Aylesbury Prison
Aylesbury is an adult male prison in Buckinghamshire.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Aylesbury
To visit someone in Aylesbury you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit up to 28 days in advance (you must give at least 2 working days’ notice)
- have the required ID with you when you go
Contact Aylesbury 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 Aylesbury
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
You can book your visit by telephone.
Booking line: 01296 444302
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 1:30pm excluding Bank Holidays
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Monday: 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
Books on Visits
Books can be handed in by visitors. This must be arranged at the time of booking the visit; limited to three books per visit.
How to book professional visits
We are accepting professional visit bookings. These must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Booking line: 01296 444312 or 01296 444301 Monday to Friday, 9am to 1:30pm Alternative booking lines: 01296 444207 or 01296 444097 Monday to Friday, 9am to 3:30pm Find out about call charges
Visiting times are Wednesday, 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm.
If you need to bring in a laptop, tell the prison 48 hours in advance.
Getting to Aylesbury
The closest railway station is Aylesbury. From there it is a 20 minute walk to HMP/YOI Aylesbury. You can also take a bus or taxi.
To plan your journey by public transport:
A car park is available for visitors. There are disabled spaces available on a first come first served basis.
Entering Aylesbury
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID for all visitors.
Visitors, including children, will walk through a metal detector. You will also be sniffed by security dogs.
Aylesbury has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes. You cannot wear large coats, gloves or scarves, hooded tops, revealing clothing such as low-cut tops, shorts, or short dresses, offensive slogans, sports team clothing, ripped clothing, watches, or headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons. In addition, you cannot wear flip-flop style shoes (all shoes should have at least an ankle strap).
There are strict controls on what you can take into Aylesbury. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (£1 coin refundable) or with security. Pushchairs and car seats must be left in the visitors centre.
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
The visitors centre is run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) and is located to the right of the main gate.
You can contact the visitors centre on 01296 444 329 from 12:30pm on visiting days. The visitors centre is open from 1pm on visiting days.
Refreshments are now available in the Visits Hall; payment by cash only.
Family days
Family days are currently available; by invitation only.
Keep in touch with someone at Aylesbury
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Aylesbury.
Phone calls
Prisoners have phones in their cells to make outgoing calls so they will be able 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.
You can send emails to someone in Aylesbury using the Email a Prisoner service.
You can request a reply and attach photos for a small additional fee.
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.
Letters
You can write at any time.
Include the person’s name and prisoner number (or date of birth) on the envelope. You must also write your own name and address on the back of the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Aylesbury.
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
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 the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
Clothes for attending court or funerals can be sent in without applying in advance. They must be clearly marked as ‘court clothes’ or ‘funeral clothes’, as appropriate, and not contain any other items.
Prisoners can buy items from approved suppliers through a catalogue system. Parcels cannot be sent by family or friends to prisoners. Anything received by the prison will be returned at the prisoner’s cost or destroyed.
Prisoners within 28 days of being sentenced are exempt from this rule and can arrange for a 28-day parcel to be sent in. Only one 28 day parcel can be sent and it is restricted to clothing only.
Life at Aylesbury
Aylesbury is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Aylesbury 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 someone first arrives at Aylesbury, 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, ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs, and answer any initial questions they might have.
Induction
Each person who arrives at Aylesbury 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.
Everyone is given an induction booklet to keep for their own reference.
Accommodation
Aylesbury is able to accommodate up to 402 prisoners. Most cells are single occupancy, with some designed to hold two prisoners. All cells contain a toilet, sink and a phone.
Education and work
Prisoners at Aylesbury are encouraged to take part in meaningful activity and gain qualifications in the following areas:
- Maths, Entry level to level 2 inclusive
- English, Entry level to level 2 inclusive
- ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages)
- Barbering
- Essential Digital skills
- Employability
- Customer Service
- Health and Safety
- Warehousing and Storage
- Hospitality and Food Safety
- Cleaning
- Peer Mentoring level 1 and 2, Safe Guarding, LDD awareness
- Personal Social Development – Life At Aylesbury
- Bicycle Repair
- Radio and Podcast Production workshop
- Library
- Distance Learning – opportunity to achieve a variety of qualifications such as GCSE’s, A-Levels and Degrees
There are also opportunities to get involved in activities, development and learning outside of a formal setting, such as:
- physical education
- reading with Shannon Trust and The National Literacy Trust
- BACO
- information, advice and guidance through Forward Trust
Aylesbury also runs industrial workshops which are designed to give prisoners transferable life skills to help them when they leave. These include:
- laundry
- bicycle repair
- sign making
- kitchen
- gardens
- waste management
- offending behaviour courses
Aylesbury has a gym with a full range of cardio and weights room equipment. Football, circuits and weights clubs are run throughout the week.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Release on Temporary Licence
There is no Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) at Aylesbury.
Support at Aylesbury
The Prison Advice and Care Trust can provide provide information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners. Ask in the visitors centre to learn more.
The Head of Offender Management Unit is our lead for Families and Significant Others.
Telephone: 01296 444 000
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01296 444 000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01296 444081 | 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 formon 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. |
If you have a problem contact Aylesbury. If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Aylesbury in response to independent inspections.
Contact Aylesbury
Governor: Kevin Marshall-Clarke
Telephone: 01296 444 000
Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 7am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
Follow us on Twitter/X @HMPAylesbury
Address
HMP/YOI Aylesbury
Bierton Road
Aylesbury
Bucks
HP20 1EH
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Updates to this page
Published 21 April 2020Last updated 7 August 2024 + show all updates
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Clarified information regarding sending in parcels under the Gifts and parcels section.
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Secure video calls update.
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Suspended visits.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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Clarification on the rules for sending in books, under the 'Gifts and parcels' section
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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Covid update
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Updated visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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added twitter handle
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Corrected mistake
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Updated governor info
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updated governor name
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Minor updates
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First published.