HMP WORMWOOD SCRUBS VISITORS' CENTRE
About the Visitors' Centre
Contact details
How to get there
Visitors' Centre opening hours
Facilities on offer at the Visitors' Centre
Disabled access?
Information for visitors to HMP Wormwood Scrubs
Prison visiting times
How to book a visit
Before you visit
What to bring as ID
Bringing the children?
Booking in for a visit
What can I take into the visits hall?
Help with travel costs
Giving difficult or bad news
Support from other organisations
Giving the prisoner property and money
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Contact details
Visitors' Centre
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
DuCane Road
London
W12 0AE
020 8740 1511
wormwoodscrubs@prisonadvice.org.uk
The Visitors' Centre manager is Norma Tomlin.
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How to get there
HMP Wormwood Scrubs is situated in West London, next to Hammersmith Hospital. The nearest tube station is East Action, and it is a 10 minute walk to the prison from there. A number of bus routes go past the prison. For more advice about getting to Wormwood Scrubs, visit the Prison Service website. The Visitors' Centre is situated on your right as you enter the prison forecourt.
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Visitors' Centre opening hours
Monday - Saturday: 8.30am - 12 noon, 1pm - 4.30pm
Sunday: 1pm - 4.30pm
Please note that the prison visiting times are slightly different to the Visitors' Centre opening hours. If you need to find out the visiting times, see below.
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Facilities on offer at the Visitors' Centre
- Information and advice about prison routines, visiting procedure, and the Prison Assisted Visits Scheme
- A coffee bar selling a range of drinks and snacks
- A children's play area with toys and games
- A payphone
- Toilets and baby changing facilities
- pact staff and volunteers are always on hand to offer advice and a listening ear
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Disabled access?
Yes. There is a ramp leading up to the entrance, and a disabled toilet inside the visitors' centre.
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Prison visiting times
Monday: 9.30am - 11am (remand prisoners only), 2pm - 4pm (over 18s only)
Tuesday: No visits untill further notice.
Wednesday: 9.30am - 11am (remand prisoners only), 2pm - 4pm (convicted prisoners only)
Thursday: 9.30am - 11am (over 18s only), 2pm - 4pm (convicted prisoners only)
Friday: 9.30am - 11am (remand prisoners only), 2pm - 4pm (all)
Saturday: 9am - 10am (all), 10.30am - 11.30am (all), 2pm - 3pm (all), 3.30pm - 4.30pm (all)
Sunday: 2pm - 3pm (all), 3.30pm - 4.40pm (remand prisoners only)
Please note that no one will be admitted into the prison after 10.30am or 3.30pm Monday - Friday.
Weekend gate times are as follows:
Morning sessions: 8.30am - 9.30am, 9.45am - 10.45am.
Afternoon sessions: 1.30pm - 2.30pm, 2.45pm - 3.45pm.
If you arrive late for your allotted time you will be refused entry.
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- all visits, whether to convicted or unconvicted prisoners, must be booked in advance
- if you are visiting a convicted prisoner, you must wait until they have sent you a Visiting Order in the post. Then you must phone up to arrange a visit. Please note that only people named on the Visiting Order will be allowed to visit
- if you are visiting a prisoner on remand, you do not need a Visiting Order, but you must still book your visit in advance
- Up to three adults can visit a prisoner at any one time, one of which must be at least 18 years old. At this prison, all children over 10 are counted as adults. Up to four children aged under 10 may also attend
- all adult visitors (anyone aged over 10) must bring ID with them when they visit
- to book your visit, phone the prison's Booking Line on 020 8588 3564/3566/3596
- Booking Line opening hours: Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 7pm (it is closed at weekends and on bank
holidays) - there is a limited service between 12 noon and 2pm because of staff lunch breaks
- please note that if you need to make a change to your visit, you must inform the booking line by 12 noon on the previous day
How many visits is the prisoner allowed?
It depends whether the prisoner is on remand or convicted - and on the privileges system.
All prisoners at HMP Wormwood Scrubs are part of a system for earning or losing privileges. Each prisoner is on a basic, standard or enhanced regime - depending on how many privileges they have earned.
For convicted prisoners, there is a system of Visiting Orders (which are valid for 28 days from the date of issue) and Privilege Visiting Orders, printed on yellow paper, which can only be used Monday to Friday.
