Prisoners' families and children Prison Visitors' Guides HMP The Mount Please note: Face to face social visits have re-started. You can find updated information on times, who can visit, and what to expect below. Purple Visits video calls are available. You can also take a look at other ways to keep in touch. *** HMP The Mount Molyneaux Avenue Bovingdon Hemel Hempstead HP3 0NZ Visitor services at The Mount are managed by HACRO. You can contact HACRO on [email protected]. Further information can be found at www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/the-mount or you can ring the main prison switchboard on 01442 836 300. IMPORTANT VISITORS NOTICE Starting December 20th ALL social visitors will need to provide evidence of a negative test result within 24 hrs old to be allowed into the prison. No evidence of a negative test result will result in no entry to the prison. Visiting times Monday 17:45 - 18:45 Tuesday 17:45 - 18:45 Wednesday 17:45 - 18:45 Thursday 17:45 - 18:45 Friday No visits Saturday 14:30 - 15:30 Sunday 14:30 - 15:30 Please note: visitors should arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of their visit. Only 14 prisoners will be permitted per session, with up to 3 visitors from the same family. 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 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. 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. To find out more please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-mount-prison. 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. Family Support from Pact Pact family support will be available by email and you can access this by contacting [email protected]. If your issue is complex and you need to talk to us in person, please include your number in the email and tell us that you would like a call back - it would also be helpful if you could let us know whether we are able to leave a message if there is no answer - and we will aim to get back to you as soon as we possibly can. If you have urgent concerns about the welfare of your loved one in prison, please call the prison Safer Custody line directly. Other ways to keep in touch 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] Safer Custody If you are worried about your loved one while they are a resident at this prison, you can contact the Safer Custody team on 01442 836 351. 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.