Book and plan your visit to Usk

To visit someone in Usk 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 prisoner can have. You can check this with Usk.

Contact Usk 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 Usk
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 01291 673 730

The booking line is open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 5pm to 7pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting Times:

• Tuesday:Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm
• Wednesday:Wednesday, 2pm to 4pm and 5pm to 7pm
• Thursday:Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
• Friday:Friday, 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday:Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
• Sunday:Sunday, 2pm to 4pm

How to book legal and professional visits

Book legal visits by telephone.

Booking lines:
lines number 01291 671 730

Monday to Friday, 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

• Tuesday and Wednesday:Wednesday, 9am to midday

Getting to Usk

Find Usk on a map

The closest railway station is Newport. From there you can get a taxi or take the bus direct to Usk town.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

There is a free visitors car park.

There is also a disabled visitors car parking area outside the prison.

Entering Usk

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 willincluding needchildren towill be given a pat-down search,search. includingSecurity children.dogs You may also be sniffedpresent. byThe securityprocess dogs.will be fully explained to you before the search.

Visitors must adherefollow to the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Usk. You will havebe asked to leave mostall ofyour thebelongings thingslocked you have with you in ayour lockervehicle. or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

YouFor willthose bewithout tolda thevehicle rulesa bysmall annumber officerof atlockers theare startavailable.

There ofare basic rules that you must follow during your visit. These are well documented in the visits room and will be explained to you on your request.

If you break thethese rules,rules your visit could be cancelled andand, if serious, you could be banned from visiting again.

Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.

Visiting facilities

There is no visitors centre at Usk. There is a small reception room in the gate area.

Family days

Usk runs extra Adults and Children family day visits.visits Detailsthroughout the year.

Dates of these visitswill can be givenadvertised byinternally emailing:for Resettlement.usk@justice.gov.uk.prisoners to view.

You do not need to book these visits; the prisoner you are visiting will book them.

Keep in touch with someone at Usk

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

Secure video calls

Every prisoner is allowed one 30-minute video call a month.

If they do not receive visits within the prison, they can apply for an extra video call a month.

Video call sessions (30-minute slots) are available:

• Monday, 1:45pm to 6:15pm
• Thursday, 1:45pm to 6:15pm
• Saturday, 8:45am to 11:45am

How to book a secure video call

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.

You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

PrisonersAll docells notin Usk have phonesa phone in theirthem cellsfor soprisoners theyto willcall alwaysyou.

They havecan toonly callphone you.people Theyon their approved list.

Prisoners have the opportunity each week to buy phone credits to do this.

TheyPrisoners canmust phoneapply anyoneto namedhave onnumbers added to their listlist.

When ofthey friendsdo andthe familyprison duringwill phonecontact hours,that whichperson to ensure that they are 8amhappy to 7pm,have contact. If you want to stop receiving calls from a prisoner you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service.

Officers listen to random phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

The phones are turned on:

• Monday to Friday, 7am to 8:15am, 11:15am to 1:45pm and 4pm to 9:30pm
• Saturday, 8am to 4:45pm10pm
• Sunday, on8am weekends.to This10pm

You listcan isalso approvedexchange byvoicemails securityusing andthe anyPrison newVoicemail namesservice.

Officers mustmay belisten checkedto andphone clearedcalls beforeas theya areway added.of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

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 Usk 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 Usk.

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 Usk.

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 also send postal orders and cheques. These should be made payable to ‘NOMS Agency’ and include the prisoners name and prisoner number on the back.

Gifts and parcels

Prisoners in Usk are given a facilities list which details items that can be sent to them by post. Contact Usk for more information on what’s allowed.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.

Do not send in a parcel until the prisoner confirms that it has been approved.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Usk

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

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Usk 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.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Usk, 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. It will be in the presence of an officer.

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

Induction

Each prisoner who arrives at Usk 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

Around286 280 prisoners live atin HMP Usk. Most live in shared cells across the 3 main wings, called A,A wing, B wing and C.C wing.

Prisoners on the ‘enhanced’ behaviour level can apply to live in theD ComberWing, Unit, which is a separate dormitory style unit.

There are TVs and phones in all cells.

There are indoor and outdoor gym facilities offering a range of activities for prisoners of all physical abilities.

Usk has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to prisoners.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities, ranging from basic skills, such as literacy, numeracy, computing skills and employability, to higher learning and qualifications. The programme also includes training in a variety of trades and professions, including:

• health and safety
• food safety
• wellbeing
• business studies
• woodcraft
• bricklaying

Work is available throughout the prison and in the industrial workshops.

Usk also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programme courses.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

To contact our head of family provision at HMP Usk email: resettlement.usk@justice.co.uk.

Support at Usk

Family services at Usk are provided by G4SInvisible Walls.

Concerns, problems and complaints

Safer

Contact custodycategory	Phone hotline Ifnumber	Additional yourinformation
Non-emergency	01291 concern671 is703	Call urgentthis butnumber notif life-threatening,you pleasehave callconcerns theabout Safera Custodyprisoner’s Helplinesafety onor 01291wellbeing 671which 703. Leaveare aserious messagebut givingnot aslife-threatening or manycomplete detailsa assafer possiblecustody includingcontact form on the prisonersPrisoners’ name,Families prisonerHelpline numberwebsite.
Staff andIntegrity whatHotline	0800 wing917 they6877 are (24 locatedhours onanswering ifmachine)	This younumber knowcan it.be called anonymously. If you wish,are youconcerned canabout leavea yourprisoner ownbeing detailsbullied andby a contactmember numberof sostaff, theyou prison can giveuse youthis feedback,number. ifAs appropriate. Youthis line is managed separately from the prison, you can alsocall readthis morenumber informationanonymously.
Prisoners’ aboutFamilies saferHelpline	0808 custody808 concerns2003	The Prisoners’ Families Helpline oncan theprovide Prisonersconfidential Familiessupport, website. Problemsadvice and complaints guidance.
Unwanted Prisoner Contact	0300 060 6699	If a prisoner is contacting you haveand ayou problemwant contactthem Usk.to Ifstop, you cannotcan resolveuse the problemUnwanted directly,Prisoner youContact Service. You can makecomplete athe complaintStop toprisoner HMcontact Prisononline form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone.

Problems and Probationcomplaints

If Serviceyou have any other problem contact Usk.

Inspection reports

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

Contact Usk

Governor: Rob Denman

Telephone (24 hours): 01291 671 600
Fax: 01291 671 752
Find out about call charges

Address

See map