Bristol Prison

Book and plan your visit to Bristol prison

To visit someone in Bristol Prison you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit at least 2 working days in advance
• have the the required ID with you when you go

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

Men who are on remand can have 2 visits a week. Men who have been convicted (they have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing) can have 2 visits a month.

Contact Bristol Prison 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 Bristol Prison
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Bristol prison 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 line: 0300 060 6510
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
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Visiting times

Monday to Sunday: 2pm to 4pm (except bank holidays)

How to book legal and professional visits

Legal and professional visits are offered by video link only.

Email: VideoLink-Bristol@justice.gov.uk

You can also book by telephone.

Booking line: 0117 942 4074
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
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Getting to Bristol Prison

Find Bristol Prison on a map

The closest railway stations are Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, where you can connect with local bus services. All buses numbered from 70 to 79 pass the prison and can be caught from near the central bus station.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

If coming by car, you will need to park on the local roads as there is no visitor parking at the prison. There is a parking space for Blue Badge holders on the main road opposite the prison entrance.

Entering Bristol Prison

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

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

Visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like revealing clothing or clothing with offensive slogans. Ask at the visitors centre if you have questions about appropriate dress.

Each group of visitors is allowed to take in a maximum of £50 to buy food and drink from the snack bar in the visiting hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Bristol Prison. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you behind. Lockers are available in the visitors centre. 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

There is a visitors centre run by The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT). Family and friends can relax, buy refreshments and get advice and support from the staff.

It is open from midday on visiting days.

Telephone: 01179 244 866
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The visiting hall includes a play area for children and a snack bar.

Family days

Family days are not currently available.

Keep in touch with someone at Bristol Prison

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

Secure video calls

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

Read more about how secure video calls work

Phone calls

All prisoners have phones in their rooms which they can use at any time. The phones do not accept incoming calls so they will always need 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.

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 Bristol Prison using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Bristol Prison.

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

Friends and family can hand in the following items before a visit:

• underwear, socks and court clothes (shirts, trousers, shoes, ties and jackets)
• books (not puzzle books or magazines)

It’s also possible to send these items and other kinds of clothing and footwear by post. For this, you will need a property voucher which the prisoner must apply for and send you by post. Fix the voucher to your parcel before sending it in.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the order. They will be opened and checked by officers. For court clothes, allow at least 5 days for the parcel to be searched and reach the prisoner.

Any parcels without a property voucher or that look to be tampered with will be refused.

Prisoners can buy a variety of items for themselves from the canteen and through a catalogue system.

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 Bristol Prison for more information on gifts and parcels.

Life at Bristol Prison

Bristol Prison is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Bristol Prison 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 visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by Bristol Safeguarding Adults Board.

Prisoners can also be trained by the Samaritans to be ‘listeners’ to help support people going through difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Bristol Prison, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. (In some circumstances a call may be made on his behalf.) This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.

They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

If the prisoner has cash when they arrive, they will have the chance to buy canteen supplies and add money to their phone account.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Bristol Prison gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

• health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
• other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions

They will also get a gym induction so they can safely use the gym facilities.

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

About 500 men live at Bristol Prison across 5 main wings. One wing has single rooms while the rest are shared.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a range of work, training and education opportunities. Courses include:

• maths
• English
• IT
• health and safety
• food safety
• catering
• cleaning
• NVQs levels 1 and 2 in warehouse and storage and performing manufacturing operations
• bike mechanics
• peer mentoring
• healthier lifestyles

Employability skills workshops are run monthly to give help with CVs, job applications and interview skills.

Prisoners can also get help and support on issues such as health and wellbeing, substance misuse, housing, debt and family relationships in preparation for release.

Organisations Bristol works with

Bristol works with Catch 22, a not-for-profit business, to help prisoners prepare for their release. They provide support with things like housing, employment, finance and relationships.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Bristol Prison.

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Bristol Prison in response to independent inspections.

Contact Bristol Prison

Governor: James Lucas

Telephone: 0117 372 3100
Fax: 0117 372 3113
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Address

See map

Safety hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Bristol, call the safety line. Leave as much information as possible and a telephone number for staff to call you back.

Telephone: 0117 372 3382
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In an emergency, call the main telephone number and ask to speak to the duty governor.