Littlehey Prison

Book and plan your visit to Littlehey

To visit someone in Littlehey you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit 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. You can check this with Littlehey.

Contact Littlehey 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 Littlehey
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Littlehey 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.

Alternatively, if you have been sent a visiting order in the post, you can also book by telephone or email.

Booking line: 01480 335 650
Tuesday to Sunday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges

Email: socialvisits.littlehey@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Visiting times:

• Tuesday to Friday: 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm

How to book legal and professional visits

You can book a legal visit via video link by email videolink.littlehey@hmps.gsi.gov.uk.

Visiting times: Monday 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm

Getting to Littlehey

Find Littlehey on a map

The closest railway stations are St Neots and Huntingdon, which are both around 9 miles from Littlehey.

There’s a subsidised minibus from Huntingdon bus and railway stations. Contact the visitors centre on 01480 335 136 for times. You don’t need to book in advance.

There’s no minibus on weekday mornings, but the visitors centre can book a subsidised taxi for you.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

There is a free visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Littlehey

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. There will also be a sniffer dog.

Visitors should not wear football shirts, sports shirts or striped shirts, or revealing clothing.

There will be no refreshments available during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Littlehey. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you need a 10p coin) 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

There’s a visitors centre at Littlehey.

There will be no refreshments available during your visit. The childrens play area is also not available to use.

Family days

There are currently no fmaily days being run.

Keep in touch with someone at Littlehey

You may not be able to speak with someone at Littlehey during their first few days. This is because it can take time to approve who they can be in touch with.

Prisoners do not have phones in their rooms so they will always need to call you rather than you call them.

Phone calls

Prisoners can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security.

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.

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 it works

Email

You can send emails to someone in Littlehey 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 Littlehey.

Letters

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

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Littlehey.

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

People in Littlehey are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Littlehey for more information on what’s allowed.

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 person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Littlehey

Littlehey is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Littlehey 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 Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board.

At Littlehey there’s a listener scheme to support prisoners at risk of suicide or self harm. There’s also a buddy scheme to combat bullying.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Littlehey, 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 Littlehey 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

Around 1200 men live at Littlehey. Some rooms are shared.

As well as the accommodation blocks, there’s an all-weather sports pitch, gymnasium, adult learning centre and kitchen buildings.

There are 2 healthcare departments serving Littlehey.

Education and work

Littlehey has a wide range of learning opportunities. This includes educational classes from basic skills to degree level and practical training courses in carpentry, joinery, motor mechanics, hospitality and ICT. There’s also production and domestic work.

Littlehey works with partners to help prisoners find employment and resettle in the community.

Littlehey also offers specific behaviour programmes for men convicted of a sex offence.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Support at Littlehey

Littlehey works with Ormiston Families, a charity supporting children, young people and families to manage the challenges they face and improve their life chances. The Ormiston Families team is based in the visitors centre. They provide support and information to help you access available services.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Littlehey.

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

Contact Littlehey

Governor: Olivia Phelps

Telephone: 01480 335 000
Fax: 01480 335 070
Find out about call charges

Address

See map

Safer custody hotline

Telephone: 01480 335 209
Monday to Friday, office hours

In an emergency, contact the switchboard.