Whitemoor prison

Book and plan your visit to Whitemoor

To visit someone in Whitemoor you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• have the required ID with you when you go

Visits to ‘high risk’ and ‘exceptional risk’ prisoners must be booked at least 7 days in advance. All other visits must be booked at least 2472 hours 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 prisoner can have. You can check this with Whitemoor.

Contact Whitemoor 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 Whitemoor
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can can:

• book your visit online.

  You

• email, canSocialvisits.whitemoor@justice.gov.uk
• call, also book your visit by calling, 01354 602 800

The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1.30pm
Find out about call charges

Visiting times:

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

How to book legalofficial and professional visits

You can book your official visit byby:

• emailing calling,LegalVisits.Whitemoor@justice.gov.uk
• calling 01354 602 654.

The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am9:30am to 1.30pm4pm

Alternatively,Official youvideo canand emailface LegalVisits.Whitemoor@justice.gov.uk

Legalto face visit times:

• Tuesday, 8:30am9am to 9:30am10am and(or 9:45am11am), 10:45am to 10:45am11:45am
• Wednesday, 8:30am9am to 9:30am10am and(or 9:45am11am), 10:45am to 10:45am11:45am

Getting to Whitemoor

Find Whitemoor on a map

The closest railway station is March, which is about 1.5 miles from Whitemoor. There are no local buses so you will have to walk or get a taxi from the station.

By Car: Enter postcode PE15 OPR into a sat nav to find the establishment. There is a visitor’s car park immediately in front of the prison with the visitor’s centre to the left of this car park.

By Air: Most airlines operate services to Stanstead airport where a direct train service runs to March. This service is approximately 1 hr 30 minutes.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

Entering Whitemoor

All visitors, aged 18 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.

HMP Whitemoor is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for visits to take place for both prisoners, visitors and staff. There is zero tolerance towards threats of violence, abuse, harassment and unacceptable/inappropriate behaviour in the visit’s hall.

Inappropriate behaviour is defined as any behaviour that may present a risk to the security of the establishment or behaviour that is deemed indecent.

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.

Visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like:

• Short/Cropped tops that reveal a naked midriff
• Low cut tops or shirts that unbutton to reveal cleavage or bare chest
• Vests (as a single garment)
• Mini skirts that are shorter that knee length and expose thighs
• Shorts that are shorter than knee length and expose thighs
• All types of see-through clothing
• Headwear (other than for religious purposes)
• Clothing that is offensive in nature or displays offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate material
• Slippers / Sliders / Flip-flops
• Team affiliated sportswear
• Padded garments / gilets / body warmers
• Any clothing fitted with large buckles, chains and / or excessive amounts of zips.
• Combat trousers
• Jeans with rips / tears in them
• Hoodies (hoodies can be worn by children under 18)

This list is not exhaustive, please contact the visits hall if you have any questions.

Long cardigans are allowed to be worn but will need to be removed and hung up prior to the passive dog search, thus allowing a thorough search.  The passive dog will then also carry out a search of the garment prior to it being reissued.

Coats and jackets will be allowed to be worn into the establishment but will not be allowed into the Main visit’s hall.  They will need to be left in the Visits foyer prior to the passive dog search where coat hooks are provided. 

Please note, items are left at the owner’s risk.

If clothing is deemed to be revealing the visitor should expect to be challenged by staff and this may result in the visitor being refused entry to the visits hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Whitemoor. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a £1 coin) or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

Visiting facilities

On arrival, visitors should report to the visitor centre.

Refreshments consisting of hot and cold drinks and snacks are available to purchase once in the main visit’s hall.

The centre is open daily from 12:15pm.

Family days

Check with the prison for family day information and schedules.

Keep in touch with someone at Whitemoor

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

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their cells but 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 Whitemoor 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 Whitemoor.

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

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

Read more about how it works

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 Whitemoor.

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

National Prison Radio’s Family and Friends request show

National Prison Radio broadcasts into prison cells across England and Wales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Family and friends can stay connected with their loved ones in prison by sending song requests, written messages and voice recordings. They are then read and played out on weekly episodes. 

You can send in a message, and hear the show, at  nationalprisonradio.com

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

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

Friends and families 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, Prison education and library services, Annex A.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Whitemoor

As a maximum security prison, Whitemoor is committed to helping prisoners convicted of serious offences make positive use of long sentences. It also works to reduce the risk of reoffending through assessment, work, education and offending behaviour programmes.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Whitemoor 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 Whitemoor, 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 who arrives at Whitemoor 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 prisoners are housed at Whitemoor. There are 4 main residential wings (A, B, C and F) plus the specialist Fens unit. All prisoners get their own cell.

Sports facilities include a full size sports hall, a weight-training room, fitness suite and an outside astroturf pitch. Prisoners have access to a full programme of classes and activities.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities. These include a strong focus on information and communications technology (ICT), from a foundation level to higher learning with the Open University.

Prisoners can take vocational training in construction trades, including painting, decorating and plastering.

Work is available throughout the prison, including in Whitemoor’s recycling and laundry workshops. Prisoners can also work in desktop publishing and computer refurbishment as part of a restorative justice project with IT Schools Africa.

Whitemoor also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programmes and non-accredited courses for personal and social development.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

If you have a concern about a prisoner, please call: 01354 602400.

The Children and Families Strategy is overseen by our Head of Operations who can be contacted at BusinesshubWhitemoor@justice.gov.uk.

Support at Whitemoor

The Ormiston Families team provides a range of information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners.

Concerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	01354 602400	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 any other problem contact Whitemoor.

Contact Whitemoor

Governor: Aidy Jones

Telephone: 01354 602 350
Fax: 01354 602 351
Find out about call charges

Follow Whitemoor on Twitter

Address

See map