This guide includes information that you may find useful for the duration of the time your family or friend is a resident at HMYOI Low Newton. If you notice anything that is incorrect on this page, please contact us at [email protected]

If you need support:

For more information, support and advice on all aspects of the justice system, you can contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003 (9am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm at the weekend).

Address

Brasside
Durham
DH1 5YA

Currently, NEPACS deliver visitor services at HMP Low Newton.

Further information can be found on their website or you can ring the prison's main switchboard on 0191 3764 000.

If you are worried about a loved one while they are a resident of the prison, you can contact the prison’s ‘at risk’ line on 0191 376 4189.

Visiting times

Monday

14:30 - 15:30

Tuesday

10:00 - 11:00 then 14:30 - 15:30

Wednesday

10:00 - 11:00 then 14:30 - 15:30

Thursday

10:00 - 11:00 then 14:30 - 15:30

Friday

No Visits

Saturday

14:30 - 15:30

Sunday

14:30 - 15:30

Who can visit?

Visits will only be allowed by people who are symptom free, who have not been asked to self-isolate and who have not recently come into contact with anyone who has symptoms or is self-isolating.

Visits will prioritise re-establishing face-to-face contact with close family members (or significant others) This may comprise of one of the following grouping combinations only:

 

A single adult (aged 18 or over) who must be a partner, parent, foster-parent, grandparent, carer, or significant other

 

 

 

Two adults (aged 18 or over): who must be two parents, two foster parents, two grandparents, two adult immediate relatives or significant other, or a mixture of these (e.g. a parent and a grandparent).

 

A single adult (aged 18 or over):  who must be a partner, parent, foster-parent, grandparent, carer or adult close relative or significant other

 

and

 

up to two dependent children (e.g. son, daughter) of the person being visited

 

Two adults (aged 18 or over): who must be two parents, two foster parents, two grandparents, two adult immediate relatives or significant other1, or a mixture of these (e.g. a parent and a grandparent);

and

 

one dependent child (e.g. son, daughter) of the person being visited

 

All visitors must live together as part of the same household

 Visits will not therefore be allowed from:

  • Any combinations of persons not from the same household with the exception of two parents of a child in custody
  • Three adults
  • Unaccompanied children (Exceptionally, at governor’s discretion over 16 will be permitted)
  • People who are not closely related to the prisoner or identified as a significant other.

At your visit

In order to keep visitors, residents and staff as safe as possible, there will be a number of new rules and guidelines which have been put in place by the prison service. Download our quick guide to help you with what to expect at your visit.

These include, but may not be limited to:

  • All visitors are advised to arrive one hour before the start of their visit to allow for the slower admission process.
  • Adherence to social distancing rules in the visitors’ centre (where open), queuing to enter the visits hall, and in the visits hall.
  • Hand washing and sanitizing to maintain hygiene standards. Equipment will be made available.
  • Face coverings will be made available to visitors on arrival to the prison. Visitors will be required to wear the face coverings provided whilst on the prison premises and during the visit. Exemptions are in place for people with certain health conditions (such as breathing difficulties), disabled people and children under the age of 11.
  • Visitors will be required to have their temperature taken (without physical contact) to ensure they do not have any Covid symptoms. This is an additional measure to ensure that no one is put at risk of contracting the virus. This will be taken 15 minutes after your arrival at the Visitors’ Centre.
  • There are no double visits – only single visits sessions to give more prisoners an opportunity to have a visits.
  • At the end of the visits session, visitors will leave the visits hall in a controlled manner (a table at a time).
  • There will be no refreshments available in the initial weeks when visits resumes, as part of national guidance.
  • It will only be possible to book 1 visit per prisoner per month, to ensure everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to receive a visit. However, vacancies will be advertised to the wing if their visits session is not booked at maximum capacity. These will be advertised and made available to book 48 hours prior to the visit, between the hours of 2-3pm, enabling prisoners to have a second visit booked within the month.

NOTICE: As of 28th May 2021 there have been changes to rules around physical contact during visits and on the number of households who can visit someone in prison. 

Physical contact

Children aged 11 and under will now be allowed to hug the loved one they are visiting in prison. There are no restrictions to the contact children under 11 can have, if it is in line with the prison’s normal rules. Children can leave their seat but will need to stay in the area marked out during the visit.

From 22nd July 2021, prisons in England and Wales can begin to allow visitors who test negative for Covid-19 to have physical contact with the person they are visiting. 

In order to have physical contact, you will be required to show a negative Covid-19 test result for a test taken on the day of your visit. The testing is voluntary, but it will help prisons identify potential cases of Covid-19 before they come into the prison and therefore reduce the chances of reducing prison regimes in the future. 

Visitors who choose to be tested will do so when they arrive at the prison, or alternatively, can take a test in the community or at home on the day of their visit. Visitors who take a test at home must provide evidence of their negative test result. If you test negative, you will be allowed physical contact with the person you are visiting. Each prison will decide individually what physical contact is allowed, based on pre-Covid-19 visiting policies, so physical contact may differ from prison to prison.

If you test positive for Covid-19, your visit will be postponed. You will be able to rebook after your isolation period. Visitors will be given information on where to get help and support.

To protect prisons, visitors are encouraged to access the widely available twice weekly rapid testing in the community. 

You can read more about testing to physical contact here: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/News/testing-for-physical-contact-what-does-it-mean-for-you.

Expansion of visits

Visitors from two households can now visit a person in prison at the same time. You can find out the maximum number of visitors allowed on a visit by contacting the prison directly. Adults and children who are over 11 must continue follow social distancing rules from the person you are visiting in prison.

For more information

You can view the updated guidance here.

Other ways to keep in touch

Remember, there are other ways to contact your loved ones:

Secure Video Calls 

This prison offers a secure video call service called Prison Video. You will need to use the Prison Video app on your phone or tablet device to have a video call with someone in prison. 

The Prison Video app is available to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (or equivalent app stores outside the UK).  HMPPS has produced a user guide and a list of frequently asked questions that will give you all the information you need to start using Prison Video. You can find this at https://www.prisonersfamilies.org/change-of-video-call-service  

Only people aged 18 or over can register for an account with Prison Video. 

You will need to provide your name, address, and date of birth, and upload photos of your ID and face. You will also need to add details of any other people who wish to take part in the video calls with you, such as children, and upload a clear photo of each participant’s face. 

You will need to upload ID for people over the age of 18 only, unless the prison specifically asks for anything else. 

Video calls will be free for now, while visits are affected by COVID-19 restrictions. This will be reviewed as HMPPS lift restrictions in prisons and more visits can take place. 

You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline for advice, information 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]