hmp doncaster social visits

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• Inside Time Reports
• 13th December 2014
• Male Local , Male YOI , Prison Visit , Yorkshire & Humberside

Prison information

Address: Off North Bridge Road Marshgate DN5 8UX Switchboard: 01302 760870 Family & Friends * : 0808 196 8814 Managed by: Serco Region:  Yorkshire & Humberside Category:  Male local and YOI Link to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/doncaster-prison & https://www.serco.com/uk/sector-expertise/justice/hmp-doncaster

Description

Local Category B

Visit Booking: Online

Use this online service to book a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can book a visit.

You’ll get an email confirming your visit. It takes 1 to 3 days.

ID: Every visit Children’s Visits:

Acceptable forms of ID

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Visits to Prisons by Children

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter contains procedures and best practice guidance for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people who are visiting or having contact with adults or other young people who are in prison, focusing particularly on contact with persons identified as posing a risk to children.

It reflects National Offender Management Service (NOMS) guidance on ' Providing Visits and Services to Visitors ', the Public Protection Manual (Chapter 5 - Child Contact Procedures) and the principles contained in the Children Act 1989.

Clear and timely communications are essential to ensure that inter agency co-operation takes place and all regulations are implemented in the best interests of the child.

USEFUL GUIDANCE

Are you a Young Person with a Family Member in Prison? (Action for Prisoner's Families)

HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy

1. Introduction and Duties of Prison Governors

Prisons are required by Prison Service Rules to actively encourage prisoners to maintain meaningful family ties while they are in custody. This includes the provision, where applicable, of regular and good quality contact time with children.

Prison Governors also have duties under s.11 Children Act to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and, in a prison context, this will include balancing a child's right to on-going contact with parents who are held in custody with the need to ensure any such on going contact is safe and in the child's best interests.

His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service has in place a range of measures to reduce the risks that certain prisoners, especially those convicted of, or charged with, offences against children may present to children whilst in custody.

Prison staff and those working in visitor's centres should receive training, briefing or guidance as appropriate in safeguarding and child protection. This training should be relevant and proportionate to their likely level of contact with children and families, so they can take appropriate action if concerns are raised during a visit. The establishment - or the service provider - should arrange specific safeguarding and child protection training - rather than safeguarding awareness training - for Family Support Workers, Play Supervisors and Visitor Centre staff who supervise activities for children.

Chapter 2, Working Together to Safeguard Children sets out the following statutory duties which apply to the Prison Service:

The Prison Service is subject to the section 11 duties set out in chapter 2 of Working Together to Safeguard Children.

It also has a responsibility to identify prisoners who are potential or confirmed 'persons posing a risk to children' (PPRC) and through assessment establish whether the PPRC presents a continuing risk to children whilst in prison custody. Where an individual has been identified as a PPRC, the relevant prison establishment:

• Should inform the local authority children's social care services of the offender's reception to prison, subsequent transfers, release on temporary licence and of release date and of the release address of the offender;
• Should notify the relevant probation service provider of PPRC status. The police should also be notified of the release date and address;
• May prevent or restrict a prisoner's contact with children. Decisions on the level of contact, if any, should be based on a multi-agency risk assessment. The assessment should draw on relevant risk information held by police, probation service provider and prison service. The relevant local authority children's social care should contribute to the multi-agency risk assessment by providing a report on the child's best interests. The best interests of the child will be paramount in the decision-making process.

A prison is also able to monitor an individual's communication (including letters and telephone calls) to protect children where proportionate and necessary to the risk presented.

Governors/Directors of women's prisons which have Mother and Baby Units (MBU) should ensure that:

• There is at all times a member of staff allocated to the MBU, who as a minimum, is trained in first aid, whilst within the prison there is always a member of staff on duty who is trained in paediatric first aid (including child/adult resuscitation) who can be called to the MBU if required;
• There is a contingency plan/policy in place for child protection, first aid including paediatric first aid and resuscitation, which should include advice for managing such events, and which provides mothers with detailed guidance as to what to do in an emergency;
• Each baby has a child care plan setting out how the best interests of the child will be maintained and promoted during the child's residence in the unit .

