Norwich Prison

Book and plan your visit to Norwich prison

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:

• travel to Norwich
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

HMP Norwich is running a limited visits schedule. Visits are also happening differently than normal, observing strict guidelines, which must be followed.

You can book your visit by telephone. There is no online booking service available.

Booking line: 01603 708790
Find out about call charges

The booking line is open:

• Monday to Thursday: 10am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm
• Friday: 10am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 3:30pm

Visits must be booked by midday on Friday for weekend visits.

Visting times

Visiting times are allocated depending on wing and isolation status of prisoners.

• Monday: 10am to 11am and 2pm to 3pm, secure video calls only

• Tuesday: 2pm to 3pm and 3:45pm to 4:45pm

Secure video calls: 8:30am to 9am, 9:15am to 9:45am, 10am to 11am, 2pm to 2:30pm, 3pm to 3:30pm, 3:45pm to 4:15pm

• Wednesday: 2pm to 3pm

Secure video calls: 3:30pm to 4pm, 4:15pm to 4:45pm

• Thursday: 10am to 11am (Brit House), 10:30am to 11:30pm, 2pm to 3pm and 3:45pm to 4:45pm

Secure video calls: 8:30am to 9am, 9:15am to 9:45am, 2pm to 2:30pm, 3pm to 3:30pm, 3:45pm to 4:15pm

• Friday: 10am to 11am (Brit House), 2pm to 3pm, 3:30pm to 4:30pm

• Saturday: 10:45am to 11:45am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:45 to 4:45pm

Brit House: 10am to 11am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 3:30pm

• Sunday: 9am to 10am, 10:45am to 11:45am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:45pm to 4:45pm

Brit House: 10am to 11am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Secure video calls: 2pm to 2:30pm, 3pm to 3:30pm and 3:45pm to 4:15pm

How to book legal and professional visits

Email: legalvisits.norwich@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Monday to Friday: 9am to 11:30am or 1pm 3pm

Getting to Norwich

Find Norwich on a map

The closest railway station is Norwich. Norwich Prison is about a 30-minute walk from the station. There are also regular buses.

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

Limited car parking is available on site.

Entering Norwich

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.

All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Norwich has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).

There will be no refreshments available during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Norwich. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats. You will need a £1 coin for the lockers, which is refundable.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre at Norwich. The visitors centre is outside the entrance to the prison and serves hot and cold drinks and has a small children’s play area.

There is also a snack bar inside the visits hall.

Family days

There are currently no family days taking place

Keep in touch with someone at Norwich

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Norwich.

Secure video calls

Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends will need to download the Prison Video app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their rooms so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Norwich using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Norwich.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Norwich.

All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:

• are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
• do not have a debit card

This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

People in Norwich are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Norwich for more information on what’s allowed.

Family and friends of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.   For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Norwich

Norwich is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Norwich has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board.

If you have any concerns about a prisoner at Norwich, contact the Safer Custody team.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Norwich, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.

They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Norwich gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

• health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
• other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Around 750 men live at Norwich Prison, mostly in single rooms with some shared accommodation.

There are 10 wings and a special care unit:

• A - induction unit, first night centre, drug treatment stabilisation and maintenance unit
• B and C - for those on remand and trial plus vulnerable prisoners
• D - resettlement unit (also known as Britannia House)
• E - older prisoners unit
• F and G - local discharge unit for low-risk prisoners who are local to the area, serving 24 months or less
• H - healthcare unit
• L - elderly lifer unit
• M - low-risk prisoners serving 24 months or less
• U - special care and segregation unit (also known as the Kett’s unit)

There is a healthcare centre with 24-hour nursing cover.

Norwich has 3 gyms and an artificial multi-use sports area. There are various sports clubs available.

Prisoners have access to a wide range of faith and religious services.

Education and work

Education is offered by teachers across the prison. Courses cover:

• English
• maths
• work, life and social skills
• IT
• English for speakers of other languages
• food hygiene
• first aid
• health and safety
• catering
• painting and decorating
• arts and crafts
• gym instruction

There are work opportunities in:

• printing
• textiles
• packing
• gardening

Norwich also offers drug and alcohol programmes.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Support at Norwich

Norwich works with Spurgeons, a charity supporting children and families. The Spurgeons team provides support and information to help you access available services.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Norwich.

Contact Norwich

Governor: Declan Moore

Telephone: 01603 708 600
Fax: 01603 708 601
Find out about call charges

Address

See map

Safer custody hotline

Telephone: 01603 706387
Find out about call charges

There is an answerphone available out of hours. Leave a message with your name, telephone number, an outline of the problem and the prisoners name and prisoner number. Someone will call you back within 24 hours.

In an emergency, call the switchboard.