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 open: Tuesday to Thursday: 9am to 2pm 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
Face-to-face legal visits can only be booked by email to security.hollesleybay@justice.gov.uk.
Face to face legal visiting times
- Monday to Friday: 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm
Video link legal visits
You can book a video link legal visit by email to omu.hollesleybay@justice.gov.uk.
Getting to Hollesley Bay
The closest railway station is Melton which is around 5 miles from Hollesley Bay Prison. From there you can take a taxi.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is free parking available onsite for visitors, including spaces at the front entrance for Blue Badge holders.
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.
Book in at the visitors hall 15 to 30 minutes before your visit.
All visitors should be aware that drug dogs maybe in use.
Hollesley Bay Prison has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes, no work clothes (including uniforms), no sports shirts or football shirts, no hoods, no mobile phones, no offensive logos, no sunglasses or headscarves unless worn for religious reasons, no vest tops, no short skirts or dresses.
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £30. The money can be used to buy food and drink from the snack bar in the visiting hall. No food or drink from outside the prison will be allowed in.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Hollesley Prison. 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 Saturdays and Sundays 2pm to 3:45pm.
Light refreshments are available to purchase from Hollesley Bay visits centre, and an outdoor children’s play area is now available weather permitting.
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.
Family day visits are organised via our Family Services Provider, Ormiston Trust 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.
2025 dates:
- 21 February: animal themed
- 11 April: Spring themed
- 30 May: Nature themed
- 15 August: Summer themed
- 31 October: Spooky themed
- 22 December: Festive themed
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 rooms 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 Prison using the Email a Prisoner service.
Through this service, family and friends can send a message which is 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 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.
All prisoners must apply to have clothes brought into the prison. If approved, you can hand in prescription glasses and certain items of clothing to prison staff when you attend for your visit. Items can only be received by a designated officer in the visitors centre before your visit starts.
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.
If you have more general questions or concerns about how prisons operate and how prisoners are cared for you can find out more on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.
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.
If you have any concerns about a prisoner at Hollesley Bay, contact the Safer Custody team via the safer custody helpline 01394 412 462.
Arrival and first night
When a prisoner 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, ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs, and answer any initial questions they might have.
Induction
When a prisoner first arrives at Hollesley Bay 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
Up to 655 prisoners are accommodated within 10 Houses at HMP Hollesley Bay over 85 acres.
The Houses are called Blything, Cosforde, Hoxon, Mutford, Samforde, Stow, Theadling, Wilforde, Plomsgate and the Terraces, Some houses are named from Suffolk place names from the Middle Ages, and our recent Terraces accommodation was named to reflect our population from London and Essex.
Accommodation is progressive at HMP Hollesley Bay with men accessing Wilford House on induction, before being initially allocated to Stow or Hoxon and then progressing accordingly in line with job roles to more desired accommodation with self cook facilities on Cosford and Mutford. Plomsgate and the Terraces are our best accommodation with these houses offering single accommodation with in room toilet and shower facilities. Blything House supports some men with social care needs and also supports prisoners engaged with the ISFL programme, wanting to refrain from drug use.
Education and work
Prisoners at Hollesley Bay are encouraged to take part in meaningful activity and gain qualifications by enrolling into education and vocational training or work in one of the prison industries or domestic roles.
We promote a sequenced Journey at HMP Hollesley Bay, where prisoners are encouraged to engage in Education, enhancing their functional skills levels, before progressing to roles within regime and industry. They can then potentially progress to privileged employment on ROTL within the community. The prisoner pay is also reflective of this sequenced progression throughout job roles/areas.
There is full time education in English, maths, IT and employability provided by our education provider Peopleplus.
They also offer full-time vocational courses in bricklaying, plastering, multiskills, carpentry and painting and decorating. Qualifications are also available in forklift truck, warehousing, roofing, barista, hospitality and construction skills certificate scheme (to earn a CSCS card).
Prisoners can also learn to drive with a local driving school, access the local libraries, colleges and university to support men with further qualifications and training.
There are work opportunities in kitchens, gardens, clothing exchange, recycling, staff areas, transport and LMB Industries .
Hollesley Bay aims to support prisoners into employment that will continue once released.
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.
There is a sports centre, which offers a wide range of activities. Prisoners can achieve qualifications in healthy living, fitness, and first aid, and some are able to be supported in qualifications in ‘coaching’ with our local football ‘twinning project’.
Temporary release
The majority of prisoners will be able to work their way to accessing Return on Temporary Licence (ROTL) to maintain family ties whilst at HMP Hollesley Bay, accessing local towns on day release or release addresses on home leave for up to 4 nights per month. Up to 25% of the regime population is in external employment on ROTL within the community.
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
All prisoners are provided support in a variety of areas within our Employment Hub, in preparation for release. Within the Employment Hub men have access to agencies such as Pre release team for Housing, New futures Network for support in finding employment and sourcing bank accounts/ID, Forward Trust for Information and guidance, DWP for financial advice/support and benefits.
We work in partnership with Cruze Bereavement, Suffolk family carers, St Elizabeth hospice and unlock my life for support with social and mental health needs.
Men also have access to our healthcare provider, Practice Plus and Drugs and addiction support provider, Phoenix futures.
We strive to deliver a service inclusive to all prisoner needs, ensuring a safe and decent environment for all and a positive journey through to release.
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.
Immediate risk means: An urgent problem with health, including mental health, that is potentially life-threatening and cannot wait to be reported though the Safer Custody Hotline below.
| 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. |
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a prisoner at Hollesley Bay prison, call the safer custody hotline.
Telephone: 01394 412 462 24 hour answering machine Find out about call charges
Leave a message giving as many details as possible including the prisoners name, prisoner number and what wing they are located on if you know it. If you wish, you can leave your own details and a contact number so the prison can give you feedback, if appropriate.
You can also read more information about safer custody concerns on the Prisoners Families website.
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
Rectory Road
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 3JW
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Updates to this page
Published 7 April 2020Last updated 10 January 2025 + show all updates
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Updated face to face legal visiting time slots and added email address to allow booking of legal video calls.
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2025 family day dates added.
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Information on all sections updated.
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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.