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Guidance: Chelmsford Prison

Ministry Of Justice

July 27
08:47 2022

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Book and plan your visit to Chelmsford prison

HMP Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford you must:

  • be on that persons visitor list
  • book your visit 3 weeks in advance
  • have the required ID with you when you go

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

There may be a limit to the number of visits a person can have.

Contact Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford
  • somewhere to stay overnight
  • meals

How to book family and friends visits

Chelmsford 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 by telephone. There is no online booking service available.

Booking lines: 01245 552 265 and 01245 552 240
Monday to Friday, 8:15am to 11am and 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

  • Monday to Thursday: 1:40pm to 3:40pm

There are currently no legal visits taking place.

Getting to Chelmsford

Find Chelmsford on a map

Chelmsford Prison is about a mile from Chelmsford Station where you can take a taxi or a local bus.

To plan your journey by public transport:

If you drive to Chelmsford Prison, there is no visitor parking. The nearest public car park is 5 minutes walk from the prison on Victoria Road.

Entering Chelmsford

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

Chelmsford has a family friendly dress code policy which means visitors should be appropriately and decently dressed. That means no vests, no sportswear, hoodies or camouflage clothing, no low-cut tops, no shorts and no short dresses or skirts. You may also be refused entry if you wear ripped or torn clothes, steel toe capped shoes, headwear other than that worn for religious reasons and jewellery, except a wedding/engagement ring and small ear studs.

There will be no refreshments available during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Chelmsford. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats. You will need 1 for the locker.

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 run by Ormiston Families and offers support, advice and help to families and friends who come to visit.

The childrens play area and snack bar will not be available to use during your visit.

The visitors centre is open:

  • Monday to Thursday: midday to 4:15pm
  • Saturday: 8am to 11.15am, midday to 4:15pm
  • Sunday: midday to 4:15pm

You cannot enter the prison after 3pm so you need to be in the visitors centre no later than 2.45pm.

Telephone: 01245 552 453

Family days

Ormiston Families runs 10 childrens visits and 2 family days each year. Family days give men more time in a relaxing environment to spend with their family and children.

Men can apply for these visits on the wing.

Keep in touch with someone at Chelmsford

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

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

Most prisoners have phones in their rooms but they will always have to call you. They 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.

Men in the segregation unit do not have phones in their rooms but are allowed one call a day.

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 Chelmsford using the Email a Prisoner service. You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at the prison.

Letters

You can send letters at any time. Include the persons name and prisoner number on the envelope. If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Chelmsford.

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

Only in exceptional circumstances can men in Chelmsford receive parcels. Men can apply for this.

Every new prisoner is given a self-adhesive label and a property information form that they can send out to family or friends for a parcel of items to be sent back. All parcels must have the senders name and address on the label.

All parcels are 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

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