Highpoint Prison
Highpoint is a men’s prison in Newmarket, Suffolk.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Highpoint
To visit someone in Highpoint you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit 3 to 5 days 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. Depending on individual privileges, prisoners can have 2 to 4 visits a month. There are extra visits too, such as family days and ‘lifer’ visits.
Highpoint tries to offer 2 hour visits instead of the national entitlement that states visits are one hour long.
Contact Highpoint 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 Highpoint
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 01440 743 134
Line opens Monday to Friday, 8am to 2pm
Find out about call charges
Highpoint has two Visit Halls, one on Highpoint South and the other on Highpoint North.
Visitors have to check into the Visitors Centre on South.
Highpoint North visiting times:
- Friday: 2:30pm to 4:30pm
- Saturday: 2:15pm to 4:15pm
- Sunday: 2:15pm to 4:15pm
Highpoint South visiting times:
- Monday: 2:15pm to 4:15pm
- Friday: 2:30pm to 4:30pm
- Saturday: 2:30pm to 4:15pm
- Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2:15pm to 4:15pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits take place Tuesdays and Thursdays. They can be booked via LegalVisits.Highpoint@justice.gov.uk
Legal/professional visits times:
- Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 9am to 11am
Getting to Highpoint
There are car parks at both North and South sites with limited spaces for Blue Badge holders.
The closest railway stations to Highpoint Prison are Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Audley End. From all these, you would need a taxi to the prison. But from Bury St Edmunds, you can walk to the bus station then take the number 15 bus to the prison. This is the only bus that goes to the prison.
To plan your journey by public transport:
Entering Highpoint
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, including children, will be given a pat-down search. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Highpoint has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses or skirts, no ripped jeans and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).
Refreshments are available to purchase during your visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Highpoint. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (they take a £1 coin) or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats. You can take in a clear jar of baby food or milk and Highpoint will provide nappies.
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 are children’s play areas run by the Ormiston Families in both North and South visitor halls which offer books, toys and various activities.
Family days
Monthly family and children’s visits are held at both sites. Prisoners can apply for these.
Keep in touch with someone at Highpoint
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Highpoint.
Phone calls
We have started to roll out in-cell telephony which some units have access to.
Until this is across all units, some prisoners will not have phones in their cells so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this and they can call whenever they are out of their cells.
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 Highpoint using the Email a Prisoner service.
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.
Letters
You can write to someone at Highpoint at any time.
You need to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Highpoint.
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 can only buy items from the approved catalogue and can not receive gifts.
Sometimes clothing parcels can be sent in with permission from the Governor.
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 Highpoint
Highpoint 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 Highpoint 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 Highpoint, 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 Highpoint gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet prisoners trained to answer any questions they may have.
They will also 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
Prisoners are issued with a handbook. They will also learn about basic rules, fire safety and how phone calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Highpoint has about 1300 prisoners and is made up of two sites, North and South.
South has 10 residential units, plus segregation. North has 5 residential units. There is a mix of double and single cell accommodation. All cells have toilets and most have showers.
Units have a range of cooking facilities to encourage prisoners to cook for themselves.
Education and work
Prisoners are offered a range of workshops and offending behaviour courses.
There are education classes available, including numeracy and communication skills, art, business enterprise, construction, graphics, barbery, carpentry and painting and decorating.
Prisoners can gain qualifications in the physical education department and in first aid. They can work in the kitchens, gardens and do domestic work.
Temporary release
Access to Release on Temporary Licence (RoTL) is limited to prisoners who meet certain criteria. Prisoners make an application directly to the Offender Management Unit (OMU) to discuss.
Organisations Highpoint works with
Prisoners can get support from the organisations Highpoint works with, such as the Ormiston Families and Toe by Toe.
Highpoint also works with the Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equalities (ISCRE), and the substance misuse service Phoenix Futures.
Healthcare is provided by Care UK, education is run by NOVUS and the Shannon Trust inspires prisoners to help other prisoners to learn to read.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Highpoint
Our Safer Prisons team and chaplaincy offer general support to family and friends.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01440 743100 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 | 01440 743004 | 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 Highpoint.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Highpoint in response to independent inspections.
Contact Highpoint
Governor: Nigel Smith
Telephone: 01440 743 100
Fax: 01440 743 092
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Highpoint
Stradishall
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 9YG
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Updates to this page
Published 30 January 2020Last 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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Visiting information update: visits currently suspended.
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Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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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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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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updated survey link
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Prison visits update.
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First published.