Hollesley Bay Prison
Hollesley Bay is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) for men over 18 in Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Hollesley Bay
To visit someone in Hollesley Bay you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit 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 the prison.
You can email SocialVisits.HollesleyBay@justice.gov.uk 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 Hollesley Bay
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online, by telephone or by email to SocialVisits.HollesleyBay@justice.gov.uk.
Telephone booking line: 01394 412 559
Booking line opens Tuesday to Thursday: 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Saturday: 2pm to 3:45pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 3:45pm
You must book in at the visitors hall 15-30 minutes before your visit.
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book a face-to-face legal visit by email to security.hollesleybay@justice.gov.uk.
Face-to-face legal visiting times
- Monday to Friday: 9am to noon and 1pm to 5pm
Video link visits
You can book a video visit via email: OMU.HollesleyBay@justice.gov.uk
Getting to Hollesley Bay
The closest railway station is Ipswich, from there you can get a taxi.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a free visitors car park.
There is also a disabled visitors car parking spaces available.
Entering Hollesley Bay
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.
You must book in at the visitors hall 15-30 minutes before your visit.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Hollesley Bay 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).
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 Hollesley Bay. 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.
Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Visiting facilities
The visitors centre is run by Hollesley Bay. It includes toilets and a children’s play area, and staff are available to offer support and advice to visitors.
The visitors centre is open Saturdays and Sundays 2pm to 3:45pm.
Light refreshments are available to purchase from the visits centre, and an outdoor children’s play area is now available weather permitting.
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £30 in either notes or coins.
Family days
Hollesley Bay runs various family visits throughout the year. All prisoners can access family visits but are especially appropriate for those prisoners not accessing release on temporary licence.
The visits are organised via our family services provider, Ormiston Families and supported by multiple agencies and HMPPS staff to ensure a variety of age-appropriate activities and crafts are available. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting: hmphollesleybay@ormistonfamilies.org.uk
Dates for 2024:
- Friday 31 May
- Friday 16 August
- Friday 1 November
- Monday 23 December
Keep in touch with someone at Hollesley Bay
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Hollesley Bay.
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 do not have phones in their cells so 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.
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 Hollesley Bay using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the prison’s rules.
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 Hollesley Bay.
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 Hollesley Bay are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Hollesley Bay for more information on what’s allowed.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
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 Hollesley Bay
Hollesley Bay 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 Hollesley Bay 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 Hollesley Bay, 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 Hollesley Bay 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
Almost 500 prisoners are housed in 9 residential units over an 85 acre site.
The units are called Bosmere, Blything, Cosforde, Hoxon, Mutfords, Samforde, Stow, Theadling and Wilforde, which are all Suffolk place names from the Middle Ages.
Education and work
There is part-time education in English, maths, IT and employability provided by Peopleplus.
They also offer full-time vocational courses in bricklaying, plastering, plumbing, carpentry and painting and decorating. Also available are qualifications in forklift truck, roofing, barista, hospitality, a ‘firebreak’ course with Essex Fire Service and the construction skills certificate scheme (to earn a CSCS card).
Prisoners can also learn to drive with a local driving school.
There are work opportunities in kitchens, gardens, clothing exchange, recycling, staff areas, transport and cleaning. NVQs are available through kitchen and staff area work.
Prisoners can also work with the local community on placements or in paid ‘working out’ schemes. Paid workers have the option to self-drive or get to work on public transport. All job requests will be assessed and considered on an individual basis.
Hollesley Bay aims to support prisoners into employment that will continue once discharged.
There is a sports centre, which offers a wide range of activities. Prisoners can get qualified in healthy living, fitness, circuits and first aid.
The Chaplaincy offers multi-faith services and pastoral care.
Temporary release
The resettlement team helps reduce re-offending and tries to get prisoners into full-time work, training or education. The prison works closely with partners providing career support, accommodation and benefits advice. There is access to a job club and virtual campus that allows them to look for jobs anywhere in the UK.
Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL), when prisoners spend time in the community before release, is part of this. This can be daily (to a placement in the local community) or weekly (spending time with family) and then monthly when they can go home for up to 4 nights.
Once approved for ROTL, prisoners can apply for paid work through vacancies with employers that work with the prison or they can find their own work. Paid workers contribute a percentage of their wages to the victims fund.
Organisations Hollesley Bay works with
Hollesley Bay offers up to 5 restorative justice courses a year.
Sycamore Tree courses are run by the Prison Fellowship and teach a volunteer-led victim awareness programme and results in a victim of crime coming in to talk about the impact the crime has had on their lives.
There is regular drug testing and prison staff, Care UK and the Forward Trust provide help, guidance and counselling to support a person with addiction.
Medical and dental care is provided by Care UK.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our Head of Reducing Reoffending and Family and Significant others lead at HMP Hollesley Bay please email Resettlement.HollesleyBay@justice.gov.uk.
Support at Hollesley Bay
Ormiston Families is the family service provider. They offer one to one advice and support and limited family engagement days.
Family and friends can contact them directly.
Telephone: 01473 724517
Email: enquries@ormistonfamilies.org.uk
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01394 412 400 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 | 01394 412 462 | 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, write to the Governor of the prison at the main address.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Hollesley Bay in response to independent inspections.
Contact Hollesley Bay
Governor: David Daddow
Telephone (24 hours): 01394 412 400
Fax: 01394 410 115
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 3JW
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Updates to this page
Published 7 April 2020Last updated 1 April 2022 + show all updates
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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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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3: preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others
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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 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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added survey link
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First published.