National Offender Management Service ('NOMS') Instruction (PSI 16/2011) Providing Visits and Services to Visitors provides general guidance on prison visits, including by children.

Practice guidance Children Visiting Prisons: Sharing Good Practice (Kids VIP) provides practical guidance to assist prisons in facilitating family visits, including:

• The benefits of good visits and maintaining family ties to both prisoners and families;
• Examples of how some prisons have provided well for children; and
• Guidance on how to replicate good practice in prisons and provide quality visits for children.

The Strengthening Prisoners' Family Ties Policy Framework provides rules and guidance for prison staff on supporting the maintenance and development of prisoners' relationships with family, significant others and friends.

The overriding factor in allowing any child to visit is whether contact with the prisoner is in that child's best interests. (A child is defined as any young person under the age of 18).

2. Staying in Touch with a Family Member in Custody

Children and families can maintain contact with a family member in prison in the following ways:

• By writing a letter (letters may be read by prison staff before being delivered);
• Email a Prisoner whereby emails are printed out and delivered to prisoners by a Prison Officer;
• By receiving calls from the prisoners' telephones (this is expensive and there can be long queues to use the telephone);
• By sending voice messages via the Prison Voicemail Service ; and
• Through social visits.

Prisoners are not allowed access to social networking sites or mobile telephones while in custody (although it should be noted that the illegal use of mobile telephones does occur). Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult when visiting a prison; however in exceptional circumstances and with prior agreement, Governors may allow young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years to visit on their own. The maximum number of adults allowed at each social visit is 3, but there are no restrictions on the number of children who can visit. The prison should be informed if more than 3 children will be visiting, so that appropriate seating arrangements can be put in place.

Family days and child centred extended visits provide an opportunity for prisoners, their children and partners to come together to enjoy and share family time in a more normalised environment. They are characterised by more relaxed interaction and fewer restrictions than at regular visits. The organisation, availability, style of family days, and prisoner eligibility vary across prisons; details of family days should be contained in information provided when a family member is imprisoned.

Children should be provided with age appropriate information about the visits process so they know what to expect; this could include explaining that they may be searched, that dogs who have been trained to detect drugs will be present; that items like mobile phones cannot be taken into visits and that physical contact (hugging etc.) during visits is likely to be restricted.

A risk assessment must be conducted for any prisoner wishing to take part in special children's visits, or other events which includes children and their carers.

3. Contact Requests

If a prisoner wishes to apply to have child contact, the prison must provide an application form for the prisoner to complete. A separate request must be made for contact with each individual child.

It is possible that a request for contact could be made by a parent or from the child directly. If such a request is received the prisoner must be informed and asked if they wish to submit a request for contact.

In general, prisoners identified as Persons Posing a Risk to Children may only apply for contact with children in their immediate family. This includes biological children, step-children, foster children, adopted children and the children of the prisoner's partner provided they were living together as partners in an enduring family relationship before imprisonment. Applications can also be made for grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. Contact with a child outside these relationships should only be allowed in exceptional cases.

4. Contact with a Prisoner who is Identified as Posing a Risk to Children

See also: Public Protection Manual (Chapter 5 - Child Contact Procedures) .

4.1 Overview

Establishments are required to identify prisoners who have:

• Been convicted or are charged with a sexual offence against a child;
• A previous conviction for a sexual offence against a child;
• A conviction or charge of murder or assault against a child;
• A charge or conviction involving domestic abuse where a child was involved;
• A charge or conviction where harm or neglect of a child was involved;
• Convicted of or charge with an offence whose circumstances indicate that the prisoner knowingly placed a child at risk of serious harm, including harm caused to a child by seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another;
• Displayed any behaviour whilst in custody indicating the prisoner presents a risk to a child;
• Information has been received from other agencies about the risk that the prisoner presents.

All prisoners who have been identified as presenting a possible risk of harm to children must be approached and asked if they intend to request child contact. If a prisoner indicates that he/she does not intend to make an application for child contact, both at the time of asking or at a later date, that response will be recorded, and the prisoner must sign a form to that effect. If the prisoner refuses to sign, the enquiring officer must make a note to that effect.

