Warren Hill Prison
Warren Hill is a male adult prison near Hollesley village in Suffolk.
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Book and plan your visit to Warren Hill
To visit someone in Warren Hill 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. It is generally 4 visits a month but can be more. You can check this with Warren Hill.
Contact Warren Hill 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 Warren Hill
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
You can book your visit by telephone.
Booking line: 01394 633 633
Monday to Thursday, 9am to midday
You can also email: socialvisits.warrenhill@justice.gov.uk
Visiting times:
- Friday - 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday - 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday - 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Email: legalvisits.warrenhill@justice.gov.uk
You can also book by telephone.
Booking line: 01394 633 633
Monday to Thursday: 9am to midday
Find out about call charges
Visiting times are Wednesday - 2pm to 4pm.
Getting to Warren Hill
The closest railway station is Melton. From there you can get a taxi.
The closest mainline railway station is Ipswich. From Ipswich, you can get a connecting train to Melton.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a free visitors car park.
There is also a disabled visitors car park. Disabled visitors who want to use this car park must contact the prison before your visit on 01394 633 633 or email socialvisits.warrenhill@justice.gov.uk
Entering Warren Hill
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
- 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 Warren Hill. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car - this includes pushchairs and car seats
Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Visiting facilities
There is a children’s play area outside and a children’s corner in the visiting hall. There are refreshments available to purchase during your visit.
Family days
Warren Hill run 12 family visits a year. Details on how these visits run can be found here or by contacting: socialvisits.warrenhill@justice.gov.uk
Keep in touch with someone at Warren Hill
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Warren Hill.
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
You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
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.
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 Warren Hill using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the prison’s rules.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
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 Warren Hill are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Warren Hill for more information on what’s allowed.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
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.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Warren Hill
Warren Hill 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 Warren Hill 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 a prisoner first arrives at Warren Hill, 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. If it’s not too late, they will meet the induction officer and the prisoner induction rep who will show them their allocated unit and who the other wing reps are.
Induction
Each prisoner arriving at Warren Hill 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 and getting access to ‘safer custody’
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
There are over 250 prisoners at Warren Hill housed in single cells.
Many courses and activities are available at the gym and there’s a separate leisure area for prisoners who have earned privileges.
Healthcare is provided by Care UK for 12 hours a day. There is also a dentist.
Education and work
Prisoners can take part in an education programme to gain qualifications in mechanics, IT, media or sport. They can also take part in welding, carpentry and catering workshops.
There’s also a drug rehabilitation centre.
Regular drug testing operates at Warren Hill.
Organisations Warren Hill works with
Warren Hill works with The Forward Trust, which helps people with addiction problems move towards, achieve and maintain lives free from drugs and crime.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head of family provision at Warren Hill email: socialvisits.warrenhill@justice.gov.uk
Support at Warren Hill
With the prisoner’s consent, families are encouraged to engage with the prison’s behaviour management and care planning schemes.
Phoenix Futures offers family support.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01394 633426 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 633426 | 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 any other problem contact Warren Hill.
Contact Warren Hill
Governor: Chris Huckle
Telephone: 01394 633 400
Fax: 01394 633 438
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Warren Hill
Grove Road
Hollesley
Woodbridge
Suffolk
IP12 3BF
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Updates to this page
Published 15 January 2020Last updated 10 June 2022 + show all updates
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Updated visiting information
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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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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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Updated survey link
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Prison visits update.
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First published.