2022, an 11% rise from the year before. Among these were 7,356 assaults against staff, and 2,341 serious assault incidents (both prisoner-on-prisoner and on staff), an increase of 21% from the previous 12 months.

This paints a picture of a prison estate that is not safe, either to serve time in or to work in. No wonder prison officers are leaving the service in larger numbers than before.

You can add to this the reports by the official inspectorate of prisons, HMIP. Recently the inspectorate called HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes “unsafe”, and issued an urgent notification to the secretary of state about the high rates of self-harm, drug use and rundown infrastructure.

HMIP reports frequently feature photographs, which dispel any myth that British prisons are like four-star hotels. They are anything but (see for instance this August 2023 report on HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottingham). Facilities are filthy, rotting and infected, and are completely incompatible with the prison service’s stated aim of rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

Silhouette of a fence topped with barbed wire, against a yellow sky at dusk

A recent investigation by the Observer newspaper found three quarters of UK prisons lacking in at least one key respect, while one third were simply judged unsafe. In response, Andrea Albutt, president of the Prison Governors Association, said prisons were “stuffed to the gunwales”, adding:

We are doing little more than warehousing people. The result is that we’re delivering really poor regimes in many of our prisons, with prisoners locked up for 22 hours a day. In a nutshell, it’s dangerous.

With too many prisoners and too few staff, it is difficult to keep order in prison. Prisoners and staff are in survival mode, unable to rehabilitate or achieve other positive outcomes. In these chaotic settings, officers lose their ability to judge the mood on the wing, gather intelligence and be a positive influence. They may miss early signs that something is up, which might allow them to intervene before a crisis – such as an escape – actually occurs.

What makes a good prison?

Prisons elsewhere show that it doesn’t have to be this way. Prisons in Norway and other Nordic countries are held up as examples and described as exceptional . They are smaller, staff and prisoners have more informal and positive interactions, food is better and there is more meaningful activity. Staff pay is better too. The buildings are in a much better physical state and, unlike the UK, there is an absence of overcrowding.

I studied open prisons in Iceland from the inside out . I found the food, cooked by prisoners, absolutely amazing, and healthy too. There was strong coffee freely available. Prisoners took part in classes, did paid work like tending animals, and prepared for their return to society in a non-traumatising environment.

Read more: I deliberately sent myself to prison in Iceland – they didn't even lock the cell doors there

An important factor for prisoner wellbeing and rehabilitation is agency, which is much more common in Nordic prisons. Prisoners have choices and can make decisions. They can argue, for instance, that they are ready for open prison, and have a say in which open prison they prefer to go to. They can move freely within the prison. All these things sustain a sense of normality , which can only help when prisoners make the jump back into society again.

In Germany, the country in which the court decided against transferring a suspect to the UK, prisons are better equipped for rehabilitation . There is no overcrowding, which reduces the risk for violence. Its prison rate , the overall number of prisoners per population, is nearly half of that of the UK: they simply lock up fewer people.

Prisons in the UK could do much better in preparing prisoners for release, and keeping people safe while in prison. But given the physical estate and the culture and atmosphere currently within most prisons , this remains an almighty challenge.

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Visit someone in prison

Visit the Scottish Prison Service website for information on visiting someone in prison, including:

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The Top 4 Prison Hotels

Ello, ‘ello, ‘ello. Fancy a short break with a difference? If so then check out our top four picks for prison stays you won’t want to escape from!

Malmaison Oxford, Oxford Castle, 3 New Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 1AY

Located in Oxford City Centre, this boutique hotel is one of the most imaginative conversions in Britain. This luxurious hotel was once the ‘A’ Wing for the County Gaol in Oxford Castle, built in 1850s during the Victorian Gothic period and serving as HM Prison Oxford from 1888 until 1996. Today, the hotel combines luxury accommodation and stunning food with the darker past of the original building.

Open the heavy studded door to your cell and enter your boutique bedroom boasting luxurious beds and power showers. This is one jail that you won’t want to escape from.

Bodmin Jail Hotel, Scarlett’s Well Road, Bodmin, PL31 2PL

Features: Pet Friendly ~ Onsite Bar & Restaurant ~ Free Wifi ~ Family Rooms Available

Built in 1779 by prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars for King George III, Bodmin Jail is the site of 55 prisoner executions dating until 1909. Today, the gaol has been renovated from a dilapidated former jail into a boutique hotel.

Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, close to wild moor of Bodmin, Bodmin Jail Hotel is perfect for exploring Cornwall and all it has to offer.

Courthouse Hotel, 335-337 Old Street, Shoreditch, London EC1V 9LL

Dine in the building where Mick Jagger was once accused of being in possession of cannabis, or have a drink where Keith Richards received a £205 fine for possession of some illegal substances; The Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch is steeped in history and has a connection to many famous names.

Having received a £40 million renovation, this luxury boutique hotel is located in a Grade-II listed Magistrates Court and Police Station and boasts a spa, bowling alley, cinema, swimming pool and a sky terrace overlooking London. It also boasts luxurious bedrooms and exceptional food.

How can you turn down a tipple in the cell where the notorious Kray twins appeared at their first criminal hearing in 1965?!

Good Hotel London, Royal Victoria Dock, Newham, London E16 1FA

Just a short stroll from the ExCel Convention Centre and a few miles from London City Airport, and Canary Wharf, this former Dutch jail barge has now arrived in London’s Royal Victoria Dock, the city’s first long steamship dock.