Establishments must complete a multi agency risk assessment to determine what, if any, contact the prisoner is allowed with a child. Where information is received or the behaviour of the prisoner is seen to indicate a potential risk of harm to a child, then a fully comprehensive risk assessment must be undertaken to determine whether the prisoner should be allowed contact with a child and the extent of such contact.

Risk identification and management must be undertaken in a manner that is proportionate to the individual concerned. Decisions to prevent or restrict contact need to take into account the risk presented by the offender, the needs and best interests of the child, balanced against the prisoner's right to a family life. In all cases decisions will be based on what is best for the child. The rights of a child to be safeguarded and protected from harm must take priority over an offender's right to family life as set out in the 1998 Human Rights Act if the offender's right would mean that contact could place a child at risk.

The over-riding principle is that the child's welfare is paramount - and that any contact must be in the child's best interest.

4.2 Parental/Primary Carer Support for Contact

The prison must ask the parent/primary carer of the child whether they support contact or not and at what level. The application cannot proceed unless the primary carer supports contact.

In cases where the parent/primary carer does not support contact, the prison establishment must inform Children's Social Care Services / Children's Services.

4.3 Looked After Children

Where the child is Looked After, the local authority's view about the appropriateness of contact must be obtained in writing. The test is always whether contact is in the child's best interest.

Whether or not the local authority shares Parental Responsibility, the views of the parent must also be included and taken into account.

4.4 The Multi-Agency Risk Assessment

The following agencies must be contacted to gather information before an assessment of risk can be made and a level of contact agreed that would be in the best interests of the child:

• The police in the child's home authority must be contacted with details of the prisoner and the child including a photograph;
• The prison establishment's probation officer should be provided with the details of the prisoner's application and where a prisoner will be subject to licence supervision on release or has been recalled for breach of licence for the current offence the home probation area must be contacted and asked for information and comments. In addition if the prisoner is a young offender and is supervised, Children's Social Care Services / Children's Services in the child's home authority must be contacted;
• Where appropriate the NSPCC may be contacted for additional information as some prison establishments have developed a partnership with the NSPCC who will search their database for information relating to the risk of harm to a child;
• Outline the child's circumstances and views;
• Confirm that the photograph supplied by the primary carer is of the child;
• Contain recommendations on what level of contact, if any, Children's Services consider to be appropriate for the child to have with the prisoner; and
• Identify an appropriate adult(s) who will accompany the child when visiting the prisoner.

Within one working day of receiving a referral, Children's Services should make a decision about the type of response that is required and advise the referrer on the next course of action.

The Governor (or senior manager with suitable delegated authority) is ultimately responsible for making an assessment of what, if any, level of contact should be permitted. If the report received from Children's Services does not address the above bullet points, the Governor should refer the matter back to Children's Services with an express request for this information, unless it is available from other material before them.

4.5 The Decision

Once the multi-agency assessment process is completed, the Governor or a senior manager with suitable delegated authority should make a decision about the appropriate level of contact suitable between the prisoner and the child. This process should not be completed in isolation and should be supported by members of the prison's safeguarding risk panel or equivalent.

The risk presented should be managed proportionately, taking into account the existing safeguards available in custody. In all cases decisions must be based on what is in the best interests of the child and must be properly reasoned and fully recorded on file.

In addition to the information provided by partner agencies (which should include an assessment of the child's needs, wishes and feelings and the capacity of the primary carer to protect the child from potential harm), the assessment should also take into account:

• OASys assessment ;
• Static risk assessment tool for sexual re-offending (Risk Matrix 2000) ;
• Pre-sentence report;
• Previous convictions;
• Behaviour in custody;
• Progress with offending behaviour programmes.

The over-riding principle is that the child's welfare is paramount and any contact must be in the best interests of that child. This may not always correspond with the wishes of the child or of the primary carer. Where there is a conflict between the needs of the child and the carer, decisions should be made in the child's best interests.

The primary carer and any agencies that have contributed to the assessment should be informed of the outcome.

