Gartree Prison

Book and plan your visit to Gartree

To visit someone in Gartree 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 aged 18 or older at every visit.

The number of visits a personprisoner can have a month depends on their privilege level.

Contact Gartree 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 Gartree
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Gartree 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 online.

You can book your visit by telephone or you can also register to use the secure video calls service.telephone.

Booking line: 01858 426 727
The line is open: Monday to Friday, 9am8am to midday12pm and 1pm to 2pm
4pm Find out about call charges

Email:Or email: socialvisits.gartree@justice.gov.uk.

Prisoners can also book their own visits by speaking to a wing officer and completing the application forms.

Visiting times:

• Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 3:30pm4pm.*

When*Please younote arethe atvisiting times include entry into the prison,prison youand canthe booksearch yourprocess, nextwe visit.

Howendeavour to bookensure legaleveryone andgets professionala minimum of 60 minutes in the visits

hall.

LegalThe visits willcentre resumeis open from 231pm September.and you must be booked in by 2:45pm or you may be refused entry into the visits hall.

How to book legal and professional visits

Email: socialvisits.gartree@justice.gov.uk

You can also book by telephone.

Booking line: 01858 426 727
Line is open: Monday to Friday,Friday: 9am8am to midday12pm and 1pm to 2pm4pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times arefor Wednesdays,legal and professional visits

In Person

• Wednesdays: 9am to 11am11am. The visiting times include entry into the prison and the search process.

Via Video Link

• Monday: 8am to 9am, 9am to 10am and 10am to 11am
• Wednesday: 8am to 9am, 9am to 10am and 10am to 11am
• Friday: 2pm to 3pm, 3pm to 4pm and 4pm to 5pm

Getting to Gartree

Find Gartree on a map

The closest railway station is Market Harborough which is about 4 miles from the prison. From the station, you can get a bus (except on Sundays) straight to the prison or you can get a taxi.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

There is limited parking at the prison including spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Gartree

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.

Local policy states that all children must provide an acceptable form of ID. If you cannot provide a birth certificate please contact the PACT team in advance to discuss alternatives.

All visitorsvisitors, including children, will needbe searched as per local policy to beensure giveneveryone’s safety and establishment security.  This will include a pat-downdog search, includingmetal children.detector Youarchway mayand alsorub bedown sniffedsearch. byAll securitystaff dogs.are trained to carry these tasks out whilst maintaining a high standard of professionalism, and respecting decency and individual needs.

Dress code policy

Gartree has a strict dress code policy,policy whichfor meansvisitors. visitorsThe shouldpurpose wearof smartthe clothespolicy (nois vests,to noensure safety and decency during visits; it sets out to safeguard an appropriate family environment, free from trafficking and other inappropriate behaviour. Please adhere to the following:

• No low-cut tops,tops nothat shorts,reveal cleavage and no shortunbuttoned dressesshirts. Your shoulders and noback headwear,must otheralso thanbe thatcovered
• No wornmidriff formust religiousshow, reasons).tops/shirts Youmust cannotbe wearlong rippedenough jeansto cover the waist of your trousers/shorts/skirts
• No see-through clothing
• No clothing that displays offensive or otherinappropriate rippedpictures and/or writing.
• No sports team clothing, coatsie. football shirts
• No hooded clothing or jackets,clothing watches,with steelfull toelength cappedzips. boots,Quarter buckelledzips belts,are excessivepermitted.
• No jewellerycoats, jackets (including suit jackets/blazers) or cardigans. If you are wearing an inappropriate top underneath your coat, jacket or cardigan and this is all you canhave notto bringwear, keys.