Now a stylish floating hotel, it offers spectacular views of the River Thames and city beyond. All en suite rooms feature modern decor, with both custom-made and design furniture. Locally sourced food and drinks are served all day.

Are conjugal visits allowed in the UK? Prison rules explained

The generally recognised basis for permitting such visits in modern times is to preserve family bonds

14:01, 6 NOV 2018

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A conjugal visit is a scheduled period in which an inmate of a prison or jail is permitted to spend several hours or days in private with a visitor, usually their legal spouse.

The generally recognised basis for permitting such visits in modern times is to preserve family bonds and increase the chances of success for a prisoner's eventual return to life after release from prison.

They also provide an incentive to inmates to comply with the various day-to-day rules and regulations of the prison.

Neither the English , Welsh , Scottish , nor Northern Irish prison systems allow conjugal visits.

However, home visits, with a greater emphasis on building other links with the outside world to which the prisoner will be returned, are allowed.

These home visits are usually only granted to prisoners who have a few weeks to a few months remaining of a long sentence.

Furthermore, home visits are more likely to be granted if the prisoner is deemed to have a low risk of absconding (i.e. prisoners being held in open prisons have a better chance of being granted home visits than prisoner being held in closed conditions).

In the UK pressure exists to grant family visits and there is speculation that the law will face a serious challenge.

But a spokesperson for the Howard League for Penal Reform said the idea was "not particularly helpful".

She said: "Rather than having a wife or girlfriend come for the explicit purpose of having sex what you need is family days, in which sex can be a part.

"What's important is to preserve family ties during a prison term."

Most Recent

'I was scared to leave prison and break the cycle'

Ryan Hull, a former inmate at Highpoint prison

Ryan Hull believes more inmates need to speak about the anxieties of life after prison

Published 7 May 2024, 06:31 BST

Former prison inmates said their lives were "transformed" by a new project which offered them a job after release.

HMP Highpoint near Haverhill, Suffolk, in partnership with City and Guilds, launched the programme to teach inmates how to maintain railway infrastructure back in August 2022.

Once inmates are released, they then have a job lined up working in the industry that hopefully deters them from re-offending.

Ryan Hull and Othman, former inmates, said the programme has given them a sense of relief.

Inmates are being taught skills on the railway to have employment ready for when they are released

Mr Hull, 31, initially didn't apply for the programme after thinking he wouldn't be accepted.

"It was quite a nice feeling because it guaranteed me a job," he explained.

"There was the anxiety of going to go back to the same lifestyle [once out of prison]

"When you live a certain lifestyle for so long it's hard to break the cycle.

"It offered me a different route away from that."

Mr Hull has already had great success in his employment.

He worked on the tracks for about six weeks before he was then promoted to a labour manager looking after 250 men.

"The railway has so much progression and so many different routes," Mr Hull added.

Life is "completely different" he said from how it was before he went into prison.

"The money you earn is yours and you don't have to worry about a single thing because everything is above board and you are doing the right thing."

Othman a former inmate at Highpoint prison

Othman said the progression through the industry helped by the programme is really promising

Othman, 39, joined the programme in September 2022 just after it launched but experienced tough competition.

"It was very popular as it was new at the time," he said.

"I thought this was a step for me to go down the straight route and not come back to prison."

Othman said he had "a lot of anxiety" about leaving prison but the course left him "relieved".

"I was able to meet employers and I studied the course, learnt the skills so upon release it was all up hill," he added.

Othman now works on the Euston railway line and said life was "peaceful".

"It's the best thing ever, I wouldn't change it and I can't see myself ever going back to my old lifestyle," he said.

"The peace that you get when you know that you're doing right and my family is proud and happy for me."

Mr Pond said there had not been one incident with an inmate on the programme

Alex Pond is the executive director of training at City and Guilds that offers vocational education and apprenticeships.

Mr Pond said City and Guilds had noticed a space in the rehabilitation industry that could improve the UK's skill shortage.

"At first it was quite difficult because there was no funding and the industry wasn't really engaged," he explained.

"But through breaking down doors and communication we quickly realised there was an appetite both in society and the industry."

Since August 2022, 107 inmates have completed the programme and 87 of those are still in employment.

Mr Pond said the success in the rail industry has prompted them to consider other industries including construction and electrical.

"Three weeks ago I was coming out of a classroom in this very prison and a prisoner stopped me to say he had been in for 18 years," Mr Pond continued.

"He said this was the first time in 18 years that he had been given hope and he completed his course and he's now working on the railway.

"I am very proud."

Ms Wheeler said the course aims to help inmates stop reoffending

Lisa Wheeler is the land-based activities manager at HMP Highpoint and the staff member who interviews the inmates for the programme.

She said when the inmates know they are getting employment on the outside "they take it more seriously".

"They know when getting out it is security for them," she said.

"It gives them a sense of pride - they're proud they've done the course, they're going out to work and they are providing for their family."

Ms Wheeler said the programme was so popular, inmates from other prisons have visited to take part.

"It's about someone believing in them and saying, actually, you can do this," she continued.

"A lot of the men at the end of the course say thank you, but I didn't do anything.

"I just gave them the tools to use and to better themselves and get a job."

Follow Suffolk news on Facebook , external , Instagram , external and X , external . Got a story? Email [email protected] , external or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830

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US soldier jailed in Russia ‘was not authorized’ to be there, but went anyway to meet a woman

Staff sergeant gordon black was supposed to be heading back to texas from posting in south korea when he showed up in vladivostock, article bookmarked.

