GovWire

Book and plan your visit to Lewes

To visit someone in Lewes you must:

• be on that persons visitor list
• book your visit at least 24 hours 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 (pending trial) can have 2 visits a week. Convicted prisoners (already sentenced) can have 2 visits a month, plus one extra, depending on privileges.You can only visit once on weekends.

Contact Lewes if you have more 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 Lewes
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Lewes 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 or you can also register to use the secure video calls service. There is no online booking service available.

You must arrive at least 30 minutes before your visit to allow for security and processing.

Booking line: 01273 785 277 or 01273 785 271The booking line is open everyday, 8am to 5pmFind out about call charges

Visiting times

• Monday: 2pm to 3:30pm
• Tuesday: 2pm to 3:30pm
• Wednesday: 2pm to 3:30pm
• Thursday: 2pm to 3:30pm
• Friday: 9am to 10:30am
• Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 3:30pm

How to book legal and professional visits

There are currently no legal visits taking place.

Getting to Lewes

Find Lewes on a map

The closest railway station is Lewes. You can get a 5 minute taxi ride to the prison or its a 25 minute walk.

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

Only Blue Badge holders can park at the prison. There are 2 spaces next to the visitors centre. Tell the prison staff you are parking here, show them your Blue Badge and give them your vehicle registration number. Visitors centre staff can help you with this.

There is metered parking on the roads outside the prison.

Entering Lewes

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.

Lewes has a dress code policy, which means visitors should wear family-friendly 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 Lewes. 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 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

Spurgeons runs the visitors centre with toys and art materials and a small play area for children. There will be no refreshments available during your visit.

If you have a disability, let the prison know and they will make sure your visit is on the lower level.

Family days

There are currently no family days being run.

Keep in touch with someone at Lewes

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

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 they will always have to call you. They buy phone credits to do this and can call anytime between 6am and midnight.

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 Lewes using the Email a Prisoner service.

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 Lewes.

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

Each week, prisoners can send 2 second class letters and one first class legal letter.

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

You can not bring anything with you for the person you are visiting unless they have already applied for that item to be brought in. This application must be completed within the first 28 days of arrival in prison, and at least 3 days ahead of your visit.

You can hand in items at the prison anytime between Monday and Friday, during normal visit times.

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.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers. The facilities list tells you what is allowed in parcels and is available in the visitors centre.

After the first 28 days, additional items must be ordered by the prisoner from a catalogue.

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