Please be advised that this email address is for issues and queries, and we aim to respond to you within 3 working days.
Family Development Sessions
A Family Development Session is held on alternating Sunday afternoons on a wing-by-wing basis. This session may include family days, children’s visits, homework clubs and other initiatives.
Visits Facilities tuck shop
You can purchase light refreshments and cold snacks for the first hour of your visit from inside the visitor centre. Payments are by contactless only, no cash is accepted. No refunds or exchanges unless a product is faulty. Please note, if you are attending a children’s visit on a Wednesday, please arrive promptly for your visit and the tuck shop will be opened to purchase items between 8:45am and 9am.
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits can take place at an open table or a closed booth, face to face or via video link.
Face To Face
Monday to Friday, 9am to 9:55am, 10:05am to 11am, 2pm to 2:55pm and 3:05pm to 4pm
Double sessions can be booked if you would like to utilise 2-hour slots, but we ask that you only book a double session if needed.
Prohibited articles
Send an email to hmppsvisitbooking@justice.gov.uk if you require an authorisation application to bring a prohibited article into the establishment (i.e cameras, recording equipment etc). This must be completed by the host visitor to the site and completed at least 72 hours prior to the visit. Please note, laptops do not require prior authorisation, but Wi-Fi must not be connected.
Video Links
Mondays to Fridays, (1 hour sessions) 9am to 10am, 10am to 11am, 2pm to 3pm or 3pm to 4pm
There needs to be 2 working days’ notice before any bookings or amendments are made.
If you no longer require your legal visit slot then please make cancellations or amendments at the earliest possible opportunity, failure to attend without cancellation results in a lost slot which others could utilise.
Wormwood Scrubs is a 10-minute walk from East Acton underground station. The closest mainline railway station is London Paddington. Several local bus routes pass the prison.
If coming by car, you can park outside the prison. You will need to pay and display at certain times during the week. Check times and prices on the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham website.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Wormwood Scrubs has clothing requirements that must be adhered to for security reasons.
The following clothing should not be worn:
hats, scarves or head coverings which are not worn on religious grounds
jackets, coats, hoodies or gloves
damaged or ripped clothing (irrespective of design)
metal hair accessories
steel toe capped shoes/boots/cycle/motorcycle shorts
non-prescription sunglasses
see-through/revealing clothing
items of clothing that display offensive/abusive or insulting words or gestures
mini or very short skirts/dresses without leggings
shorts which are shorter than mid thigh to knee length
visible/exposed underwear
smart watches
heavy metal jewellery
jumpsuits or playsuits
flip flops or sliders
football shirts
Hoodrich branded clothing
sleeveless or vest tops
midriff or cleavage on show
cargo/pocketed trousers
multiple pairs of trousers
ponchos
There are strict controls on what you can take into Wormwood Scrubs. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security, including 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.
Prisoners have access to in-cell and landing phones for making outgoing calls to preapproved phone numbers only.
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 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
Prisoners are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Wormwood Scrubs for more information on what’s allowed.
Family and friends are strongly advised to use Parcelforce to send parcels in to prisoners to ensure successful delivery.
Parcelforce are reliably able to comply with the prison’s local security requirements for receiving parcels. While Whilstother couriers may be used, if they cannot comply with the prison requirements parcels this can lead to delays or parcels being returned.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Sending books
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.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
When a prisoner first arrives at Wormwood Scrubs, 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 at the prison who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.
Induction
Each person who arrives at Wormwood Scrubs 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
There are around 1,200 prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs in a mixture of single and shared cells. There are 5 main wings (A to E) plus a number of smaller specialist units.
Facilities include book rooms on all wings and a fully equipped gym.
Wormwood Scrubs Prison has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to prisoners.
Education and work
Prisoners can choose from a broad range of learning opportunities, including:
english
maths
information and communication technology (ICT)
english for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
catering
customer service
barbering
rail-track laying
There are several contract workshops at Wormwood Scrubs where prisoners can gain work experience and qualifications, including industrial cleaning, laundry, and textiles.
Call 020 8588 3200 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
Contact category
Phone number
Additional information
Non-emergency
0208 588 3216
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.
Health concerns
0117 240 1193
If you have a health concern about someone in HMP Wormwood Scrubs, call the Prisoner Health Information and Liaison Line (Call PHILL) to speak to the health team confidentially.
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.