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A United States soldier who was arrested in Russia last week, after reportedly flying there to meet a woman , was in the country without authorisation from the Army.

Staff Sergeant Gordon C Black, 34, was taken into custody on Thursday in Vladivostok , on Russia’s east coast, after travelling from his posting in South Korea .

On Tuesday, the US Army told The Independent that Sgt Black was supposed to be heading back to Fort Cavazos in Texas .

“Black did not request official clearance and DoD did not authorise his travel to China and Russia ,” Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said. “Official and leave travel is currently restricted pursuant to the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide.”

Sgt. Black, who enlisted in 2008 and was deployed in Iraq between October 2009 and September 2010, had been assigned to the US Army ’s base at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, Ms Smith said.

The soldier, who had also served in Afghanistan between June 2013 and March 2014, was “out-processed” from the camp on 10 April, on “permanent change of station leave”.

Rather than return to Texas as planned, he flew via China to Russia, “for personal reasons”. The spokeswoman said there was “no evidence” he intended to stay beyond his leave period.

In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) , the soldier’s mother Melody Jones said he was visiting his “girlfriend”.

"I told him I was really uncomfortable," Ms Jones told the show. "I had a bad feeling about him going, but he went anyway."

Russian authorities detained Sgt Black on 2 May and informed US officials of the arrest the following day.

Officials there said on Tuesday that he was romantically involved with the woman he had gone to meet.

He was charged with “secretly stealing property” of a person referred to as “citizen T”, Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok said, after a 32-year-old woman, whom he had met in South Korea where she was working at the time, filed a complaint against him, according to Russia’s interior ministry.

The two began a relationship, and after the woman returned to Vladivostok the man came to visit her, arriving on 10 April, the statement said, saying the couple later had an argument.

“I knew something was going to happen. I felt like he was being set up by her,” Ms Jones told GMA .

Sgt Black’s mother said Tuesday that she was worried for her son.

“I cry at night. I’m hoping he’s not being tortured or hurt,” she told GMA. “It’s just hard being a mom and being in that situation,” Ms Jones continued. “Not being able to touch him, you know? Hug him and tell him it will be OK.”

Russian authorities said that after the man left, the woman discovered an undisclosed sum of money was missing and filed a police report.

The statement said the man had been arrested at a local hotel and purchased airline tickets, intending to flee to his home country. The Russian daily newspaper Izvestia, quoting an unnamed source, said the soldier had stolen 200,000 roubles ($2,196) from her.

Sgt Black is being held in pre-trial detention, the court said in a separate statement, referring only to “US citizen B.”

His detention was to prevent him from evading charges, the court added.

“The court came to the conclusion that US citizen B, under the weight of the charges, in order to avoid responsibility, could hide from the preliminary investigation authorities and the court, thereby preventing the proceedings in the case,” the statement said.

The US Army confirmed that Sgt Black is being held until his next court appearance.

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s office in Vladivostok has claimed his arrest has nothing to do with politics, according to state news agency TASS.

“This case has no relation to politics or espionage. As far as we understand, a household crime [is suspected] in this case. That is why the Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok is not following the case of the US citizen closely,” the mission said.

Several Americans are currently being held in Russian prisons, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was jailed last March, and former marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018. The US government has said both are wrongfully detained.

In late April, Mr Gershkovich was told he would remain in a Russian jail until at least the end of June. He is accused of espionage. Meanwhile, LA woman Ksenia Karelin was arrested on charges of treason in February while visiting family in Russia, after allegedly sending $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity.

WNBA player Brittney Griner was also detained by Russia in early 2022 on drug-related charges. She was released as part of a prisoner swap in December 2022 and has written a book, Coming Home , about her harrowing experiences.

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Around three in every five prisons in England and Wales are now overcrowded.

Prisons ‘sleepwalking into crisis’ as inmates forced to share single cells

Longer sentences and court backlogs push 25% of prisoners in England and Wales into shared cells, adding to drug-use and violence

The scale of the prison overcrowding crisis has been laid bare by figures revealing that a quarter of prisoners in England and Wales have been sharing cells designed for one person with at least one other inmate.

According to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), 11,018 cells intended for single use were being shared by two prisoners, with a further 18 such cells shared by three inmates. The overall prison population – which has ballooned over recent decades because of longer sentences and court backlogs – stood at about 88,000 when the statistics were originally compiled in late February.

Steve Gillan, the head of the Prison Officers Association, said sharing cells designed for one person creates tension among inmates, making the jobs of overworked prison staff even more difficult: “It is no wonder that the prison service is struggling to retain prison officers and operational support grades in England and Wales. The pressure on staff is intolerable and dangerous.”

He warned that the government was “sleepwalking into another crisis” after it “learned nothing” from the landmark Woolf report into the 1990 Strangeways riots, in which two people died. Among the report’s recommendations was that no prison should hold more inmates than is provided for in its certified accommodation level – which represents the “good, decent standard of accommodation” that the Prison Service says it aspires to provide to all inmates.

But three in five prisons are now overcrowded, with the problem most acute in inner-city Victorian reception jails such as Leeds, Bristol and Bedford, according to Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons.

Taylor said a lot of maintenance work is deferred in order to keep cells in use, and that too many prisoners have poor access to education and employment – activities that can reduce the chance of reoffending on release.

