Durham Prison

9, 16, 23, 30 July
• 6, 20, 27 Aug
• 3, 10, 17, 24,24 31Sept
• 1, 8, 15, 22 Oct
• 7,5, 14,12, 21,19, 2826 Nov
• 5,3, 12,10, 1917, 24 Dec

FatherFamily andlearning:

• 2, Child9, days16, (9.30am23, to30 11.30am):
  Jan
  • 6, 13, 27 Feb
  • 6, 13, 20, 27 March
  • 10, 24 Apr
  • 1, 8, 15, 22 May
  • 5, 12, 19, 26 June
  • 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Jul
  • 7, 21, 28 Aug
  • 4, 11, 18, 25 Sep
  • 2, 9, 16, 23 Oct
  • 6, 13, 20, 27 Nov
  • 4, 11, 1818, 24 Dec

  Vulnerable prisonerprisoners, adult-onlyadults visitonly (2pmvisits:

  • 26 toJan
  • 14 4pm)Dec

  Community day (Chapel):

  • 275 OctJan
  • 242 NovFeb
  • 152 DecMar

  Further

• 13 detailsApr
• 11 andMay
• 1 eventJune
• 6 themesJul
• 3 canAug
• 7 beSept
• 5 foundOct
• 2 onNov
• 7 theDec

Eid NepacsFamily websitevisit:

• 26 May

How to book official visits

To book an official visit email, LegalVisits.Durham@justice.gov.uk

The mailbox is monitored Monday to Friday (7am to 4pm).

Official video visit times:

• Monday, 2pm to 4pm
• Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm
• Wednesday, 2pm to 6pm
• Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
• Friday, 2pm to 4pm

Official face to face visit times:

• Monday, 2pm to 4pm
• Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm
• Wednesday, 2pm to 6pm
• Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
• Friday, 2pm to 4pm

You must inform booking staff if you need to bring equipment with you (such as a laptop).

Getting to Durham prison

Find Durham prison on a map

The closest railway station is Durham, around a 20-minute walk away, or you can take a taxi.

Durham bus station is around a 15-minute walk from the prison.

To plan your journey by public transport use:

• National Rail Enquiries
• Traveline for local bus times

There is no visitor’s car park.

There is no disabled visitor’s car park, however, two disabled bays are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Entering Durham Prison

All visitors 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 over the age of 10 will have their photo taken.

Durham has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes:

• no vests
• no low-cut or revealing tops
• no short shorts
• no short dresses
• no see-through clothing
• no football shirts
• no offensive slogans
• no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons

Visitors are also not allowed to wear smart watches, sunglasses, steel toe cap footwear or metal hair accessories.

You can purchase refreshments in the visitor centre and in the visits hall. You are permitted to bring in up to £20 in coins for purchases.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Durham. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a £1 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 is a visitors and family support centre run by Nepacs. Staff and volunteers in the visitors centre can provide you with information and support.

Refreshments can be purchased in the visitor centre and in the visits hall. You are permitted to bring in up to £20 in coins for purchases.

Family days

HMP Durham has various family visits throughout the year. Details on how these visits run can be found on NEPACS website.

Keep in touch with someone at Durham

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

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

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

Prisoners have phones in their cells but 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.

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 Durham 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 Durham.

Letters

You can write at any time.

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

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

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.

Life at Durham

Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham, 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 be able to have a shower and 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 Durham 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

Almost 1,000 prisoners live at Durham, mostly on remand (they have not yet been sentenced).

There are 7 wings plus a segregation unit and healthcare centre.

Education and work

Prisoners in Durham Prison have the opportunity to take part in education, vocational training and employability courses.

Education is provided by Novus and includes:

• skills for life
• IT
• customer service
• art
• horticulture
• English for speakers of other languages

Vocational training is available that reflects the local employment market. It covers:

• construction
• IT
• warehousing
• recycling
• food and hospitality

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

To contact our head of family provision at HMP Durham email: safercustodydurham@justice.gov.uk

You can also get support from NEPACs, who run the visitors centre at Durham is run by NEPACs, who can offer help and support regarding

• Visits
• Property
• Healthcare
• Finances
• PIN phone

Opening hours

• 0191 332 3676 Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm
• 0191 332 3462 Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm

Contact NEPACs on:

Freephone 0800 012 1539
Email support@nepacs.co.uk
Text 07983 437 457

Find out about call charges

Concerns, problems and complaints

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Durham.

Inspection reports

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

Contact Durham

Governor: Tim Healey

Telephone (24 hours): 01913 323 400
Fax: 01913 323 401
Find out about call charges

Address

See map