High Down Prison

Book and plan your visit to High Down

To visit someone in High Down you must:

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

Visits for men who are on remand can be booked up to 8 days in advance. Visits for men who have been convicted can be booked up to 28 days in advance.

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 High Down.

Contact High Down 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 High Down
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

HighYou Downcan book your visit online or by telephone

Booking line: 0207 147 6570 Find out about call charges

The booking line is runningopen:

• Monday ato limitedFriday: visits10am schedule.to Visits12pm

The Booking Line is closed on Bank Holidays, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Please note: Online bookings are alsoonly happeningavailable differentlyto thanvisitors normal,who observingare strictalready guidelines,on whichthe mustprisoner’s bevisitors’ followed.list. This list is separate to the prisoner’s pin-phone list.

YouWhen canusing bookthe website you will receive automated replies from the following email address: no-reply@email.prisonvisits.service.gov.uk

Please check your visitjunk bymailbox, contactingespecially Highif Downviewing oremails youon smart phones. Add the email address to your contact list to ensure they go to your inbox.

Visits can alsobe registerbooked up to use28 days in advance.

To make amendments to bookings, you can either phone the securebooking videoline callsor email socialvisits.highdown@justice.gov.uk service.by Theremidday the day before the visit at the latest. If the visit is noat onlinea bookingweekend, serviceany available.changes have to be made by midday on Friday before the visit.

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Bookingand linepaid openingfor times:before Mondayyour tovisit Wednesdaywhen 10amin tothe middayVisitors’ Centre (cash only).

Baby changing facilities available in Visitors’ Centre and 2pmVisits toHall 4pm,toilets.

For Thursdayfurther information, please phone the Visitors’ Centre Information Line on 020 7147 6360.

If no reply, leave a message and Fridaystaff 10amwill toget midday
Findback outto aboutyou callas soon charges Email:as SocialVisits.HighDown@justice.gov.ukpossible.

Visiting times:

• Monday and Friday: No visits
• Tuesday to Thursday:
  9:30am to 10:30am11:30am for Houseblock 1 A spur, Houseblock1 B1 spur, Houseblock 1 B2 spur, Houseblock 4 and 2:30pmHouseblock 5
  2.00pm to 3:30pm4.00pm for Houseblock 1 B1 spur, Houseblock 1 B3
  Houseblock 1 C spur, Houseblock 2, Houseblock 3 and Houseblock 6
• MondaySaturday and Friday:Sunday: Purple2pm Visitsto only4pm for all houseblocks

How

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entry time for the afternoon session is: 2.30pm.

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How to 4pm,book Thursdaylegal and Fridayprofessional 10amvisits

Please toemail: legalvisits.highdown@justice.gov.uk midday
Findand outrequest abouta callbooking chargesform for a face to face visit.

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• Tuesdayvisits tohappen Thursday:at 10amthe tosame 11amtime as for family and 3pmfriends totime 4pm

slots as stated above.

Entering High Down

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.

ID requirements for children under 16 are a birth certificate of passport.

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

HighThere Downare hasstrict acontrols family-friendlyon dresswhat codeyou policycan whichtake meansinto visitorsHigh shouldDown. dress appropriately. You maywill behave turnedto awayleave ifmost youof arethe wearing things likeyou see-throughhave or revealing clothing, low-cut tops, high-cut shorts or dresses, or anything with offensiveyou patterns or slogans.

Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a smalllocker. amount of money in coins (notes are not allowed).

There are strict controls on what you can take into High Down. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker orand withwill security.need a £1 coin which will be returned to you when you leave. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

You may bring in dummies, baby wipes, nappies, milk powder and prescribed medication. All items must be in a clear plastic bag. The prison can provide baby wipes and nappies if requested. All items may be bagged and tagged prior to entering the prison.

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.

Dress code

Highdown welcomes and encourages prisoners to have visits with their loved ones, but please remember that when visiting the establishment that you should behave appropriately.

Highdown has revised its dress code policy for all external visitors which allows us to foster a safe, decent and relaxed visits hall.

To maintain decency in the Visits Hall our dress code must be adhered to. This is to prevent inappropriate clothing being worn in and around the presence of other visitors and staff.

Please be advised that Passive dogs are used as part of our searching process and they cannot differentiate between someone who is fully dressed and someone who is not.