He believes that sharing is not inherently problematic, and can be a “protective factor against self-harm”, but is critical of the length of time many inmates are continuing to be confined in their cells, as they were during the pandemic. “The key issue is the conditions in which people are sharing cells,” Taylor said. “If prisoners were out of their cells spending the majority of their day in education and employment, then cramped conditions, while not ideal, would be less concerning. But the reality in many jails is two men spending up to 23 hours a day penned into a very small cell that was designed for one person, often in a poor state of repair and with an unscreened toilet. When you consider that, it is hardly surprising that levels of violence are rising and that we are seeing a worrying rise in the use of drugs,” said Taylor.

Prison Service rules require that cells are only shared where a prison group director has assessed them to be of an adequate size, condition and safety. Risk assessments are carried out on prisoners before deciding whether it is safe for them to share cells in closed conditions. Even a small oversight can lead to a vulnerable inmate being trapped with a potentially violent prisoner.

“We do complete risk assessments in custody but sadly on occasions there are times where people don’t get on. We would identify vulnerability, and those people get marked up to a single cell,” Mark Icke, the vice-president of the Prison Governors’ Association, said.

With many prisons at breaking point, the government has adopted emergency measures, including allowing some offenders to be released early , to try to tackle the overcrowding crisis. But the prison population is still projected to increase to between 94,600 and 114,800 by March 2028, in part because of a growth in police charging and changes in policy to keep the most serious offenders locked up for longer.

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Andrea Coomber KC, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform charity, said sentencing reform is vital to create a more humane and sustainable justice system. “The government needs to take a serious look at other options and fundamentally reconsider sentencing regimes, which have meant sentences have gotten longer and longer over the last 20 years,” she said. “Nearly 40% of prisoners are there for non-violent offences. As a starting point, we need to think if any of those people need to be in prison at all.”

An MoJ spokesperson said: “We are delivering the biggest prison expansion since the Victorian era – including two prisons in two years – to help rehabilitate offenders and keep our streets safe. We will always ensure there is enough capacity to serve the outcome of the courts and keep dangerous offenders behind bars, and cells are only doubled up where it is safe to do so.

“Our sentencing bill will help reduce reoffending through greater use of tougher community sentences.”

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William gives update on Kate and the children during Newcastle visit

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Prince William told Royal fans the family were ‘doing well’ (Picture: North News)

Prince William told Royal fans Kate and the children are ‘doing well’ as he left suicide prevention centre James’ Place in Newcastle this afternoon.

Royal supporters draped in Union Jack flags and clutching flowers gathered outside the charity in brilliant sunshine to greet the future monarch.

Addressing the King’s son Julie Cain, 60, said: ‘Do you mind if I ask how your wife and children are?’

William replied: ‘All doing well, thank you. Yes, we’re doing well.’

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The heir to the throne shook hands with the well-wishers and was happy to pose for selfies with those who asked.

William met families outside James’s Place before opening the venue which offers free treatment to suicidal men.

The centre is one of several belonging to the charity set up by the family of James Wentworth-Stanley, who killed himself aged 21 in 2006.

Elsewhere during the visit, a cheeky toddler pretended it was his birthday in order to get the Prince’s attention.

Kevin, three, made the claim and was delighted when HRH bent down, shook his hand and asked him if he’d had any cake.

Afterwards, staff at Little Lotus Nursery admitted it wasn’t Kevin’s birthday and the tot had been so eager to chat to the Prince of Wales he’d told a white lie.

Sadie Stewart, six, handed the King’s son a card to congratulate him on his 13th wedding anniversary.

Dated: 30/04/2024 Prince William was in the Summerhill area of Newcastle this afternoon (TUES) where he formally opened James' Place, a suicide prevention charity. Fans waited outside the centre with flags and greeted him as he arrived, including three year old Kevin See story North News

The schoolgirl, who was with mum Carole, 48 and brother Miles, 13, said: ‘It was very, very good to chat to him.

‘He is really nice.

‘He is showing his children the card later which makes me very happy.

‘I’m going to tell everyone at school.’

Carole added: ‘We’ve been here since 10am. It’s something the children will remember for the rest of their lives.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

MORE : King Charles returns to work with poignant choice for first official engagement

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People diagnosed with cancer in prison more likely to die from the disease

30 April 2024

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin more confident than ever after inauguration speech; plot to 'kill Zelenskyy' stopped

Vladimir Putin has been officially sworn in as Russian president for a new six-year term, although many Western nations did not attend. The ruler seems more confident than ever. Elsewhere, Ukraine says it has foiled a plot to kidnap and kill President Zelenskyy.

Tuesday 7 May 2024 19:09, UK

Putin sworn in again as president | Claims Russia would work with West
'We elect our president': Kremlin defends 'purely democratic' Russia
Ivor Bennett analysis: Painted as a modern-day Tsar, Putin seems more confident than ever
Plot to 'kidnap and kill Zelenskyy' stopped, Ukraine says
Many nations boycott Putin's inauguration ceremony
Putin has 85% approval rating - here's why
Big picture : What you need to know as a new week begins
Your questions answered: Why can't Ukraine destroy key Crimean bridge?
Live reporting by Lauren Russell and Ollie Cooper

We're pausing our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for the time being - thanks for tuning in.

Before you go, here is a recap of today's developments.

Vladimir Putin was officially sworn in again as Russian president, marking the start of his fifth term in office;
During his inaugural speech, Mr Putin said he is willing to work with the West, but it is down to them to cooperate with Russia;
Two people have been arrested after Ukraine's intelligence agency foiled a plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
The widow of former Putin critic Alexei Navalny criticised Mr Putin on the day of his inauguration calling him a murderer and a liar.