4.6 Level of Contact Decided

There are four possible contact levels for a prisoner who is assessed as posing a risk of harm to children. The choice of level must be made with the over-riding principle that the child's welfare is paramount and any contact permitted should be in the best interests of that child.

Each assessment is specific to a particular child and cannot be used to determine contact levels with other children. This means that prisoners must apply separately in respect of each child with whom they want to have contact, including siblings living in the same household, and a separate risk assessment must be completed for each child. This can result in a prisoner being allowed different contact levels in respect of different children (including no contact at all).

• Level one : Full restrictions apply. No contact with any child is permitted;
• Level two : Contact with a named child only via written correspondence. No telephone calls or visits;
• Level three : Contact with a named child only is permitted via written correspondence and telephone. No visits;
• Level four : No restrictions necessary. May have contact with a named child only via correspondence, telephone, visits and family visits.

4.7 Monitoring

An initial period of monitoring of all correspondence and telephone calls of prisoners presenting a risk to children must be completed. Monitoring may then continue, subject to the interception risk assessment process being carried out and regularly reviewed. Staff monitoring calls and correspondence should be particularly alert to any attempts to groom or manipulate a child or carer. They should also be aware of references made about children in general correspondence. Staff should be aware of any references that suggest a child may be at risk of abuse other than of a sexual nature, including female genital mutilation and abuse linked to faith and belief.

4.8 Correct Identification of Children

It is necessary to take steps to prevent a child being substituted with another possibly more vulnerable child where visits take place. Prison staff monitoring calls, correspondence and visiting areas need to be vigilant and prevent any inappropriate contact where identified.

Four passport style photographs will be required of each child and these should be updated annually or earlier if there is a significant change in a child's appearance.

4.9 Reviewing Contact Decisions

All contact decisions should be reviewed at least annually, or earlier if there is reason to believe that circumstances have changed or where there has been an increase / decrease in risk. A prison transfer will not automatically trigger a review; the reason for the prisoner's transfer should be taken into account when deciding whether a review is deemed necessary.

Reviews must be based on updated information from all agencies involved in the original multi-agency risk assessment, and decision-making must be supported by the prison safeguarding risk panel or equivalent. Prisoners must be informed of any change in contact restrictions following a review.

4.10 Appeals Process

All prison establishments have procedures for prisoners who wish to appeal a decision to restrict contact or not to permit any contact at all with a child.

4.11 Disclosure

In principle, all information taken into account, and the reasons for the decision, should be disclosed to the prisoner, although the prison can determine the form in which it should be shared. There are three options:

• Full disclosure - providing the information as it stands;
• Redacted version of the information - this is suitable where sensitive details are omitted while still providing the prisoner with the information that they need to know;
• A gist or summary of information - this applies where a redacted version does not meet the need for withholding the information.

If any part of the information considered for disclosure has been provided by another agency, the prison must , in writing, inform them of the possibility of disclosure. The prison is not seeking permission to share the information; instead, it is asking the agency whether there are any barriers to or concerns about disclosing (any part of) the information to the prisoner. Reasonable attempts should be made to contact the agency and it should be provided with a deadline for a response.

4.12 The Visit

The passport-style photograph provided at primary carer support stage should be used by visits staff to check the identity of the child attending the visit. Staff should be alert to possibility that an "approved" child could be substituted with another, possibly more vulnerable child.

Where prisoners have been granted child contact, staff should observe:

• The child's appearance, including the appropriateness of their dress;
• The interaction between the child and the prisoner, including the child's body language; and
• Any change in behaviour of the child and/or interaction with the prisoner should the accompanying adult absent themselves from the visiting table.

Any signs of neglect, abuse or distress must be reported using the security incident reporting process. The manager with public protection policy or equivalent should be provided with a copy of the report. An immediate referral should be made to Children's Services if there is concern for the safety or welfare of a child.

Trix procedures

Only valid for 48hrs

• Families First at HMP & YOI Doncaster

Families First at HMP & YOI Doncaster

Families First is an award winning initiative which responds to the impact of prison life on relationships. Through a variety of activities they educate families about values and personal relationships as part of the children and Families Pathway.