  Noyour moneyvisit canwill be takenrefused. intoSuitable lockers are available in the prison.Families and Visitors’ Centre

• There willmust be no refreshmentsrips availableor duringtears in your visit.clothing, ie. ripped jeans
• No shorts, skirts or dresses that are shorter than knee length and expose any part of the leg above the knee
• No headwear unless for religious or medical purposes; this may be subject to searching in private by staff considered appropriate for the task. If the headwear is for a medical purpose, then proof must be shown at initial booking-in
• Footwear must not have a heel height of more than 2 inches and no stiletto heels can be worn
• No scarves or gloves. Suitable lockers are available in the Families and Visitors’ Centre
• No watch of any kind. Suitable lockers are available in the Families and Visitors’ Centre

No non-prescription glasses and/or sunglasses can be worn. Suitable lockers are available in the Families and Visitors’

Personal belongings

There are strict controls on what you can take into Gartree. You will have to leave mostalmost all of the things you have with you,you including bags, keys, phones and cameras, in a locker (£1in refunded)the orFamilies and Visitors’ Centre. The lockers are free to use. You may take your locker key into the prison along with security.your Thisproof alsoof includesID, pushchairswhich is shown again at the prison reception.

Pushchairs and car seats.seats brought into the Families and Visitors’ Centre cannot be taken into the prison. There is a highchair available for use in the Visits Hall.

During the visit

If you are a first-time visitor you will be informed of the visiting process by the local PACT team in the Families and Visitors’ Centre before the start of your visit.

There are strict rules in place for your behaviour and the person that you are visiting in the Visits Hall. 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.

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.

If you are a first-time visitor you will be informed of the process by the local PACT team before 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

TheGartree has a family-friendly Families and Visitors’ Centre adjacent to the prison, which acts as an initial booking-in and waiting area. The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) runs runsthe a family-friendly visitor centre whereand youthey canoffer get information and support. There willare betoilet nofacilities, refreshments available duringand youra visit.children’s The childrens play area will not be available to use.

You can speak to themPACT directly on:

Telephone: 01858 461461134 134 or 01858 466466614

Or 614
by emailing: gartree@prisonadvice.org.uk

The centre is open from 1pm on visiting days. You must be booked in at the centre by 2:45pm or you may be refused entry into the prison.

You can purchase tokens in the centre to acquire refreshments in the Visits’ Hall for consumption during your visit. You can only purchase tokens using cash and there is no ATM facility at Gartree. The token purchase limit is £50.00. Any refreshments left over after the visit can be retained by you as a visitor. Prisoners are not allowed to take any of the excess refreshments back to their cells.

Family days

ThereIn areaddition currentlyto noregular family daysand beingfriends’ run.visits, Gartree aims to hold 12 Family Days a year, specifically for prisoners with young relatives under the age of 18. The Family Days are organised and run by the PACT staff and allow prisoners to have a more interactive visit with their younger visitors, through play and craft activities.

The Family Days must be applied for by the prisoner and pre-approved before the visitors confirm their attendance. More details on the Family Days and the booking procedure can be obtained by contacting the Pact team directly at gartree@prisonadvice.org.uk.

Keep in touch with someone at Gartree

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

Secure video calls

SecureTo videohave callinga issecure availablevideo atcall thiswith prison.someone Familyin andthis friendsprison willyou need toto:

• Download download the Prison Video app,app
• Create create an account,account
• Register register all visitors
• Add and add the prisoner to theiryour contact list.

How to book a secure video call

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

These are available during visit days at 2:15pm to 3pm and 3:15pm to 4pm.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their roomscells and are able to make calls whenever they arewish to whilst in their rooms.cell.

Phones do not accept incoming calls so they will always have 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.

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 Gartree using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope. If you do not know the prisoner number, use his date of birth instead.

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

Send moneyin and giftsmoney

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 willexemption would allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

YouThe cannotonly handitems anythat itemsyou can bring into the prison.

Peopleprison infor Gartreea prisoner are givenbooks. aThe listbooks ofwill itemsbe thatcollected theyfrom canyou buyin fromthe approvedsearch suppliers. Theyarea canand alsogiven apply to havethe certainprisoner itemsafter fromthey thehave ‘facilitiesbeen list’checked sent in by post.security.