By Ivor Bennett , Moscow correspondent

Held inside the throne room of the Tsars, the ceremony felt almost like a coronation rather than an inauguration.

And that was part of the point. The symbolism was key.

Andreyevsky Hall, where Vladimir Putin took the oath of office, is dripping with gold.

It oozes power.

I think this was an attempt to paint him as a modern-day Tsar, who is the rightful ruler of Russia.

The other aim was to add the stamp of electoral legitimacy to his leadership, and his policies.

The Kremlin’s chief spokesman Dmitry Peskov told me beforehand that this was just part of the "democratic" political process (see our 13.35 post).

The speech was typical Putin - talking up Russia's greatness, blaming the West for Moscow's isolation and doubling down on his current path of conflict abroad and a crackdown at home.

He said he ranks the safety of the Russian people "above all else".

Translation - we're in this for the long haul.

But whose fault is Russia’s status as a global pariah?

Not ours, he said.

This was all part of the Kremlin's narrative to portray the West as the aggressor, and Russia as the victim.

What might concern people both at home and abroad was the tone of the speech.

For example, he gave a thinly veiled warning that protest will not be tolerated, saying it’s important "not to forget the tragic price of internal turmoil", adding that Russia must be "absolutely resistant" to it.

And the last line: "We will overcome all obstacles and bring all our plans to life."

Vladimir Putin seems more confident than ever.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said Europe needs to spend "big money" in order to prevent other powers in the world from "raising a hand against it".

Speaking at a conference in the Polish city of Katowice, Mr Tusk called on European countries to take joint action to increase spending on defence by at least €100bn (£85bn).

"Europe must be prepared in the next dozen or so months and the entire next five years for a situation in which no power in the world will dare raise a hand against it," he said.

"Big money will move the war away from Europe's borders for a long time, perhaps permanently."

He also repeated the idea of building a common European air defence system - saying Europe has "more initiatives than real actions".

Due to the war in Ukraine, Poland is strengthening its defence capabilities, allocating over 4% of its GDP.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, agreed Europe must spend more on defence and declared that if she remains in office for another term she will propose new defence projects.

A Russian national has been sanctioned in the UK, US and Australia for his alleged role as the creator of the most prolific ramsomware group in the world.

The sanctions target Dmitry Khoroshev who has been identified as one of the leaders of LockBit, the ransomware group responsible for extorting over $1bn from thousands of victims globally.

In the US, Khoroshev has been charged with 26 counts of allegedly developing and administering a malicious cyber scheme.

The UK's foreign office said the LockBit group was behind attacks on over 200 UK businesses and major public server providers and 25% of all global ransomware attacks.

Pro-Russian Chechen forces are baring the brunt of the frontlines in Ukraine and training Russian troops behind the scenes, the UK's Ministry of Defence says.

Around 9,000 personnel are currently serving within the Pro-Russian Chechen forces in Ukraine, which has been pushed back onto the frontline since the withdrawal of Russia's private military company, Wagner, the MoD said in its daily intelligence update.

At the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, Chechen forces became known as "TikTok troops" for their presence on social media.

But, they have since provided personnel and given training to Russians at The Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya.

The MoD said troops receive up to 10 days' training at the so-called university.

Chechnya has historically always supported Russia's military action in Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of using banned toxins on the battlefield.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is in The Hague, said that all accusations were "insufficiently substantiated".

But it added: "The situation remains volatile and extremely concerning regarding the possible re-emergence of use of toxic chemicals as weapons."

Neither side has asked the OPCW to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons.

Last week, Russia denied allegations from the US that it had used the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops and utilised riot control agents "as a method of warfare".

Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, any toxic chemical used with the purpose of causing harm or death is considered a chemical weapon.

We've been covering the fifth inauguration of Vladimir Putin as Russian president.

The ceremony took place in Moscow's Grand Kremlin Palace, and our correspondent Ivor Bennett was there to experience the entire event.

He also interviewed Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the state of democracy in Russia and the lack of opposition during the presidential election back in March.

Bennett asked Mr Peskov: "Western leaders and Western governments believe that Vladimir Putin has turned Russia into a dictatorship, why do you think that’s not the case?"

Mr Peskov replied: "This is not the case.

"It's just propaganda, it's rough propaganda, nothing else."

He went on to say Russia was "purely democratic", adding: "We choose our power. We elect our power. We elect our president. We vote for the president or don’t want to vote for the president.

"And we insist that we have the right to do it the way we want to do it.

"And we don’t want a third country to interfere in our choices, in our preferences."

Pressed on whether the lack of opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia was democratic, Mr Peskov said: "But there is opposition inside the country, of course the conditions are much tougher here because we are in war conditions."

Mr Peskov used the word "war" twice in the interview - typically, the Kremlin refers to its invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation" - a term he also used once.

Ivor Bennett then asked if it was even more important for the public to have the right to speak out in wartime.

"No, to the contrary. It needs tougher measures to ensure the victory, to ensure that we reach our goals," Mr Peskov replied.

Asked whether this was democratic, Mr Peskov insisted: "It is, it is."

He added that the Western media in Europe and the US exists in the "same circumstances".

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside The Hague's Peace Palace in The Netherlands to protest the inauguration of President Vladimir Putin.

The protesters, many of whom had travelled from Germany, carried a giant carnival float that showed a caricature of the Russian leader with blood on his hands in a striped prison uniform.