They aim to: -

Reduce Re-offending by maintaining and improving relationships between prisoners and their families.

Improve parenting skills.

Create a positive prison experience for children and families; Help raise levels of achievement in prisoners' children.

Work together with partner agencies to provide the best possible opportunities for prisoners and their families.

Programme Elements Include:

Daddy New Born - Our most popular group is for prisoners with 0-9 month babies. Here, Dad's can learn skills for parenting a new born.

Toddlers Sessions - For pre-school children. Dads can engage with their child introducing fine and gross motors skills which prepare them for school.

Homework Dads - Older children can visit on weekends and spend special time with their Dads working together as a family with their homework or current school project.

Accredited Parenting courses - Delivered by Doncaster Council/Adult Family Learning in the Community: Developing Parenting Skills. This is for prisoners to Develop Parenting skills Child Development & Play. Different types and stages of play - How adults can support the learning that takes place during play. Making activities to support children's development. - Health and Safety relating to play.

Relationship Course: Building Stronger Families - Prisoners and their partners can attend this 6 module relationship strengthening course which looks at communication, resolving conflict, forgiveness, choices and plans, commitment and money.

Social Kitchen - Prisoners and their families can attend our social kitchen to learn about low cost, healthy eating. This enables them as a family to prepare and eat a meal together.

Treasure Box - Treasure Box is aimed at prisoners who are no longer in regular contact with their children due to geographical or other reasons. Prisoners are supported in creating a treasure box in which they can place poems, stories, pictures etc. that they can send to their children or hold onto for when/if contact is restored.

Family Days - Activities such as sports days and arts and crafts workshops held during school holidays where families can work and play together.

Find out more on the HMP Doncaster website or by watching this YouTube video .

Our Partner

Visits and getting to Lindholme

Social visits are held daily, Mon – Sun: 13:45 – 15:30. Visits can booked on 01302 524 980 or 524 721 and the lines are open daily, excepting Sunday, between 08:30 – 11:00.

You can book online, visit: www.gov.uk/prison-visits . All you need is the name and date of birth of the person you are visiting and their prisoner number. You can choose up to 3 possible dates and times. Prison booking staff will check what’s available and confirm your visit by email.  If you’ve made an online visit booking request and haven’t received a confirmation email within 1-3 working days, please email [email protected]

All visitors (including children) must bring identification. One of the following forms of photo ID will be acceptable to the prison:

• Photo driving licence
• Employers photo ID card (must have name of employer and visitor clearly visible)
• Senior citizens public transport pass issued by a local authority
• Annual rail pass or London Transport season ticket with photocard.

If you are unable to produce any of these then TWO of the following will be accepted as proof of identity:

• Cheque book
• Credit/debit card (visitor’s name must be embossed on the card and already signed)
• Employer pass or ID not acceptable above
• Young Person’s ‘Proof of Age’ card
• Trade Union membership card
• Telephone/electricity/gas or water utility bills
• Birth or marriage certificate
• Medical card
• New born babies Record of Birth
• Change of name by Deed Poll will require the relevant forms to be produced.

There is a Visitor Centre where some of the administration necessary before allowing you entry into the visits hall is carried out. Make sure you allow plenty of time for the staff to carry out their checks prior to the start of the visit.

How to get there:

The prison is in a largely rural location, about 10 miles from Doncaster, and is ill served by public transport links. If you are travelling by public transport follow the link and you can get the bus and train connection details, visit the Yorkshire Travel  produced web site, (click here) . It is an excellent way to plan your visits. The basic details are shown below:

Bus: At Doncaster’s Southern Bus Station catch the 186 service. This is an infrequent service.

Train: On arrival at Doncaster railway station either make your way to the Southern Bus Station or take a taxi from the station.

By Car: Follows the direction below to get to the vicinity of the prison then follow the local directions at the bottom of this page

• From the North, take the M1 or A1 south to the M62 east to the M18, take the M18 south to the M180
• From the East: M62 west to the M18, take the M18 south to the M180.
• From the South take the M1 or A1 north to the M18, take the M18 north to the M180.:
• A15 north to the M180, take the M180 west to the M18 doubling back to the M180.
• From the West, take the M62 east to the M18, take the M18 south to the M180.
• A57 ‘Snake Pass’ to Sheffield. In Sheffield follow the sign for the M1, take the M1 south to the M18, take the M18 north to the M180.

