Erlestoke Prison

Book and plan your visit to Erlestoke

To visit someone in Erlestoke 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 Erlestoke.

Contact Erlestoke 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 Erlestoke
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line, 0300 303 0634

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The booking lines are open:

• Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm

Visiting times:

• Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
• Friday, 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 4pm

Visitors are reminded to attend 30 minutes beforehand.

How to book legalofficial and professional visits

To book Legalofficial video visits, email: LegalandCourtrequestErlestoke@justice.gov.uk

Official video visits pleasetimes:

• Monday, email,9am to 4pm
• Tuesday, 9am to 4pm
• Wednesday, 9am to 4pm
• Thursday, 9am to 4pm
• Sunday, 9am to 4pm

To book official face to face visits, email: LegalVisits.Erlestoke@justice.gov.uk.

Official face to face visit times:

• Friday - morning only

Getting to Erlestoke

Find Erlestoke on a map

The closest railway station is Westbury, which is about 7 miles from Erlestoke.

The Friends of Erlestoke Prison run a return transport service on visiting days from Westbury station and Devizes town centre.

To book the service:

Email, friendstransportscheme@gmail.com
Telephone or text, 07504 987190
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To plan your journey by public transport:

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

There is a visitors car park at the main gate. Parking can be arranged nearer the entrance for those with access needs. Contact Erlestoke to discuss.

Entering Erlestoke

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.

Visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like revealing clothing or clothing with offensive slogans. Ask at the visitors centre if you have questions about appropriate dress.

Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a small amount of coins (notes are not allowed).

There are strict controls on what you can take into Erlestoke. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker 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 is a visitors centre run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) charity. Family and friends can relax, buy refreshments and get advice and support from the staff.

The Visitors Centre is open at the following times:

• Thursday, 12:30pm to 4:30pm
• Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Saturday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Sunday, 8.30am to 4:30pm

Telephone, 01380 816 828
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There is currently no food or drink available.

Family days

HMP Erlestoke offers 6 Family Days each calendar year, these are managed through our PACT family support services who will be able to provide full details.

Keep in touch with someone at Erlestoke

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

Secure video calls

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

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.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners have in cell phones which they can use at any time if they have pin credit.

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 Erlestoke using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

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 Erlestoke.

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

National Prison Radio’s Family and Friends request show

National Prison Radio broadcasts into prison cells across England and Wales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Family and friends can stay connected with their loved ones in prison by sending song requests, written messages and voice recordings. They are then read and played out on weekly episodes. 

You can send in a message, and hear the show, at nationalprisonradio.com

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

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

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

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

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 thePrison HMPPSeducation Incentivesand Policy,library services, Annex FA.

Life at Erlestoke

Erlestoke Prison strives to provide a safe, decent and secure environment for prisoners, staff and visitors. They focus on preparing prisoners for release with training and education in a social environment.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Erlestoke 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 someone first arrives at Erlestoke, 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 prisoner who arrives at Erlestoke 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

Over 500 prisoners live at Erlestoke across 8 units. Most prisoners get their own cell.

Education and work

All prisoners are expected to engage in purposeful activity during their time at Erlestoke. There are a range of opportunities to study, train or work throughout the prison.

Prisoners can work in areas such as the kitchens and the farms and gardens and earn qualifications at the same time.

Erlestoke 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.

Support at Erlestoke

The visitors centre at Erlestoke is run by PACT. Staff are available to help prisoners and their friends and family.

There is a dedicated helpline on 01380 816 828. You can speak to someone through this line during the visitors centre opening hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Outside of those times you can leave a message and someone will get back to you when the visitors centre is open.

Concerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	01380 814373	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 any other problem contact Erlestoke.

Inspection reports

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

Contact Erlestoke

Governor: Sarah Coombs

Telephone: 01380 814 250
Fax: 01380 814 273
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Address

See map