They also held Ukrainian flags and placards saying: "Putin to The Hague" - which is the home of the International Court of Justice.

Dina Musina, who works for a Berlin-based charity that supports Russian prisoners, said they need to "raise awareness about Putin's crimes internationally".

A plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been uncovered by Ukraine's state security service (SBU).

The SBU claimed two agents who were posing as Ukrainian state guard servicemen were tasked by Moscow to figure out a way to capture Mr Zelenskyy and later kill him.

They also planned to kill other high-ranking Ukrainian officials, the SBU said in a statement on Telegram .

Head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, described the plot as a "gift to Putin before the inauguration".

The SBU said two suspects have been detained after an investigation gradually documented their alleged criminal actions.

Ukrainian claims that plots to kill Mr Zelenskyy are not new.

The president said in 2022 there had been at least 10 attempts to assassinate him since the start of the war.

The widow of former Putin critic Alexei Navalny has criticised President Vladimir Putin on the day of his fifth inauguration as Russian leader.

In a video posted on YouTube shortly before the ceremony took place in Moscow, Yulia Navalnaya called Mr Putin a liar, a thief and a murderer.

She added that the war in Ukraine is "bloody and senseless" and no one wants it apart from the Russian leader.

"Huge sums of money are stolen from all of us every day to fund bombings of peaceful cities, riot police beating people with batons, propagandists spreading lies. And also for [the elite's] own palaces, yachts and private jets," she said.

"And as long as this continues, we can't stop the fight."

Having been exiled from Russia, Ms Navalnaya has vowed to continue the work of her late husband, who died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February.

She has accused Mr Putin of having him killed, an accusation which the Kremlin has always denied.

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Entertainment

Minister warned two years ago Ireland ‘attractive alternative’ for migrants

Helen McEntee’s Department of Justice was warned two years ago that the UK’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda would make Ireland ‘an attractive alternative’.

The Justice Minister was told in a briefing that Ireland could also become ‘a stepping stone’ for migrants who hoped to later get back into the UK permanently.

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Story continues below.

The documents, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, were prepared in 2022 as the Department of Justice considered an end to the ban on deportations towards the end of the pandemic.

But with the migration crisis now growing by the day, the Government has been criticised for failing to act on these warnings.

Relations with Downing Street are at an impasse over the question of returning migrants to the UK, after they have crossed the border and travelled towards Dublin as the deportations to Rwanda loom.

It follows days of diplomatic sniping from the Dáil and the British parliament with London adamant that it is under no obligation to accept back migrants who travel to the Republic from the UK via Northern Ireland.

The Justice Minister has said that most migrants arriving into Ireland are coming across the border and are doing so due to the threat of being sent to Rwanda.

But the Irish Daily Mail has found that ministers warned two years ago of the impact the UK’s Rwanda policy was having even then.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Pic: Fran Veale

A UK Government source said on Thursday: ‘If the Irish government believes the Rwanda plan is already having an effect, we can explore Ireland joining it. Many countries are looking at a third country now.’

Last night, a total of 1,839 male asylum seekers are without a bed in the State – a figure that has grown dramatically from 739 in February, with close to 7,000 asylum seekers arriving in Ireland in the first four months of this year.

That figure is estimated to grown to 20,000 by the year’s end. Labour leader Ivana Bacik said it is ‘appalling’ that asylum seekers are again without accommodation and accused the Government of lacking a coherent plan.

But Minister McEntee and Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman are also facing calls from members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to appear before them, with many members frustrated with what they call their poor performance.

Roderic O'Gorman. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor told the Mail: ‘I am asking that the party’s leadership in terms of our Tanáiste and our Cabinet members would face up to the fact that the public are extremely dissatisfied with how these issues have been handled. And we do need to have a conversation with both Roderic and Helen.’

In July 2022, then-Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the UK government’s policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda could be a factor in the surge of people fleeing to Ireland.

He said at the time: ‘Something has happened in the last two to three months in terms of the surge within international protection applicants, something has clearly happened. Anecdotally, or intuitively, one can see maybe a sense that that policy announcement… clearly may have motivated people utilising the Common Travel Area to come into the Republic.’

And the Integration Minister, Roderic O’Gorman also said then: ‘There have been a range of changes to migration policy in the UK, and the Rwanda policy is just one element of that. And they’ve taken place over the last nine months to a year, and we believe that they are one of the reasons why we’re experiencing an increase in international protection applicants.’

Tanáiste Micheal Martin making a statement to media concerning rioting in Dublin on Thursday evening. Pic: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

The warnings from Department of Justice officials to Minister McEntee in 2022 also noted: ‘While it remains to be seen how successful the UK’s much criticised attempt to outsource its immigrant processing to Rwanda will be in reality, [it could be that the chance] of being removed to that state would cause migrants to the UK to think twice and seek alternatives. Ireland may ultimately be seen as an attractive alternative, or a stepping stone to the UK via eventual Irish citizenship and the Common Travel Area at a later date. Such behaviour would not be new.’

It comes as tensions have surfaced between the Taoiseach, Simon Harris and Minister O’Gorman after Mr Harris was warned this week that ‘tent cities’ are likely to re-emerge.

Up to 100 asylum seekers were ordered to leave the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street in the capital on Thursday, after the ‘shanty town’ was cleared on Wednesday, with close to 300 asylum seekers moved on to two other locations.

With more than 1,800 male asylum seekers left without a bed across the State, those who arrived on Thursday were told there is no accommodation.

