Exeter Prison
Exeter is a men’s prison in Exeter city centre in Devon.
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Book and plan your visit to Exeter
To visit someone in Exeter you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 48 hours 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 in Exeter prison can have. If the prisoner is on remand, they can have 2 per week. If the prisoner has been convicted (they have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing), it ranges from 1 to 4 visits per month depending on their behaviour level and privileges they have earned. You can check this with Exeter.
Contact Exeter 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 Exeter
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online, by email: socialvisits.exeter@justice.gov.uk or by telephone using the number below.
Booking line: 01392 415 833
The booking line is open Monday to Friday (excl bank holidays): 9am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Visiting times:
- Monday: no visits
- Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: no visits
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
Last entry is strictly at 2:15pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal and professional visits are booked by email on LegalVisits.Exeter@justice.gov.uk
This email address is monitored 9am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
Legal and Professional visitors can either hold a meeting with a prisoner in in person or by video link.
Each appointment slot is 45 minutes, double bookings or longer can be made upon request.
Official visits are available between the following times:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 12:15pm and 1:45pm to 4:30pm
Please ensure that you have photographic ID when visiting the prison (video or in person). A failure to provide photographic ID will result in your meeting being cancelled (video or in person). Please read the section on Entering Exeter on this webpage if you are visiting in person. You must notify us if you intend to bring a laptop into prison and provide the necessary serial numbers before your visit. The amount of paper that you can bring in is also limited and cannot be left with the prisoner.
Getting to Exeter
The closest railway stations are Exeter Central (300 meters from the prison) and Exeter St Davids (2 kilometers from the prison). Buses run from Exeter St Davids into the city centre.
To plan your journey by public transport use:
The prison has no car parking available for visitors. You should use city centre parking or park and ride schemes.
Entering Exeter
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 sniffed by security dogs.
Exeter has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).
You can purchase refreshments during your visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Exeter. 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
Family services at Exeter are provided by PACT.
Family days
Family visits are available for prisoners, with or without children, who are on enhanced privilege status. The prisoner must apply for these. They are held once a month and last from 2:15pm to 4:15pm.
Child-centred family visits are held once every school holiday. The prisoner must apply for these.
PACT provides a range of activities for the whole family.
For more information please contact our Families provider PACT Prison Advice and Care Trust or contact our head of family provision at HMP Exeter on exeter.familycontact@justice.gov.uk.
| Family visits are held on Wednesdays throughout the year from 2:15 to 4:15. For more information please contact our Families provider PACT [HMP Exeter | Prison Advice and Care Trust](https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/hmp-exeter) or contact our head of family provision at HMP Exeter on exeter.familycontact@justice.gov.uk |
Keep in touch with someone at Exeter
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Exeter.
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.
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.
Phones are available 6:30am to 10pm.
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 Exeter using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Exeter.
Letters
You can write at any time.
Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prison number, contact Exeter.
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 Exeter can only receive parcels if they are sent in by post.
- The parcel must be clearly marked with their name and prison number.
- The prisoner must apply in advance and specify the items they want to be sent in.
- Approval must be given before any parcel is accepted.
Any parcel which has not had approval will not be accepted and will be turned away.
Contact Exeter for more information on what’s allowed.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers before issue to the prisoner.
Prisoners can also buy personal items from approved catalogues.
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 Exeter
Exeter 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 Exeter 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.
If you have any concerns, contact the safer custody team.
Arrival and first night
When someone first arrives at Exeter, they will be able to contact a family member by phone (if there are no public protection restrictions). 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 or family needs.
They will be issued with clothing, bedding and toiletries, and have the opportunity to purchase personal items.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Exeter 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
Exeter has around 560 prisoners. There are 4 residential units with a mixture of single and double cells:
- A wing for employed and unemployed workers
- B wing for vulnerable prisoners
- C wing for first night and detox
- D wing for enhanced prisoners in a self-contained unit with its own workshop and education area
There is also F wing, which provides social care.
There is a gym, sports hall, healthcare team, library and chapel.
Education and work
Education and employment opportunities are available to all prisoners in Exeter Prison after their induction.
Accredited courses include:
- English
- maths
- IT
- personal development and social skills
- art
- behaviour management
- employability skills
- horticulture
- painting and decorating
- peer mentoring
- gym instructor
- English for speakers of other languages
- Shannon Trust reading programme
Employment opportunities include local and national contracts offering light assembly and packing tasks, textiles work and model train assembly and painting.
Temporary release
Some prisoners may qualify for release on temporary licence. This can be used to gain work experience in the local community and prepare for release. Prisoners can apply for this within the prison.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head of family provision at HMP Exeter please email exeter.familycontact@justice.gov.uk
Support at Exeter
Family services at Exeter are provided by PACT.
You can call the prison chaplaincy team on 01392 415 700 if you need support when passing on bad news, such as a bereavement, to a prisoner.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01392 415650 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 | 0800 496 1874 | 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 Exeter.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Exeter in response to independent inspections.
Contact Exeter
Governor: Ian Walters
Telephone: 01392 415 650
Fax: 01392 415 691
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Exeter
30 New North Road
Exeter
EX4 4EX
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Updates to this page
Published 18 December 2019Last updated 27 August 2024 + show all updates
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Updated times for extended family visits from 11am to 3pm - to the new times of 2:15pm to 4:15pm.
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Updated visiting times for social visits and added new time slots and telephone booking line for legal visits.
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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 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 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 information about secure video calls.
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HMP Exeter visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.
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updated survey link
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Update on prison visits.
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First published.