Local directions: Take the M180 eastbound as far as junction 1. At junction 1 leave the M180 and join the A18 south for Doncaster, after about one mile turn left onto the A614 (opposite the ‘Green Tree’ public house). Lindholme Prison is signposted from here. Please use Moorlands Prison access, this is down Vulcan Way, at the end of Vulcan Way turn right at the roundabout will bring you to the visitors car park.

Return to Lindholme

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Visiting the prison

Booking a visit - domestic visits (Family & Friends)

Prisoners are responsible for booking their own visits; this is done by using an application on the Central Management System (CMS) – accessed via touchscreen computer terminals that are located on each unit in the establishment. Once a visit has been approved it is up the individual prisoner to inform his family and friends of the date and time of the visit.

The maximum time a visit can be booked is 14 days in advance and the minimum is 3 days in advance.

Prisoners can book up to 3 adult visitors per session and 3 children less than 18 Years of age. However, if the child is over 17 they will be classed as an adult.

It is the responsibility of the prisoner to book and inform friends and family of the time and date of visits.

Staff are not responsible for booking or informing family and friends of visits or cancellation of visits.

It is also the responsibility of the prisoner to inform visitors of correct identification requirements as well as other visit regulations, however visitors are encouraged to check the website for further details.

For sending correspondence / emails to your family or friend in prison, you can take advantage of the emailaprisoner.com system. Please log on to https://www.emailaprisoner.com and follow the instructions.

Domestic visitors’ identification

All visitors to closed prisons, both Adults and Children, whether visiting for social or official purposes must be required to prove their identity on Reception. (Children’s birth certificates are suitable to prove the name and date of birth).

Two separate forms of up-to-date identification will be required to gain entry to the prison, including one photographic identification and two proof of address:

• Driving Licence - Acceptable on its own if photograph and the address matches the address provided by the prisoner on CMS.
• Passport - Including foreign passports and time expired passports where the photograph is still recognisable.
• Bus Pass (elderly only) - Must have been issued by the Local Authority. Photograph must match.
• Student / Employers I.D. - Must clearly show the name of the visitor and educational establishment / employer. Photograph must match.
• Citizen Card - A Citizen Card is an official UK ID / proof of age card recognised as such by the Home Office. Obtained online. A Standard application costs £15 and takes 21 days (card posted by Royal Mail 2nd class); an Urgent application costs £30 and takes 1-2 workingdays (subject to verification; card posted by Special Delivery guaranteed Next Day by 1pm). you can find out more at www.citizencard.com. Must be official, the photograph must match.

Two Proof of address can include: (No more than 6 Months old)

• Utility bill
• Benefit book / Letter
• Council tax/tax credit award
• Household bill or statement with the address on

For other forms of ID that may be acceptable please ensure you contact the prison Visits Booking line for advice.

If a visitor is unable to produce ID as above, staff may accept combinations of two or more of the following below, but must also include two proof of addresses:

• ‘Birth/marriage certificate
• ‘Rail or bus pass with photo
• ‘Cheque book or credit/debit card (counts as one, do not accept as two)
• ‘Employer’s pass or ID or student ID card not acceptable under paragraph 2
• ‘Young person’s ‘proof of age’ card
• ‘Trade Union or National Students’ union membership card
• ‘Library card, if it has a signature that can be compared with the visitor’s signature
• ‘Rent book
• ‘Foreign identity or resident’s card (other than EC ID cards acceptable in their own right)
• ‘Expired documents from the above lists that appear satisfactory in other ways
• ‘ID Card from Prison Visitors Organisations

You may be refused entry if you do not have sufficient ID. This will be decided by the Visits Manager on duty. The Director has the discretion to accept any form of identification that clearly identifies the visitor in a satisfactory way.