Workers removing tents from Mount Street on Wednesday. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Mr Harris is said to be adamant that no ‘tent city’ will return to the streets of Dublin, but the Mail understands that Minister O’Gorman has warned Coalition colleagues in Fine Gael that they may return.

Sources at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday night said the suggestion from Mr O’Gorman that further tent cities could spring up across the capital got a ‘firm response’ from the Taoiseach, who said: ‘It’s not happening, they’re not [coming back].’

Another member of Fine Gael said: ‘If the tents come back on Mount Street, it will be a blow to his [Harris’s] authority.’

A Green Party source said Mr O’Gorman’s remarks were simply a reflection of ‘arithmetic reality’ and that he hoped the Taoiseach’s comments meant that he would wholeheartedly support the accommodation strategy set out by Mr O’Gorman a number of weeks ago.

A source added: ‘The minister has been clear in public and in private that the best way to prevent rough sleeping by IP [International Protection] applicants is by providing accommodation.’

In a bid to get a handle on the crisis, Minister McEntee is understood to be reviewing eight more countries to add to a ‘safe country’ list, which would limit the number of asylum applications.

She has said the IPO is expected to make 14,000 decisions on asylum applications in 2024, up from 4,400 in 2021 and 8,400 in 2023.

However, 6,887 asylum seekers have arrived here in the first four months of the year, and ministers have been warned this could mean 20,000 arriving here this year.

On Thursday, around 100 or so men were handed a letter from the IPO on Mount Street explaining there was no accommodation for them.

A worker cleans the pavement with a pressure washer on Mount Street on Wednesday. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Gardaí kept a presence outside and ordered the men to disperse following their receiving the letters.

Some men shouted ‘where should we go?’ as they were given the orders by gardaí. It is understood that gardaí will continue to maintain a presence on Mount Street. Large fences have been erected on the street to deter people from trying to set up tents.

The Mail spoke to several asylum seekers on Thursday who said that they have no idea what they are going to do next. One man, who said he was from Iraq, described sleeping in a church on Wednesday night with a friend of his. He is hoping to spend another night there tonight, he said.

Another man described how he tried to find a quiet place to set up a tent along the canal but added that it was ‘not safe’ for him to try to sleep there.

A third man, who said he was from Algeria, described how he managed to find a warm bed to sleep in on Tuesday night.

However, when he returned to Mount Street, his tent was gone as well as the few possessions he kept in the tent.

With additional reporting by Ken Foxe

‘Firm but fair’ — Cabinet approves proposed asylum seeker legislation

‘disgusting’ — minister hits out at protests outside the home of roderic o’gorman, convicted rapist who made hoax bomb threat against minister for justice gets two more years in prison, must read news.

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Binance founder Changpeng Zhao gets four month prison term

The founder of crypto exchange Binance, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, has been sentenced to four months in prison in the US after pleading guilty to violating anti-money laundering requirements.

Federal prosecutors had been seeking three years, double the sentencing guidelines, while Zhao's lawyers had argued for probation. Zhao pleaded guilty in November as part of deal between Binance and the Department of Justice, Treasury Department and CFTC to settle allegations that the exchange failed to maintain a proper anti-money laundering programme, operated an unlicensed money-transmitting business and violated sanctions law. The world's largest crypto exchange agreed to forfeit $2.5 billion to the government and pay a fine of $1.8 billion. Meanwhile, Zhao pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act and causing a financial institution to violate the same act. He agreed to pay a $50 million fine, quit as CEO and be barred from any involvement in running Binance, which he founded in 2017. In a statement to media, Binance says it is “proud of the culture of compliance, security, and transparency we have created over the past several years, and we look forward to building on that culture as we continue to evolve.”

