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Guidance: Elmley Prison

Ministry Of Justice

July 22
07:27 2022

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Book and plan your visit to Elmley

HMP Elmley is offering visits for family and friends. Visiting times and availability may change at short notice. You should contact the prison direct for any queries.

Now that regular COVID testing of people in the wider community has ended, you are no longer required to take a COVID test before coming to see someone for a visit, although we would still encourage you to do so.

We will continue to run social visits whilst it is safe to do so.

Visiting rules may change if there is an outbreak within the prison, this may include bringing back testing before visits for a short time to protect you, the person you are visiting and staff.

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.

To visit someone in Elmley you must:

  • be on that persons visitor list
  • book your visit in advance
  • have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

Prisoners on remand can have a visit every day, if theres space. Once sentenced, visitors need a visiting order (VO) and will get 2 every 14 days. Prisoners with enhanced privileges will get 2 extra visits a month.

Contact Elmley if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:

  • travel to Elmley
  • somewhere to stay overnight
  • meals

How to book family and friends visits

Elmley is running a limited visits schedule. Visits are also happening differently than normal, observing strict guidelines, which must be followed.

You can book your visit online.

You can book your visit by telephone.

Booking line: 0300 060 6605
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

You can also book your visit by emailing SocialVisits.Elmley@justice.gov.uk

Visiting times:

  • Monday to Friday: 2pm to 3pm

Legal visits can only be booked through email: Legalvisits.elmley@justice.gov.uk

  • Monday to Friday: 9am to 11:30am

Getting to Elmley

Find Elmley on a map

The closest railway station to Elmley is Sheerness. Buses and taxis run from the station which is 8 miles from the prison.

To plan your journey by public transport:

There is free parking for visitors, including some spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Elmley

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.

All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Elmley has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).

There will be no refreshments available during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Elmley. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. You can take pushchairs and car seats into the prison, but they will go through an X-ray machine.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

Visiting facilities

The visitors centre is open from 11am to 4:30pm on weekdays and from 7:30am to 4:30pm on weekends.

There is an unsupervised childrens play area, a snack bar and disabled access to the prison.

Family days

There are currently no family days being run.

Keep in touch with someone at Elmley

There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Elmley.

Secure video calls

Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends will need to download the Prison Video app, create an account, register all visitors and add the prisoner to their contact list.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their rooms but can only make outgoing calls so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this. They can be used between 6am and 10:30pm.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Elmley using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Elmley.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the persons name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Elmley.

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:

  • are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
  • do not have a debit card

This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

Books are the only items that can be sent into prison. Make sure to include the persons name and prisoner number on the parcel. All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.

For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Contact Elmley for more information on whats allowed.

Life at Elmley

Elmley is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Elmley has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about som

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