HMP BRISTOL VISITORS' CENTRE

The visitors' centre at HMP Bristol is run by pact, an independent charity. We provide a friendly, welcoming environment for those visiting inmates at the prison.

About the visitors' centre

Contact details
How to get there
Visitors' centre opening hours
Facilities

Information for visitors to HMP Bristol

Prison visiting times
How to book a visit
What to bring as ID
What happens on a visit
Help with travel costs
Support from other organisations
Giving the prisoner property and money
How do I write to my relative or friend?
Can he phone or write to me?
If you are seriously concerned about a prisoner

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About the Visitors' Centre

Contact details
The Visitors' Centre
HMP Bristol
19 Cambridge Road
Bristol
BS7 8PS

phone: 01179 244866
mobile: 07791 548843
alan.bradley@prisonadvice.org.uk

The Visitors' Centre manager is Alan Bradley.

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How to get there
The nearest railway stations are Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway. All buses numbered from 70 to 79 pass the prison and can be caught from near the Central Bus Station. The prison is on Cambridge Road, which is a side street off the main A38 (Gloucester Road), around two miles from city centre.

Step-by-step guide to getting there by train and bus
Step-by-step guide to getting there by car

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Visitors' centre opening hours
This is a new pact Visitors' Centre, and so there are currently no fixed opening hours. However, you'll find the visitors' centre is open on most days.

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Facilities on offer at the Visitors' Centre

information about services for families - such as benefits, debt advice, drug services, and so on
toilets and baby changing facilities
a drinks machine
a well-equipped play area for children

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Prison visiting times
1.50pm - 3.50pm daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday. The last entry allowed will be 20 minutes before the end of the allocated time. We recommend people arrive at 1.30pm.

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How to book a visit
All visits must be booked in advance.

To book a visit, call the prison's Booking Line: 0117 372 3213, 01173 723271 or 01173 723258.

The line is very busy and it can take quite a long time to get through.

Booking Line opening hours:
7 days a week: 8.00am - 12.30pm, 1.30pm -4.30pm

Please note: people who have been in this prison themselves and those
who are tagged, must write and ask permission from the Governor before
visits can be arranged.

Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult with a letter of parental consent.

You can now book online when booking visits for remand prisoners. E-mail SocialVisits.Bristol@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Please include:

prisoner’s name, number and date of birth in subject line
the visit date you require and 2 alternative dates
full name and address
date of birth and relation to the prisoner for every visitor
e-mails must be received at least 48 hours before the visit
bookings can be made at up to two weeks in advance

Incomplete bookings will not be processed. You must also print out the confirmation e-mail reply for proof of booking and you must bring proof of identity with you.

You can still book a visit to a remand prisoner by phone if you prefer.

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What to bring as ID
All visitors, including children, must bring ID.

There are three ways in which you can meet this requirement:

1. A photographic driving licence which has your current address on it (and which matches your name and address on the visiting order).

2. A photographic identification such as...

a passport (including foreign passports)
EC identity card
senior citizen's transport pass issued by local authority
employer or student ID card (as long as the employer or educational establishment is recognisable to staff)

...together with something with your address on it (for example, a recent utilities bill) which matches the address on your visiting order.

3. Two forms of ID. These could be a birth or marriage certificate, rent book, library card, or a recent utility bill. One of these must have your name and address on them.

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What happens on a visit
For a detailed guide to what happens on a visit to HMP Bristol, click here

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Help with travel costs
If you are on a low income or you receive benefits, you might be entitled to get help from the government with the cost of visiting your relative in prison. Help is provided by the Assisted Prison Visits Unit (APVU). You can claim for two visits a month.

For more information about the APVU:

ask at the Visitors' Centre
call the APVU on 0845 300 1423
or visit the Prison Service website

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Support from other organisations
There are a number of organisations that offer help and advice to prisoners and their families. To find out more, visit our links page

Also, here are a few local organisations that could help:

Bristol Citizens Advice Bureau
Free advice about debt, homelessness, benefits, and many other subjects
0870 121 2134
Bristol Central Jobcentre Plus
Your local Jobcentre, offering advice and support about benefit entitlement and jobhunting
0117 938 8200
Avon and Bristol Law Centre
Free legal advice and advocacy for people on low incomes, about debt, benefits, discrimination,
or employment
0117 924 8662

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Giving the prisoner property and money

Can I send in money?
Yes. Please send postal orders, not cash, and make them payable to "The Governor". Be sure to put the prisoner's name and number on the back of the order, and also your own name and address.

Address the envelope with the prisoner's name and number like an ordinary letter. (You can include a letter with the postal order if you wish.) If you send money in by cheque, it can take up to a month to clear.

We advise you to keep the counterfoil of any postal order until you are sure it has been put on the prisoner's account.

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Can I give the prisoner anything during a visit?
You can only bring in socks and underpants for the prisoner.

Other clothing may only be brought in when the prisoner has sent you an official voucher on a form which he can get from one of the officers on his wing. (The officer will tell him what clothing is acceptable.) What you bring must then be only what is on the voucher.

Prisoners can save up to buy other items which they can order from the approved supplier (the catalogue is available on the wings). You cannot send or arrange to send anything in to a prisoner other than socks and underpants.

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How do I write to my relative or friend?
To avoid delays, make sure that all mail has the prisoner's full name and prison number on it. Please also do not use padded envelopes since these have to be x-rayed and that causes delays.

There are two internal mail boxes for people to use should they wish to drop mail off in person at the prison, rather than posting it.

You can also contact a prisoner at HMP Bristol by e-mail: see www.emailaprisoner.com for more information.

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Can he phone or write to me?
All new prisoners to HMP Bristol are issued with a £2 phone credit on arrival (unless there are people they are not allowed to contact). If a prisoner arrives on a Friday, this amount will not be credited to their account until the following Monday. They are also given a reception letter, which gets sent by first class post, and then two free second class letters a week.

They can write as many letters as they wish provided they have the funds to buy writing materials. You can post in writing pads (but not spiral bound ones), envelopes, and stamps. But you cannot bring these items with you to give in.

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If you are seriously concerned about a prisoner
If you have serious concerns about a prisoner's safety and welfare, in addition to talking to a pact member of staff or volunteer, you can also leave a message on the Safer Custody Hotline: 0117 372 3382. Your concerns will be addressed within 24 hours. For very urgent concerns you can contact the Duty Governor via the prison switchboard: 0117 372 3100.

You can now book online when booking visits for remand prisoners.

Send an e-mail to: SocialVisits.Bristol@hmps.gsi.gov.uk Please include:

prisoner’s name, number and date of birth in subject line
the visit date you require and 2 alternative dates
full name and address
date of birth and relation to the prisoner for every visitor
e-mails must be received at least 48 hours before the visit
bookings can be made at up to two weeks in advance

Incomplete bookings will not be processed. You must also print out the confirmation e-mail reply for proof of booking and you must bring proof of identity with you. You can still book a visit to a remand prisoner by phone if you prefer.

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Would you like to be kept up to date with the latest news from Bristol Visitors' Centre?

Our monthly e-mail alert contains the latest news about our opening times, children's play facilities, and other developments for the families of Bristol's inmates.

To sign up, send an email to info@prisonadvice.org.uk with "Bristol" in the subject line.