The following is a definitive list of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable:

• Hats/scarves – May not be worn in the Visits Hall with the exception of religious headwear (e.g. Sikh turbans, Jewish yarmulkes, Muslim kufi, the hijab and Rastafarian hats). These will be subject to searching as per the HMPPS Searching Policy.
• Gloves/Sunglasses – Are not to be worn. These should be left in the lockers provided in the visits centre.
• Hooded tops – can only be worn by children under the age of 10 years old.
• Skirts/Dresses – Knee length skirts can be worn, as they must cover the top third portion of the legs and when sat down underwear must not be seen.
• Shorts – high cut shorts are not permitted, and these must cover the top 2 thirds of the leg.
• Coats – No thick, padded, torn, hooded coats are permitted. If they are hooded, then the hood must be detachable
• Tops & Dress tops – torn or ripped tops may not be worn and must be sufficient to cover both breasts, back and the midriff area and must not be transparent. Cleavage must be appropriately covered so as not to cause offence, athletic singlet’s (vests) are not permitted.
• Trousers & Leggings – torn jeans with holes in may not be worn. Only one pair may be worn. Leggings and linen trousers must not be transparent.
• Footwear should be enclosed – Sandals/flip-flops may be worn but these are at the visitors own risk due to the visits area being outdoors prior to entering the social visits hall and climbing stairs. Steel-toe capped boots, or designer studded shoes will not be permitted.
• Logos – Clothing displaying offensive patterns or logos will not be permitted (such as cannabis leaves, racist logos or offensive language)

If you are wearing tight clothing, underwear must be worn.

If a visitor arrives inappropriately dressed, they will be offered the opportunity to wear prison issue jogging bottoms and/or a sweatshirt. If a visitor does not wish to wear these items, then entry will be refused, and the visiting order will be lost.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitorsVisitors centreCentre run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) charity.

It is open from 8:30am to 4:45pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 12:30pm to 4:45pm on weekends.

Email: highdown@prisonadvice.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7147 6360
Find out about call charges

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Keep in touch with someone at High Down

There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at High Down.

Secure video calls

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Phone calls

TheyPrisoners 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 High Down using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at High Down.

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 High Down.

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

FriendsAll parcels will be opened and familychecked canby handofficers.

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Getting to prisoners.High Down

Find High Down on a map HMP High Down - Google Maps

ForThe theclosest fullrailway liststation ofis approvedSutton retailers,or Belmont which are a short taxi ride away or you can readtake the HMPPSnumber Incentives80 Policy,bus.

The Annex80 F.bus also passes Morden Station if you are travelling on the Northern Line.

ContactTo Highplan Downyour journey by public transport use:

• National Rail Enquiries
• Traveline for morelocal information.bus times

There is a free visitors car park.

There is also a disabled visitors car park behind the Visits Centre.

Life at High Down

High Down is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where menprisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

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

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.

AllIf safeguardingyou processeshave areany overseenconcerns byabout thea Surreyprisoner Safeguardingat AdultsHigh BoardDown, contact the Safer Custody team.

Arrival and first night

When someonea prisoner first arrives at High Down, 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 personprisoner who arrives at High Down gets an induction that lasts 3two days. 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 11001,200 menprisoners live at High Down in 6six hallblocks.houseblocks. There is a mixture of single and shared rooms.cells. All cells have a toilet, sink and a phone.

Prisoners on standardsilver orand enhancedgold behaviour levels can rent TVs in their rooms.cells. Enhanced level prisoners can also borrow DVDs from the library.

Sports and fitness facilities include 2two gyms with multi-purpose courts, weights and exercise equipment, outdoor fields for team sports, and a broad programme of team activities and classes.

High Down has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing services and support.

Education and work

Prisoners haveat accessHigh Down are encouraged to take part in meaningful activity and gain qualifications by enrolling into education and vocational training providedor bywork Thein Manchesterone College.of the prison industries or domestic roles.

The curriculum includes a wide range of work-based subjects, such as health and safety, customer service, bricklaying, carpentry, plastering, and painting and decorating. Literacy and numeracy form part of every course.

Prisoners can also work and earn qualifications in the kitchens, industrial cleaning, library, laundry and farms and gardens.

Organisations High Down works with

High Down is a venue for the The Clink Restaurant, a public restaurant run by prisoners in partnership with The Clink Charity. The prisoners study for NVQs in cooking, food service and cleaning while they work. They also receive mentoring upon release, including support with employment and accommodation.

St Giles Trust helps prisoners find housing as they approach release.

Kent, Sussex & Surrey Seetec Justice and London MTC Novo work with the National Probation Service to help prisoners settle back into the community with advice on housing, employment, money management and substance misuse.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

To contact the Families and Significant Others lead, you can send an email to familytieshighdown@justice.gov.uk.

ProblemsConcerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	0207 147 6571	If you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening, please call the Safer Custody Hotline. You can also complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoner’s Family Helpline website.
Staff Integrity Hotline	0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine)	This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously.
Prisoners’ Families Helpline	0808 808 2003	The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance.
Unwanted Prisoner Contact	0300 060 6699	If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone.

If you have a problem contact High Down.

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

Contact High Down

Governor: AmyEmily FrostMartin

Telephone: 020 7147 6300
Fax: 020 7147 6301
Find out about call charges

Address

See map

Safer custody hotline

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

Telephone: 020 7147 6571
Find out about call charges

In an emergency, call the main telephone number and ask to speak to the duty governor.