Having had ID checked all visitors will have their photograph taken, fingerprints and hand stamped with UV ink.

All adults and children over 10 years of age will have their finger-prints taken.

Booking a visit - legal/officials only

Our dedicated booking line is staffed: Monday to Friday between 0830-1630 hrs.

Official visitors can book by phone or via email.

[email protected]

To book by phone call: +44(0) 151 522 2196 / +44(0) 151 522 2047

For non-confidential correspondence to your clients, you can take advantage of the emailaprisoner.com system. Please log on to https://www.emailaprisoner.com/ and follow the instructions.

Legal visitors’ identification

The forms of identification set out below are acceptable. If the visitor does not possess such identification then the forms of identification for social visitors are also acceptable. If in doubt, Visits staff may telephone the visitor’s employer (e.g. solicitors office, barrister’s chambers, probation department) to check the visitor is bona fide. Get the telephone number from the phone book or direct enquiries, not from the visitor:

• Members of either House of Parliament: Houses of Parliament ID card.
• Legal Advisers: identity card issued by firm/ chambers, or introductory letter on headed letter paper of firm/chambers.
• Police, Immigration and Customs Officers: warrant card.
• Probation Officers: probation department ID card.
• Staff from other prisons, HQ or Home Office Staff: prison service security pass or home office pass.
• Consular Officials: consular ID card.
• Other public officials: departmental or local authority pass or ID card (but only if it shows the name of the visitor and the name of the department or local authority).
• Social workers: identification cards.
• Researchers: Security Photo pass or official letter (visits must be pre-arranged) and
• NHS: photographic identification badge/card. Independent sector healthcare photographic identification badge/card.

Visitors Centre

Safe Ground is the organisation responsible for the day to day running of the Visitors Centre at HMP Altcourse where our team is working hard to create a space and a service which is welcoming, comfortable, efficient, and conducive to meaningful engagement. In time, visitors also have the opportunity to access therapeutic spaces facilitated by a specialist member of the team based on site.  Alongside our day-to-day delivery of the Visitors Centre service and family support work, Safe Ground is delivering therapeutic group work programmes to men in custody. Together, our services represent the movement of the establishment towards a model of best practice in implementing ground-breaking person-centred interventions. For more information visit  Safe Ground - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group

Visiting times until 1 st October

Visitors will need to arrive at the visits centre at least one hour prior to the visiting time in order to be processed in time for the visit to commence.

Monday to Friday

13:30-14:30 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 12.15pm)

15:15-16:15 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 14:15hrs)

18:15-19:15 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 17:00hrs)

09:15-10:15 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 08:15hrs)

11:00-12:00 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 10:00hrs)

14:00-16:00 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 13:00hrs)

13:45-14:45 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 12:45hrs)

15:30-16:30 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 14:30hrs)

Visiting times from 2nd October

Official Visits Monday to Friday

AM Sessions

1 st Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 08:30. Visit Time 09:00 to 10:00

2 nd Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 10:00. Visit Time 10:30 to 11:30

PM Sessions

1 st Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 14:00. Visit Time 14:30 to 15:30

2 nd Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 15:30. Visit Time 16:00 to 17:00

NB Duration of each session is 1 Hour. A request for an extended 2 Hour session can be authorised subject to availability.

On arrival Legal Visitors do not need to go to the Visits Centre. Report directly to the main reception with your ID.

Social Visits Monday to Sunday

1 st Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 08:00. Visitor comes through search area 08:30. Visit Time 09:00 to 10:00.

2 nd Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 09:30. Visitor comes through search area 10:00. Visit Time 10:30 to 11:30.

1 st Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 13:30. Visitor comes through search area 14:00. Visit Time 14:30 to 15:30.

2 nd Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 15:00. Visitor comes through search area 15:30. Visit Time 16:00 to 17:00.

Purple Video Visits

Purple Visits will take place on a Saturday and Sunday only and the times are the same as the Social Visits Sessions and will be booked in the usual way.

All of the above Visiting Times will come into effect from the 2 nd October 2023.

Visits Staff retain discretion to accept any other forms of identification, singly or in combination, that clearly identify the visitor in a satisfactory way.

