Prisoners' families Prison Visitors' Guides HMP Huntercombe A Visitors’ Guide This guide includes information that you may find useful for the duration of the time your family or friend is a resident at HMP Huntercombe. If you notice anything that is incorrect on this page, please contact us on [email protected] Any further information can be found on the prison website at www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/huntercombe or you can ring the main switchboard on 01491 643 100. On 24th March 2020 the Government announced that all prison visits are temporarily cancelled until further notice. Read the full announcement here. Remember, there are other ways to contact your loved ones: Exchange voice messages using the Prison Voicemail Send emails using the Email A Prisoner Write a letter to them. You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline for advice and support on all aspects of the criminal justice system: Call 0808 808 2003 (9am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm at the weekend) Email the team on [email protected] Fill in a contact form and request a call back at www.prisonersfamilies.org If you are worried about your loved one while they are a resident at this prison, you can contact the Safer Custody team. Address: NuffieldHenley-on-ThamesOxfordshireRG9 5SB Governor: David Redhouse Pact Worker contact: Amy Heppolette, Family Engagement Manager 01491 643323 The Dedicated Confidential Number for prisoner concerns is: 0345 0390015 (answerphone) or to speak to someone directly in the prison in the case of an emergency: 01491 643325. Visitors’ Centre Telephone: 01491643328 Visiting Times Monday 14:00-16:00 Tuesday Closed Wednesday Closed Thursday 14:00-16:00 Friday Closed Saturday 14:00-16:00 Sunday 14:00-16:00 Legal Visits Monday Closed Tuesday 09:00-11:30 Wednesday Closed Thursday 09:00-11:30 Friday Closed Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Booking a visit: All visits must be booked in advance. Only those visitors whose details have been listed on the Prisoner’s Authorisation Contact List (as provided by the prisoner) and those whom are named on the booking will be allowed entry into the prison. Prison staff cannot add visitor(s) to a Prisoner’s Authorisation Contact List without the consent / authorisation of a Prisoner. Adults and children must all have Identification; for more information regarding Identification, please see Identification Policy below. To book your visit Telephone: 01491 643151 Online: [email protected] At your visit Visits can be extremely emotional and the process can be confusing. All prisons have differing processes for making visits and differing security checks. Security checks You may be required to have your finger or thumb prints scanned as part of a security check. You may also have an iris scan. Sometimes you will be sniffed by security dogs. Make sure you wear clothes that are not contaminated by any form of drug as you will be returned to the Visitors’ Centre and will not be able to have your visit. You may also be searched by a prison officer (of the same gender). During your visit, officers will be with you throughout and will open and lock doors in front of and behind you at all stages. Identification Policy If you do not have a passport or driving license you can order a citizen ID card that you can use. You can find out more here www.citizencard.com. All visitors, both legal and domestic must bring photographic identification with them and be able to clearly identify themselves to be the person they are claiming to be. Former prisoners should not be refused permission to visit. If they are on licence, an application should be made in writing to the Governor for permission to enter the establishment to visit. The following forms of identification are acceptable as per the Local Security Strategy. Acceptable alone: Valid passport Valid driving licence – photo bearing Senior citizen public transport pass (photo bearing) Annual public transport season ticket (photo bearing) Employer’s I.D. card (must show name of visitor/employer’s name/photograph and signature) Photo bearing disability car permit (issued by local authority). Or two or more of the following: Rail or bus pass with photograph Cheque book/credit/debit/store card with signature Visitor’s proof of age card Trade Union or Student Union membership card Allowance book with address that matches VO Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate Bill/bank statement with address that matches VO Rent books are considered to be a bill so cannot be used with bill/bank statement Old style driving licence Legal visitors must bring proof of the company/firm they work for along with some personal identification as listed above. Police Officers must produce their Warrant Card. If a person’s identity is in doubt they will be refused entry to the prison until the Duty Governor is satisfied that the identity is correct. Children’s Identification Policy Acceptable identification for children can be their passport if they