Swansea Prison

Book and plan your visit to Swansea prison

To visit someone in Swansea Prison you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit at least 24 hours in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a person can have. You can check this with Swansea Prison.

Contact Swansea Prison if you have any questions about visiting.

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 Swansea Prison
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

Swansea 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 or by email. There is no online booking service available.

Email: socvisswansea@justice.gov.uk
Booking line: 01792 485 322
The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 3:45pm
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Visiting times:

• Monday to Thursday: 2:30pm to 3:30pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 2:30pm to 3:30pm

You must arrive and check in for your visit between 15 and 45 minutes before the appointment time or you could be turned away.

How to book legal and professional visits

There are currently no legal visits taking place.

Getting to Swansea Prison

Find Swansea Prison on a map

Swansea Prison is about a mile from Swansea railway station and about half a mile from Swansea bus station. It is opposite the Swansea Civic Centre.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

There is no visitor parking at the prison but visitors can use the pay-and-display Paxton Street car park just opposite.

Entering Swansea Prison

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.

Swansea has a family-friendly dress code policy which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing revealing clothing like vests, low-cut tops, high-cut shorts or dresses or ripped jeans. Footwear cannot contain steel toecaps or spikes. You will be asked to remove sunglasses, scarves and headwear other than that worn for religious reasons.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Swansea Prison. Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a small amount of cash in coins to buy food and drink in the visiting hall. 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 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 run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) charity.

There will be no refreshments or a waiting area available during your visit.

Telephone: 01792 485 300
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Keep in touch with someone at Swansea Prison

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

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 Swansea Prison 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 Swansea Prison.

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 Swansea Prison.

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.

Gifts and parcels

Prisoners may be allowed to receive parcels from loved ones.

Ask in the visitors centre for information on property processes at Swansea Prison.

Life at Swansea Prison

Swansea Prison 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 Swansea Prison has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by the Western Bay Safeguarding Board.

Prisoners can also be trained by the Samaritans to be ‘listeners’ to help support people going through difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Swansea Prison, 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 Swansea Prison 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 500 men live at Swansea Prison across 6 units.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities, ranging from basic skills, such as English, Welsh and maths, to higher learning and qualifications.

Employment is available in prison workshops, kitchens and recycling units.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Support at Swansea Prison

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) team provides a range of information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners. You can call or ask in the visitors centre to speak to someone.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Swansea Prison. If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Swansea Prison in response to independent inspections.

Contact Swansea Prison

Governor: Brian Ward

Telephone: 01792 485 300
Fax: 01792 485 430
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Follow Swansea Prison on Twitter

Address

See map

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Swansea Prison, call the safer custody hotline.

Telephone: 01792 485 364
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