Here is a breakdown of the number of visits prisoners are allowed:
- basic remand prisoners can have three visits a week, one of which can take place at the weekend
- standard and enhanced remand prisoners can have three visits a week, two of which can take place at the weekend
- basic convicted prisoners are entitled to two Visiting Orders a month
- standard convicted prisoners are entitled to two Visiting Orders a month, plus one Privilege Visiting Order a month
- enhanced convicted prisoners are entitled to two Visiting Orders and two Privilege Visiting Orders a month
- special 'children's visits' for fathers and their children take place regularly. Click here for more information
The first visit
If it is the first time a prisoner has come into this prison, they are entitled to a 'reception visit' within the first 48 hours of entering the prison. This is in addition to your normal visits entitlement.
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Before you visit
Give yourself plenty of time to get to HMP Wormwood Scrubs; aim to be at the Visitors' Centre at least 20 minutes before your visit.
You will need to bring identification with you - please see the list of appropriate ID below. You will also need to bring a (refundable) pound coin to use in the locker where your belongings will be kept while you are on the visit.
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What to bring as ID
Visitors will be required to provide correct identification. Adult visitors must provide either
- one from list A and one from list B
- three from list B
In both cases, one piece of ID must include an address and one must include a date of birth.
Only original documents will be accepted. Photocopies, faxes, and items printed from the internet (e.g. bank statements) will not be accepted.
Names, addresses and dates of birth must match exactly across all ID provided, the information given when booking a visit, and any Visiting Orders.
Children may be required to produce one piece of ID that includes their date of birth, to confirm that they are under 18.
List A:
- photo driving licence with correct address
- valid passport (must be in-date)
- identity card issued by an EU country
List B:
- photo driving licence with correct address
- valid passport (must be in-date)
- identity card issued by a EU country
- employer's photo ID card or student photo ID card
- young person's proof of age card
- vehicle registration certificate (DVLA V5C)
- National Insurance card
- valid old-style full UK driving licence with correct address (cannot be used with photo driving licence (list A, item 1)
- valid disabled person’s Blue Badge parking permit
The following items must be original documents issued within 6 weeks of birth, marriage, adoption or naturalisation:
- full original birth certificate (British nationals only)
- UK marriage certificate
- UK adoption certificate
- UK certificate of naturalisation or registration
The following documents must be dated within the last three months:
- utility (gas/electric/water) bill
- telephone bill (landline only, not mobile phone)
- council tax bill/statement
- catalogue bill or store card bill/statement
- bank or building society statement
- addressed payslip
- TV licence
- credit card bill/statement
- mortgage statement
- valid insurance statement
- NHS hospital appointment letter
- official correspondence confirming entitlement to housing benefit, council tax benefit, tax credit or state pension
- official correspondence from the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre, HM Revenue and Customs or local authority
- child benefit documentation or child tax credit documentation
- valid NHS card
- valid photo Freedom pass
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What can I take into the visits hall?
When you go into the prison for your visit, you must leave your possessions behind in a locker in the Visitors' Centre. You will need a pound coin for the locker, which is refundable.
The only items you are allowed to take into the visits hall with you are:
- up to £20 in cash to buy food and drinks from the coffee bar inside the visits hall
- bottle of baby milk
- a nappy
- baby wipes
We advise people not to buy too much food or drink at the coffee bar - prisoners are not allowed to take food back to their cells.
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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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Giving difficult or bad news
It is often necessary for visitors to be the bearer of bad news, such as a family bereavement or the breaking up of a personal relationship with a partner.
If you need to give a prisoner bad news, please ensure that the prison staff or Visitors' Centre staff know before you give bad news, as it can have a distressing and traumatic effect on the prisoner. Prior knowledge can help the prison staff to support the person through what can be a time of crisis.
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Support from other organisations
There are a number of organisations that offer advice and support to prisoners and their families. To find out more, visit our links page or ask at the Visitors' Centre.
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Giving the prisoner property and money
There are many rules and regulations about how to do this. Please click here for detailed information about what is allowed.
Work has begun on a brand new visitors' centre at HMP Wormwood Scrubs! Watch our short film to find out more.