Bullingdon Prison
Bullingdon is a men’s prison near Bicester in Oxfordshire.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Bullingdon
To visit someone in Bullingdon you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least a day 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 Bullingdon.
Contact Bullingdon if you have any questions about visiting.
In the event of a family emergency please use the Safer custody hotline by calling: 01869 356 893.
In an emergency, call the main switchboard and ask for the orderly officer or duty governor.
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 Bullingdon
- 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.
Email: socialvisits.bullingdon@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 01869 353 176
Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays) 9:30am to 11:30am, 1:30pm to 4pm.
Find out about call charges
To cancel a visit, call 01869 353 176 or email socialvisits.bullingdon@justice.gov.uk
Visiting times:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 1:45pm to 3:45pm
We only guarantee maximum of 1 Hour but will strive to give more if possible.
Visitors can arrive at the visits centre from 12:15pm.
Functional Head Governor: Paul Reeve.
How to book legal and professional visits
Face to Face Legal Visits:
Booking to be made via email to Legalvisits.Bullingdon@justice.gov.uk or by telephone on 01869 353414
Bullingdon is running a limited visits schedule, Legal visits take place at the following times:
- Monday and Friday: 9am to 11:30am
- Tuesday to Thursday: 9am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4:30pm
- Saturday: closed
- Sunday: closed
Video Link Legal Visits:
Booking to be made via email to VCCbullingdon@justice.gov.uk or by telephone on 01869 353154. Legal Visits via Video Link are available at the following times.
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5:30pm
We will not offer Legal Visits on any UK Bank Holidays.
Legal visitors are defined as Solicitors, Legal Advisors, Probation Officers, Police, Government Agencies and Healthcare Professionals.
Getting to Bullingdon
Bullingdon is about 5 miles from Bicester Village station and about 6 miles from Bicester North station. A regular bus runs from both stations to the prison.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitors car park, including space for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Bullingdon
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.
Bullingdon has a family-friendly dress code policy which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing see-through or revealing clothing like vests, low-cut tops, high-cut shorts or dresses or ripped jeans. Additionally, you cannot wear hoodies or anything with offensive patterns or slogans. You will be asked to remove jackets, gloves, scarves and headwear other than that worn for religious reasons.
Each group of visitors are allowed to take in a maximum of £30 in coins (bank notes are not allowed). The money can be used to buy food and drink in the visit’s hall.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Bullingdon. 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 are refreshments available in the visit’s hall.
Family days
Family day visits/celebration days will take place monthly at HMP Bullingdon as part of the prisons’ children and family strategy and wider reducing reoffending strategy. They are designed to help prisoners and their families cope with the pressures that long term separation may have on the relationships between family units in particular the relationship between the children and their Father. They will give a better quality of interaction between men and their children. To help develop closer bonds with their children and help realise how criminality impacts upon them both.
Prisoner Eligibility
In order to ensure that prisoners and their families are able to enjoy the day in a relaxed atmosphere there is a criteria that the men must meet, this will be made to clear to the men in the application phase.
Visitor Eligibility
The relaxed regime of family day visits is to allow prisoners to develop and maintain closer relationships with their children, grandchildren or nieces / nephews. There must be a credible relationship to the child (ren) however each application will be judged on its own individual merit. That said the children of prisoners will always be given priority. Therefore, all prisoners attending the family day should have children visit otherwise there is no difference to a normal social visit. The visitors visiting with children should be:
- Wife
- Mother of Prisoners’ children
- Mother / Father
- Step Father / Mother
- Brother / Sister
- Legal guardian
- Court appointed appropriate adult
- Social worker
The Maximum number of visitors to attend is three adults (children over 10 are classed as adults for the purpose of visits) and three children under 10. Applications for numbers outside of these limits will be taken on an individual basis.
Keep in touch with someone at Bullingdon
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Bullingdon.
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.
Phone calls
Prisoners have phones in their cells but these do not accept incoming calls. They are able to make calls every day between 7:30am and 11pm. 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 Bullingdon 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 Bullingdon.
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 Bullingdon.
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
People in Bullingdon can apply for permission for visitors to hand in items during a visit.
All property will be opened and checked by officers. 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 the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
Contact Bullingdon for more information on what’s allowed.
Life at Bullingdon
Bullingdon is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Bullingdon 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 Bullingdon, 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 Bullingdon 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 1,100 prisoners are at Bullingdon across 6 houseblocks (A to F). Most prisoners share cells.
Education and work
Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities provided by Milton Keynes College. These range from basic skills, such as English and maths, to distance learning with the Open University.
The programme includes training in a variety of trades and professions, including:
- printing
- industrial cleaning
- construction
- information and communications technology (ICT)
- barbering
- music
- cookery
- hospitality
- health and wellbeing
- nutrition and healthy eating
- business
Work is available throughout the prison in areas such as the laundry and the farms and gardens. Prisoners can earn qualifications while working.
Bullingdon also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programme courses.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Bullingdon
PACT’s family services team can provide information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners. Ask in the visitors centre to learn more.
Telephone: 08088 082 003
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01869 353 100 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 | 01869 356 893 | 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 Bullingdon.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Bullingdon in response to independent inspections.
Contact Bullingdon
Governor: Laura Sapwell
Telephone: 01869 353 100
Fax: 01869 353 101
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Bullingdon
PO Box 50
Bicester
OXON
OX25 1PZ
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Updates to this page
Last updated 2 August 2022 + show all updates
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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: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated rules for sending in money and gifts.
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Updated physical contact guidance
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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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Updated visits information in line with national tier restrictions
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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 header
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Added survey link
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Updated tel no's
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First published.