Family Onlyand whenfriends theof itemprisoners hasare beenalso approvedpermitted canto you send itbooks in.directly Anyto othertheir parcelloved willones, beor returned.

Allcan parcelsorder willbooks befrom openedapproved andretailers, searchedwhich bycan staff,source x-rayed and sniffedsend bythe abooks securityon dog.to prisoners.

MakeGartree suredoes tonot includeaccept theclothing person’sparcels nameinto and prisoner number on the parcel.

Friendsestablishment andor allow families ofto prisonerspurchase areitems permittedfrom toour sendsuppliers books directly to theirbe lovedsent ones,here.

Prisoners orare cangiven ordera bookslist fromof approveditems retailers,that whichthey can sourcebuy andfrom sendapproved thesuppliers booksand onmust toorder prisoners.themselves.

For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Contact Gartree for more information.

Life at Gartree

Gartree is committed to providing a safesafe, decent and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release. It is focussed on reducing reoffending and promoting a rehabilitative culture.

Security and safeguarding

Every personprisoner at Gartree 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 Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Adults Board.

Arrival and first night

When someone first arrives at Gartree, they will get to speak to a trained member of staff who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs. They will also be seen by a clinical healthcare professional.

They will get an information pack and usually be issued with any property that arrived with them.

After the reception process, they will be moved to the induction unit where they can take a shower and make phone calls.

Induction

Each personprisoner who arrives at Gartree gets an induction that lasts about a week. TheyThis will becater infor aany doubleindividual roomneeds and will meet professionals who will help them with:including:

• 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 be shown the library and gym. Everyone also finds out about Gartree’s therapeutic community, prison rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Over 700 menprisoners live at Gartree.Gartree, Mostmost men have their own rooms.cells.

Education and work

All programmes and services at Gartree are designed to help menprisoners adapt their behaviour and lower their risk of reoffending. There is support for those with learning disabilities, help with thinking skills, reducing violence and maintaining healthy relationships.

Gartree has a range of workshops that include woodworking, gardening, laundry and IT. Some qualifications are available in the workshops as well.

The prison also provides a recording service for local and regional Talking Newspapers. MenPrisoners can develop skills in web design and desktop publishing and get involved in the prison newspaper.

Milton Keynes College provides a range of courses, starting with literacy and numeracy. Other courses include English literature, art, cookery, IT, barbering and construction skills. Further education opportunities are offered through distance learning and the Open University.

Organisations Gartree works with

Gartree works with Story Book Dads which helps men in prison to record personal bedtime stories for their children.

It works with Shakespeare Unbard, on a voluntary basis, to get prisoners involved in drama. The group performs at least one performance each year.

Leicestershire Libraries provide the library facility at Gartree. There is a programme of craft sessions, wellbeing days and speakers along with the books.

The Shannon Trust helps menprisoners at Gartree develop their reading skills, build confidence and progress to educational qualifications.

Support for family and friends

Find out about about advice and helplines for family and friends.

To contact our family provision at HMP Gartree please email: gartree@prisonadvice.org.uk.

Support at Gartree

The The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) provides provides individual support with a range of issues facing families with loved ones in prison. Ask in the visitorsvisitors’ centre for more information.

ProblemsConcerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	01858 426886	Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.
Staff Integrity Hotline	0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine)	This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously.
Prisoners’ Families Helpline	0808 808 2003	The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance.
Unwanted Prisoner Contact	0300 060 6699	If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone.

Problems and complaints

If you have aany problemother problems contact Gartree.

Inspection reports

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

Contact Gartree

Acting Governing Governor: BabafemiRachel DadaMartindale

Telephone: 01858 426 600
Fax: 01858 426 601
Find out about call charges

Address

See map

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Gartree, call the safer custody hotline. Leave your name, telephone number, the reason for your call and the name and prisoner number of the man you are worried about. You should be called back within 24 hours.

Telephone: 01858 426 886
Find out about call charges

In an emergency, call the main telephone number and ask for the duty governor.