Leyhill Prison
Leyhill is an open prison for men near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.
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Book and plan your visit to Leyhill
To visit someone in Leyhill you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit up to 28 days in advance
- have the 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 Leyhill.
Contact Leyhill 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 Leyhill
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
Visiting times:
- Saturday and Sunday: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
How to book legal and professional visits
You must book legal visits by telephone.
Booking line: 01454 264 000
Monday to Friday, 9am to 11am, 2pm to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Monday: 1:30pm to 3:45pm
- Wednesday: 1:30pm to 3:45pm
- Friday: 1:30pm to 3:45pm
Legal visitors are required to wear a facemask throughout the visit.
Getting to Leyhill
The closest mainline railway station is Bristol Parkway, which is about 30 minutes by taxi from the prison.
The closest local railways station is Yate, where you can catch a bus to Leyhill except on Sundays.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a free visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Leyhill
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 pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Revealing clothing such as low-cut tops, mini skirts and short shorts are not allowed. Clothes with offensive slogans on them are also not allowed. You may be turned away if you are dressed this way.
There will be refreshments available to purchase during your visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Leyhill. 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
There is a family-friendly visitors centre at Leyhill, run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) charity.
The centre opens at midday on visiting days.
Family days
In addition to weekend visits we aim to hold 4 children and family visits days and 3 adult only family visits days per year.
Keep in touch with someone at Leyhill
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Leyhill.
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.
Prisoners can make calls between 6am and 11pm every day.
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 Leyhill using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Leyhill.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Leyhill.
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
Family and friends of prisoners are permitted to hand in books for prisoners before a visit, 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.
It’s not possible to hand in any other items or send items by post. You can send prisoners money instead which they can use to buy items through a catalogue system.
Family and friends 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.
Contact Leyhill if you have any questions.
Life at Leyhill
Leyhill is committed to providing a safe and educational environment to help prepare prisoners for release.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Leyhill 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 Leyhill, 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 Leyhill 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
About 500 prisoners live at Leyhill across 3 three units. There is a mixture of single and shared cells as well as cells for prisoners with access needs.
Education and work
Prisoners can learn English, maths, IT and other subjects at Leyhill through a partnership with Weston College.
Prisoners can gain work experience and earn qualifications in the wood machine shop, printing shop, laundry, retail warehouse, kitchen, farm and garden, market garden and gym. They can train in areas including catering and hospitality, barbering, painting and decorating and dry stone walling.
Leyhill also offers programmes in personal development, social and life skills designed to help prisoners as they approach release.
Release on temporary licence
Some prisoners may qualify for release on temporary licence. This can be used to gain work experience in the local community, prepare for release or spend time with family. Prisoners can apply for this within the prison.
Organisations Leyhill works with
Leyhill works with Catch 22, a not-for-profit business, to help prisoners prepare for their release. They provide support with things like housing, employment, finance and relationships.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Contact the Head of Family provision at HMP Leyhill at: Leyhill@prisonadvice.org.uk
Contact the Head of Reducing Reoffending on 01454 264000.
Support at Leyhill
The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) works with prisoners and their families to provide support and help strengthen family ties.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01454 264 000 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 | 01454 264 039 | 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 Leyhill.
Contact Leyhill
Governor: Steve Hodson
Telephone (24 hours): 01454 264 000
Fax: 01454 261 714
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Leyhill
Wotton-under-Edge
Gloucester
GL12 8BT
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Updates to this page
Published 15 January 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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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Visit info
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Updated visits information in line with national tier restrictions
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Updated visit info
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updated visit info
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Added legal visits
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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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updated survey
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Update on visits
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First published.