The following list of items must not be brought into or taken out of the prison by staff or visitors:

• Explosives and other dangerous items
• Any item of contraband such as illegal or unauthorised substances (including steroids etc)
• Any article intended for a prisoner
• Weapons of any description including imitation weapons
• Alcohol (except Communion wine brought in by Chaplaincy staff)
• Aerosols (e.g. spray deodorant / hairspray)
• Cans (e.g. drinks can)
• Metal Cutlery (beyond P4)
• Metal nail files
• Civilian Clothing (if in uniform)
• Spare uniform
• Chewing Gum
• Mobile Phones and associated parts (unless authorised under the Offender Management Act
• Pagers (unless authorised)
• Cameras (unless authorised under the Offender Management Act )
• Video Cameras (unless authorised under the Offender Management Act
• Any other sound or picture recording devices (unless authorised under the OMA)
• DVD recorder / players
• Non healthcare / prescribed drugs
• Tobacco, lighters, matches or any other smoking paraphernalia
• Large amounts of money
• Unofficial tools e.g. personal screwdrivers
• Tool repair kits

How we collect and use your data

Learn more Close

COLLECTION OF DATA

In order to facilitate your visit to one of our prisons and to ensure that we deliver appropriate levels of security and safety and prevent crime, for identification purposes we shall collect your name, date of birth, address, a biometric template of your fingerprint and a photograph. A series of reference points from a finger print are collected, allowing a unique identification pattern. We do not collect or hold actual fingerprints.

Our prisons operate CCTV and staff may wear Body Worn Video Recording Equipment. We do not collect biometric readings or photographs of children under 16, however with the use of CCTV, images may routinely be captured.

DATA SHARING

We will only share your information with a third party where there is a legal obligation to do so.

RIGHTS OF ACCESS, CORRECTION, ERASURE AND RESTRICTION

You have legal rights in connection with personal information. Under certain circumstances, by law you have the right to:

• Request access to your personal information (commonly known as a “data subject access request”). This enables you to receive a copy of the personal information we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
• Request correction of the personal information that we hold about you. This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate information we hold about you corrected.
• Request erasure of your personal information. This enables you to ask us to delete or remove personal information where there is no good reason for us continuing to process it. You also have the right to ask us to delete or remove your personal information where you have exercised your right to object to processing.
• Object to processing of your personal information by us or on our behalf in certain situations.
• Request the restriction of processing of your personal information. This enables you to ask us to suspend the processing of personal information about you, for example if you want us to establish its accuracy or the reason for processing it.

DATA RETENTION

We keep personal data in accordance with our clients’ and Sodexo’s retention procedures. These retention periods depend on the nature of the information (e.g. we apply different retention periods to different type of information such as CCTV and your visitor record), and may be subject to change.

If you have any questions or concerns about how long we retain your personal data, please contact the Data Protection Officer using the details below.

FURTHER ADVICE / GUIDANCE

To exercise your rights, you can contact us by writing to us at the following address: [email protected] or email the Global Data Protection Office at the following email address: [email protected] stating your surname, first name and the reason for your request. We will most likely ask you for additional information in order to identify you and to enable us to deal with your request

You also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office and file a complaint. ( https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ )

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• Crime, justice and the law
• Prisons and probation

Visit someone in prison

Use this service to request a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales. There’s a different way to book a prison visit in Northern Ireland or a prison visit in Scotland .

To use this service you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

If you do not have the prisoner’s location or prisoner number, use the ‘Find a prisoner’ service .

You can choose up to 3 dates and times you prefer. The prison will email you to confirm when you can visit.

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can request a visit. This can take up to 2 weeks.

Request a prison visit

Visits you cannot book through this service.

Contact the prison directly if you need to arrange any of the following:

• legal visits, for example legal professionals discussing the prisoner’s case
• reception visits, for example the first visit to the prisoner within 72 hours of being admitted
• double visits, for example visiting for 2 hours instead of 1
• family day visits - special family events that the prison organises

Help with the costs of prison visits

You may be able to get help with the cost of prison visits if you’re getting certain benefits or have a health certificate.

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