have one, birth certificate and for younger children, their medical red book is accepted. Dress code No hats or scarves and head coverings which are not worn on religious grounds No metal hair accessories, including pins in headdresses No steel toe capped shoes/boots or cycle/motorcycle shoes No non-prescription glasses, i.e. sunglasses No heavy metal chains and pendants No crop tops revealing the navel No backless or see through tops No low cut tops revealing cleavage No male vests of any kind No uniforms of any kind/no football shirts No damaged clothes/ripped jeans No items of clothing that display abusive or insulting words Only 1 pair of trousers No mini or very short skirts/dresses, unless worn with leggings (no skin to be showing) No shorts of hot pants length; all shorts must be mid-thigh to knee length No ponchos What can I bring in for my children? Carrycots, nappies (max 2), baby food (must be sealed), or milk (no glass containers) will be allowed in the main Visits Hall. Food and drink The Visits Hall has a Sandwich Bar serving sandwiches, cakes, confectionary and drinks. A maximum of £20 in coins can be taken into the visits hall. If you would like to know more specific information on what you can bring, please contact the prison directly via the details at the top of the page. Money www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money You cannot give money to the prisoner during a visit. All money for prisoners must be posted in. Cheques or Postal Orders must be made payable to “The Governor”, and the prisoners’ name and prison number must be written on the back, as well as the name and address of the sender. In order to be able to establish when the money arrived at the Prison, it is always safest to post the money via either Special or Recorded Delivery. This will also assist should the money go astray. Banned items Do not attempt to bring any of the following into prison during your visit: illegal drugs alcohol weapons a camera a mobile phone indecent or obscene material material that threatens the security of the prison material that is written in code If you are unsure what you can bring, contact the prison directly. Financial Assistance for Visits If you are on a low income or receive benefits you may be entitled to financial assistance for the cost of visiting your relative in prison. Help is provided by the Assisted Prison Visits Unit (APVU). For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/staying-in-touch-with-someone-in-prison Keeping in touch Phone To speak to a prisoner on the phone, the prisoner has to call you using a prison phone. Prison staff can listen to and record most types of call. Some calls aren’t monitored, for example when a prisoner calls a legal adviser. Letters Letters to prisoners should be addressed to: Prisoners name and prison number HMP Huntercombe Bradley Road Henley-on-Thames RG5 9SG You must write your own name and address on the back of the envelope or it will not be delivered to the prisoner. If you do not know the prisoners’ prison number, please address the envelope as above with the prisoner’s date of birth next to his name. Email www.emailaprisoner.com Write an email, press 'send' and sit back in the knowledge the email will be delivered safely, securely & ready for delivery to the prison. Your message is printed inside the prison and will be included in the daily mail delivery. From all corners of the World you can now stay in contact with prisoners, all for 40p per message. Voicemail www.prisonvoicemail.com Call your Prison Voicemail number from your mobile at any time and leave a message. The message is instantly available at the other end. They simply dial their Prison Voicemail number from any phone in the prison. The call costs them the price of a normal landline call. After listening, the prisoner can leave you a reply. When you receive a notification, just call your Prison Voicemail number to listen and respond Sending Property to a Prisoner No property can be posted or brought in to the prison except in extreme circumstances with written permission from the Governor. With the exception of books. All prisoners are able to buy the items that they want/need through the approved suppliers, whose catalogues are available in the Prison. A printable PDF version of this guide is available for download here: Huntercombe Further Information If you are worried about your loved one while they are a resident at this prison, you can contact the Safer Custody team on 0345 0390015. You may be asked to leave a voicemail. Please make sure you include: Your name. The reason that you are calling. The name of your family member/friend (and their prison number if you know it). Your telephone number (so that the prison can call you back). Please wait at least 24 hours for a call back before contacting the prison again. If you are worried that your loved one is at immediate risk please call the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003 (from 9am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday).