GovWire

Book and plan your visit to Stocken

To visit someone in Stocken Prison you must:

• be on that persons visitor list
• book your visit at least 48 hours in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

Spaces fill up so visitors are encouraged to book as far in advance as possible.

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

Contact Stocken 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 Stocken
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online.

You can book your visit by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 01780 795 156
The booking line is open: Monday to Friday, 9am to 11am.
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

• Tuesday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
• Thursday: 9am to 11am and 1:45pm to 3:45pm
• Saturday: 9am to 11am and 1:45pm to 3:45pm
• Sunday: 9am to 11am and 1:45pm to 3:45pm

You must be booked in by 9:45am for morning visits and 2:30pm for afternoon visits, or you may be refused entry into the visits hall.

Visits will last one hour and will fall within these times. Your time with your loved one will not start until youre in the visits hall.

How to book legal and professional visits

To book a visit please email Officialvisits.Stocken@justice.gov.uk

Visiting times:

• Tuesday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
• Thursday: 9am to 11am and 1:45pm to 3:45pm

Getting to Stocken Prison

Find Stocken on a map

The closest railway stations are Stamford, Grantham and Oakham. You will need to take a taxi from the station to the prison.

To plan your journey by public transport use:

• National Rail Enquiries
• Traveline for local bus times

There is car parking available at the prison including space for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Stocken Prison

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 rub-down search, including children. You will walk through, or be scanned by, a metal detector. You may also be sniffed by security dogs. You may be searched again after using the toilets.

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

HMP Stocken has a no coat policy for the visits hall area, visitors are required to use limited coat hooks at your own risk in the visitors search area when entering the prison. HMP Stocken will not accept responsibility for any items left in this area. Coats can only be collected when exiting the establishment once the visit has completed.

Refreshments are available during your visits including hot and cold food and drinks. However please note that a maximum of 50 is allowed per group, a mixture of coins and notes is recommended.

Due to restrictions on items that can enter the prison, you will have to leave all of the things you have with you in a car/locker (you will need a 5 refundable deposit for lockers).

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 visits room and visitors centre have disabled access and facilities.

Keep in touch with someone at Stocken

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Stocken.

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

None of the phones that prisoners have access to accept incoming calls so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.

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.

All prisoners on normal location have phones in their rooms which they can use at any time.

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 Stocken using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the persons name and prisoner number or date of birth on the envelope. Also add your name and address on the back of the envelope.

All post, apart from legal letters, will be checked by officers and screened for drugs.

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

Family and friends 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.

Make sure to include the persons name and prisoner number on the parcel. They will be opened and checked by officers.

Its not possible to send any other items or property. You can send prisoners money instead which they can use to buy items through a catalogue system.

Life at Stocken

Stocken is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release. It provides purposeful activity to all prisoners, including programmes, education and employment.

There is a proactive community council and dedicated equalities team offering support to prisoners.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Stocken 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 someone in prison 