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A convicted prisoner is usually allowed at least two 1-hour visits every 4 weeks. A prisoner on remand (waiting for their trial) is allowed three 1-hour visits a week. You can find out more about ...
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You can now book a prison visit online. Jake Barlow - former Director for GOV.UK, Government Digital Service, 15 September 2014 - Transformation. Booking a prison visit should be simple and straightforward. Until now that was far from the case. Booking a visit required both prisoner and visitor to jump through hoops: paper forms and drawn-out ...
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Dates: Every Wednesday Times: 6:30pm & 8:30pm Duration: 1.5 hours Great for: Families, Ages 12+ Price: Adults £25, Children £25. Shrewsbury Prison is the 6th Dark Tourism Destination in the World - come and discover and hear the tales of what lurks behind the high prison walls in the dead of night. Find Out More.
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Prison visits are an essential aspect of the UK's penal system, offering invaluable emotional support to inmates and helping to maintain family ties. Whether you're a first-time visitor or someone who has been through the process before, understanding the basics—like how to book a visit, what to bring, and what to expect—can make the ...
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1. Help With Prison Visits. The Help With Prison Visits scheme (HWPV) provides a contribution towards prison visit costs for close relatives, partners or sole visitors. The visitor must be on a ...
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Monday-Friday 13:00-14:30 with a booked visit. Authorisation must be given to the prisoner first via the visit application system. Saturday 10:00-11:00 exceptional circumstances with a booked visit. Authorisation must be given to the prisoner first via the visit application system. Sunday- Closed . Property allowance:
PDF Information for Visitors
may want to visit the Prison Service web site (www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk). If you would like to talk to someone, advice and support is available from the Independent Offenders' Families Helpline (freephone) on 0808 808 2003 or 0151 213 3278/0151 213 3279 the Visitors' Centre at the prison or one of the support groups listed at the back of ...
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If you would like to make a comment or raise a complaint about a Visitors' Centre or any of our services, you can submit an online form or contact us at [email protected]. Find a Visitors' Centre Tell us what you think. Pact supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their families across England and Wales.
How to book a prison visit
Step 1: Find out the prisoner's details. Before you can book a visit, you'll need to know the prisoner's full name, date of birth, prisoner number and prison location. You can find this information by contacting the prisoner or using the ' Locate a prisoner ' section of the UK Gov website. Step 2: Complete the application form.
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Task. Your loved ones can visit you when you're in prison. This includes your partner and close family members. Your visitors will need to be over the age of 18 unless they are accompanied by an adult. The prison governor may allow people aged 16-18 years old to visit unaccompanied by an adult, as long as they have parental consent.
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Assisted Prison Visits Scheme rules and conditions apply. For an application pack telephone 0300 063 2100 between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays), or you can collect one from the Family Pathway Centre when you arrive for your visit.
Visiting Rules
Whilst some visiting areas are not very welcoming the prison do try very hard to make the visit an enjoyable and stress free occasion. You book visits direct with the prison on a dedicated phone number, and when confirmed you will be given a specific date and time. It is wide to arrive for the visit in good time as you will be subjected to a ...
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Prison staff can let you know about things like: If you're unsure of the rules, get in contact with the prison. How often you can visit someone in prison. A convicted prisoner is allowed at least two 60-minute visits every four weeks. A prisoner on remand (waiting for their trial) is allowed three 60-minute visits a week. A convicted prisoner ...
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Prisoners Abroad may have some prison visiting information. Prisoners Abroad may be able to put you in contact with others who have visited that prison or country. Prisoners Abroad may be able to offer a contribution towards your trip through our Travel Fund. The British government travel advice page contains useful information about every ...
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2-3 - General population inmates are allowed 2-3 visits per month from their approved list. 1 - Higher risk category inmates may only receive 1 visit per month to discourage gang/criminal activity. 4 - Benchmark of good behavior can qualify prisoners for up to 4 visit sessions per month. So for inmates exhibiting compliance and progress ...
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Visit someone in prison
Visit someone in prison. Last updated. 5 Apr 2022. Visit the Scottish Prison Service website for information on visiting someone in prison, including: visiting times. prison facilities, for example to check accessibility if you're disabled. You can also find out what will happen on the day you visit.
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If so then check out our top four picks for prison stays you won't want to escape from! Malmaison Oxford, Oxford Castle, 3 New Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 1AY. Features: 4 Star AA Rated Hotel ~ Rosette Awarded Restaurant ~ Dogs Welcome. Located in Oxford City Centre, this boutique hotel is one of the most imaginative conversions in Britain.
PDF List of items allowed in Prisons, Open-type Prisons and ...
- canned food (tins only, no glass containers) - bought from the prison shop - fruit and vegetables - vinegar, oil, olive oil, margarine, salt, herbs and spices (bought from the prison shop) - ketchup and mustard (bought from the prison shop) 3. Items for which a special permission from the prison governor is needed 3.1. Clothes - suit (no tie)
Are conjugal visits allowed in the UK? Prison rules explained
A conjugal visit is a scheduled period in which an inmate of a prison or jail is permitted to spend several hours or days in private with a visitor, usually their legal spouse. The generally ...
Highpoint prison scheme 'transforming' inmates' lives
7 May 2024, 06:31 BST. Former prison inmates said their lives were "transformed" by a new project which offered them a job after release. HMP Highpoint near Haverhill, Suffolk, in partnership with ...
US soldier jailed in Russia 'was not authorized' to be there, but went
In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America (GMA), the soldier's mother Melody Jones said he was visiting his "girlfriend". "I told him I was really uncomfortable," Ms Jones told the show.
Prison Categorisation
Understanding prison categorisation in the UK is essential for anyone involved with the penal system. From high-security Category A facilities to more relaxed Category D prisons, knowing what each category means and how prisoners are placed can provide valuable insights. Whether you're aiming for recategorisation or looking to understand ...
Prisons 'sleepwalking into crisis' as inmates forced to share single
But the prison population is still projected to increase to between 94,600 and 114,800 by March 2028, in part because of a growth in police charging and changes in policy to keep the most serious ...
Prince William gives update on Kate Middleton during Newcastle visit
William gives update on Kate and the children during Newcastle visit. Prince William told Royal fans Kate and the children are 'doing well' as he left suicide prevention centre James' Place ...
People diagnosed with cancer in prison more likely to die from the
Cancer patients diagnosed in English prisons do not receive the same level of curative treatment as those in the general population, meaning they are at increased risk of death, according to a study led by Professor Rachael Hunter (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care).
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin claims he could work with West
Vladimir Putin now heads outside, facing troops from the Russian army, who salute and congratulate him on his new term. He in turn congratulates the troops of the presidential regiment on the 88th ...
UK's Rwanda Plan A Risk To Ireland, Helen McEntee Was Warned
03/05/2024. Helen McEntee's Department of Justice was warned two years ago that the UK's plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda would make Ireland 'an attractive alternative'. The Justice Minister was told in a briefing that Ireland could also become 'a stepping stone' for migrants who hoped to later get back into the UK permanently.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao gets four month prison term
30 April 2024. 1. 2. 0. The founder of crypto exchange Binance, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, has been sentenced to four months in prison in the US after pleading guilty to violating anti-money laundering ...