Book and plan your visit to The Verne

To visit someone in The Verne you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit 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 prisoner can have. You can check this with The Verne.

Contact The Verne 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 The Verne
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online.

Visits enquiry line (enquiries about booked visits only): 01305 825 014014.

The query line is open Monday to Friday, 2pm to 4pm (closes at 3:30pm on Friday)Friday).

Only visitors who appear on a prisoner’s approved contact list on will be eligible to book a visit.

Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

• Monday, 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
• Sunday, 2pm to 4pm

How to book legal and professional visits

LegalVisits.TheVerne@Justice.Gov.uk

Visiting times:

• Tuesday:Tuesday, 9am to 1pm

Getting to The Verne

Find The Verne on a map

The closest railway station is Weymouth. From there, you can take a bus to the Isle of Portland, stopping at the bottom of Verne Common Road. The prison is signposted from the end of the road and is approximately a 20 minute walk. There is also a taxi rank at the station. A taxi will cost approximately £15 one way.

By car: Enter postcode DT5 1EQ into a sat nav to find the establishment. There is a visitor’s car park adjacent to the prison at the top of the hill.

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail enquiries
• use Traveline for bus timetables

The Verne has a visitors car park, including several spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering The Verne

All visitors over 18 must bring the required ID.

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
• Visitors must adhere to the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit
• There are strict controls on what you can take into HMP The Verne. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or in your car - this includes pushchairs and car seats
• Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting

Keep in touch with someone at The Verne

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

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.

You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.

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 The Verne 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 The Verne.

Letters

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

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact The Verne.

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

Family and friends can hand in books and legal documents for prisoners before a visit.

Other items may be accepted by post but you must write to the governor for permission beforehand. If you don’t do this, your parcel will be returned.

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

Books may be sent directly to loved ones, or can be ordered from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.  

For the full list of approved retailers, you can readread, thePrison HMPPSeducation Incentivesand Policy,library services, Annex FA.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Family Days

HMP The Verne run several family visits a year, these are 4 hour visits which run from 10am to 2pm.

Life at The Verne

The Verne is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at The Verne 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.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at The Verne, 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 prisoner that arrives at The Verne 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

Nearly 600 prisoners live at The Verne across 6 units. Each unit has its own common room and dining area. Prisoners have keys to their own cells.

Prisoners have access to a library, operated by Dorset County Council, which includes books in multiple languages and a variety of magazines and newspapers.

There is also a well-equipped gym, fitness and sports programme.

Education and work

The Verne operates a full education programme provided by Weston College, with links to the Open University for distance learning courses.

There is also a wide range of work opportunities for prisoners throughout the prison, such as in the kitchens, gardens, recycling centre and barbers. Prisoners can work as wing assistants, wing peer support workers and orderlies. There are also roles within The Verne’s woodmill, assembling furniture, and in The Verne’s 4 contract workshops which cover:

• creating breakfast packs for other prisons
• repairing televisions
• creating leather goods for use in prisons.

Support at The Verne

Family services at The Verne are provided by PACT.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Concerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	01305 825005	Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families 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.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem, write to The Verne and address your letter to the complaints coordinator within the Business Hub.

Contact The Verne

Governor: Steve Mead

Telephone: 01305 825 000
Find out about call charges

Address

See map

Families and significant others lead

To contact the Families and significant others lead for Verne prison email: Activities.TheVerne@justice.gov.uk.