Cookham Wood Prison
Cookham Wood is a men's prison in Rochester, Kent.
Applies to England and Wales
Book and plan your visit to Cookham Wood
To visit someone in Cookham Wood you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- have a visiting order
- book your visit at least 2 days in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
There is a maximum of 3 adult visitors (over age 16) in total, of which one must be 18 or older. Children must be accompanied and supervised on a visit by an adult.
Please check with the Prison for any questions about visiting or to find out what limits there maybe to the number of visits a Prisoner can have.
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 Cookham Wood
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
Application forms are available in the visitor centre.
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by phone.
Telephone booking line: 01634 202557 Booking line open, Monday to Thursday: 9am to 3pm and Friday 9am to 2:30pm (Excluding Public and Bank Holidays)
Visiting times:
- Monday: 2pm to 4:15pm
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4:15pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4:15pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4:15pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4:15pm
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book a legal visit by email to legalvisits.cookhamwood@justice.gov.uk
Legal/professional visiting times
- Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 10.30am and 10.45am to 11.45am
Getting to Cookham Wood
The closest railway station is Rochester. From there you can get a taxi or take the Arriva bus routes, 145 or 142 bus. Alternatively, you can walk which is approximately 45 minutes.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Cookham Wood
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 rub-down search, including children.
- you may also be subject to a search by trained 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 Cookham Wood. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car
- call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Visitors may bring up to £20 cash in coins into the visits hall with them, we do not accept notes or cards.
Refreshments will be available to purchase once inside the visits hall from vending machines.
Disability access and facilities are available, please inform a member of Staff prior to Visit in order to provide any additional support.
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.
Cookham Wood has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut or revealing tops, no short shorts, no short dresses, no see-through clothing, no football shirts, no offensive slogans and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons). Visitors are also not allowed to wear smart watches or rings, sunglasses, steel toe cap footwear or metal hair accessories.
Prison staff will make decisions and judgements as to when clothing is inappropriate, in line with HMPPS Policies and Procedures. When making these decisions, Staff will always consider decency and diversity. You may be asked to adjust clothing or wear alternative clothing if available. As a last resort your visit may be cancelled if the correct dress code cannot be followed.
Visiting facilities
There is a Visitors’ Centre where, family and friends will arrive prior to visit in order to process and book in for Visitors with all valid ID’s before entering the Establishment. There are coin lockers available to place any personal items and electronics at the owners own risk. Facilities within the Centre are minimal however there is access to a small kitchen area, games for Children and Toilet facilities should you require then.
The centre is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sundays from Midday to 4:30pm.
Family days
Family Days will be organised by the Establishment. Times and Dates will be published throughout the year.
Keep in touch with someone at Cookham Wood
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Cookham Wood Prison.
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 . They can add telephone numbers to their approved contacts list, these are checked by security and public protection before being approved.
Prisoners are responsible for adding credit to make calls form their in-cell phones.
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 Cookham Wood Prison using EmailaPrisoner.com. Through this service, family and friends can send a message. This is then printed out and delivered by prison staff by hand.
Once you have signed up, you will receive an activation link via email which you must click on in order to activate your account and send a message.
You must buy a minimum of £5 credit in order to use the service, which runs at a cost of 40p per email and at no charge to the recipient.
Letters
You can write to a Prisoner at any time. Include the Person’s name and Prison number on the envelope.
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
Prisoners in Cookham Wood are allowed one parcel a year, providing it is priorly approved and meets the criteria under the approved facilities list.
All parcels will be opened and checked by Officers.
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.
Life at Cookham Wood
Cookham Wood 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 Cookham Wood 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 Cookham Wood, 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
When a prisoner first arrives at Cookham Wood they will receive 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
Around 190 prisoners live at Cookham Wood across 3 wings. All cells are single accommodation.
Prisoners have access to a sports hall, fitness suites, weights room and an outdoor pitch. The fitness programme includes a range of team sports and classes.
Cookham Wood prison has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to prisoners.
Education and work
Prisoners at Cookham Wood are encouraged to take part in meaningful activity and gain qualifications by enrolling into education and vocational training or work.
Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities. 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:
- Digital Skills
- Industrial cleaning
- Catering
Work is available throughout the prison in areas such as recycling and catering, gardens and maintenance.
Cookham Wood Prison also runs several accredited offending behaviour programmes.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
You can contact the families and significant others lead by email to omu.cookhamwood@justice.gov.uk
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01634 202 500 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 | 01634 673 032 | 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 Cookham Wood.
Contact Cookham Wood
Governor: Katie Jefferson Telephone: 01634 202 500
Address
HMP Cookham Wood
Sir Evelyn Road
Rochester
Kent
ME1 3LU