Hatfield Prison

Book and plan your visit to Hatfield

To visit someone in Hatfield you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit at least 3 days in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

Up to 6 people (normally 3 adults and 3 children) can visit at any one time. 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 Hatfield 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 Hatfield
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Hatfield is currently operating a limited visits schedule for family and friends. You can book your visit by telephone. There is no online booking service available.

Booking line: 01405 746 611
The booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times for HMP Hatfield:

• Wednesday 2pm to 2:50pm and 3pm to 3:50pm
• Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 2pm to 2:50pm and 3pm to 3:50pm

How to book legal and professional visits

There are currently no legal visits taking place.

Getting to Hatfield

Find Hatfield on a map

The easiest railway station to use is Doncaster. You can take a 20 minute taxi ride from there to the prison.

The closest stations to the prison are Thorne North and Thorne South but the service is limited and there is no taxi rank.

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times as there are buses that stop close to the prison

There is a visitors car park.

Entering Hatfield

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.

Hatfield 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 Hatfield. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. You can take in pushchairs and changing and feeding items for your baby.

Hatfield aims to provide an enjoyable visiting experience for families so expects you to be respectful and to supervise children at all times.

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

Hatfield has a cafe in the visiting halls of both sites where you can buy hot and cold food and drinks.

Family days

Family days are currently not available.

The days are made up of family activities, crafts and quizzes themed around seasonal events.

Library staff run the family days working in partnership with Reducing Re-offending, the Prison Advice and Care Trust, Novus and other internal departments.

Men can apply for family days at the library.

Keep in touch with someone at Hatfield

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

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

Residents do not have phones in their rooms so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this and can call anytime up to 10pm.

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 Hatfield using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

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 Hatfield.

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

Clothing and gifts can not be sent in. Instead, clothing is exchanged during temporary release. Contact Hatfield for information on what’s allowed.

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.

Life at Hatfield

Hatfield is committed to pushing the boundaries and seeking new ways to improve and enhance good resettlement in the community. The prison has an ethos of encouraging residents to take responsibility for their own lives while also respecting others.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Hatfield 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 the Doncaster Safeguarding Adults Board.

Arrival and first night

When a resident first arrives at Hatfield, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. 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.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Hatfield 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

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

Accommodation

Hatfield is split across 2 sites, Hatfield Main and Hatfield Lakes. The Lakes site is part of Hatfield but is 3 miles away, next to Lindholme Prison.

Hatfield Lakes is the smaller of the sites with 56 double rooms. Residents can expect to spend their first 3 months at this site. Residents then get transferred to Hatfield Main which has 226 rooms.

There is a library and a gym.

Education and work

There is access to ‘outside’ college courses and also a purpose-built education suite offering training and education in:

• industry - such as cleaning, maintenance, horticulture, recycling
• retail - such as training as a barista or serving in the farm shop
• IT, corporate business, welding, barbering, catering, health and safety
• charity - which is run by external companies such as Recycling Lives
• physical education - such as recreational PE programmes, navigation awards, basketball and first aid

Residents can also take part in training, voluntary community work and paid employment with various local companies.

Temporary release

At a suitable point after transfer, release on temporary licence (ROTL) is offered to all residents. There is a full risk assessment involving many partner agencies. This allows residents to access work, college, further training and maintain family ties in the community.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

If you or a member of your family are under pressure to do anything against your will, please telephone this number. You can remain anonymous and calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

Telephone: 01302 522 607

Support at Hatfield

Hatfield’s family support provider is the Prison Advice and Care Trust. There is a helpline which offers practical and emotional help and advice to anyone who is affected by imprisonment.

Telephone: 0808 808 3444
Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Hatfield.

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

Contact Hatfield

Governor: Mick Mills

Telephone (24 hours): 01405 746 500
Fax: 01405 746 501
Find out about call charges

Follow Hatfield on Twitter

Address

See map

See map

Telephone: 01302 524 600

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of someone in Hatfield, call the 24 hour safer custody hotline.

Telephone: 01405 756 509
Find out about call charges

Leave your name and telephone number, the resident’s name and prisoner number and a brief outline of the problem. This line is regularly checked.

In an emergency, call the main switchboard.