Whitemoor prison
Whitemoor is a men’s high security prison in March, Cambridgeshire.
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Book and plan your visit to Whitemoor
To visit someone in Whitemoor you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- have the required ID with you when you go
Visits to ‘high risk’ and ‘exceptional risk’ prisoners must be booked at least 7 days in advance. All other visits must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
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 Whitemoor.
Contact Whitemoor 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 Whitemoor
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
You can also book your visit by calling, 01354 602 800
The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1.30pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book your visit by calling, 01354 602654.
The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1.30pm
Legal visit times:
- Tuesday & Wednesday: 8:30am to 9:30am and 9:45am to 10:45am
Getting to Whitemoor
The closest railway station is March, which is about 1.5 miles from Whitemoor. There are no local buses so you will have to walk or get a taxi from the station.
By Car: Enter postcode PE15 OPR into a sat nav to find the establishment. There is a visitor’s car park immediately in front of the prison with the visitor’s centre to the left of this car park.
By Air: Most airlines operate services to Stanstead airport where a direct train service runs to March. This service is approximately 1 hr 30 minutes.
To plan your journey by public transport:
Entering Whitemoor
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.
HMP Whitemoor is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for visits to take place for both prisoners, visitors and staff. There is zero tolerance towards threats of violence, abuse, harassment and unacceptable/inappropriate behaviour in the visit’s hall.
Inappropriate behaviour is defined as any behaviour that may present a risk to the security of the establishment or behaviour that is deemed indecent.
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.
Visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like:
- Short/Cropped tops that reveal a naked midriff
- Low cut tops or shirts that unbutton to reveal cleavage or bare chest
- Vests (as a single garment)
- Mini skirts that are shorter that knee length and expose thighs
- Shorts that are shorter than knee length and expose thighs
- All types of see-through clothing
- Headwear (other than for religious purposes)
- Clothing that is offensive in nature or displays offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate material
- Slippers / Sliders / Flip-flops
- Team affiliated sportswear
- Padded garments / gilets / body warmers
- Any clothing fitted with large buckles, chains and / or excessive amounts of zips.
- Combat trousers
- Jeans with rips / tears in them
- Hoodies (hoodies can be worn by children under 18)
This list is not exhaustive, please contact the visits hall if you have any questions.
Long cardigans are allowed to be worn but will need to be removed and hung up prior to the passive dog search, thus allowing a thorough search. The passive dog will then also carry out a search of the garment prior to it being reissued.
Coats and jackets will be allowed to be worn into the establishment but will not be allowed into the Main visit’s hall. They will need to be left in the Visits foyer prior to the passive dog search where coat hooks are provided.
Please note, items are left at the owner’s risk.
If clothing is deemed to be revealing the visitor should expect to be challenged by staff and this may result in the visitor being refused entry to the visits hall.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Whitemoor. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a £1 coin) or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.
Visiting facilities
On arrival, visitors should report to the visitor centre.
Refreshments consisting of hot and cold drinks and snacks are available to purchase once in the main visit’s hall.
The centre is open daily from 12:15pm.
Family days
Check with the prison for family day information and schedules.
Keep in touch with someone at Whitemoor
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Whitemoor.
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 Whitemoor using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Whitemoor.
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 at any time.
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Whitemoor.
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 Whitemoor are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Whitemoor 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 Whitemoor
As a maximum security prison, Whitemoor is committed to helping prisoners convicted of serious offences make positive use of long sentences. It also works to reduce the risk of reoffending through assessment, work, education and offending behaviour programmes.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Whitemoor 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 Whitemoor, 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 Whitemoor 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
Around 500 prisoners are housed at Whitemoor. There are 4 main residential wings (A, B, C and F) plus the specialist Fens unit. All prisoners get their own cell.
Sports facilities include a full size sports hall, a weight-training room, fitness suite and an outside astroturf pitch. Prisoners have access to a full programme of classes and activities.
Education and work
Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities. These include a strong focus on information and communications technology (ICT), from a foundation level to higher learning with the Open University.
Prisoners can take vocational training in construction trades, including painting, decorating and plastering.
Work is available throughout the prison, including in Whitemoor’s recycling and laundry workshops. Prisoners can also work in desktop publishing and computer refurbishment as part of a restorative justice project with IT Schools Africa.
Whitemoor also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programmes and non-accredited courses for personal and social development.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
If you have a concern about a prisoner, please call: 01354 602400.
The Children and Families Strategy is overseen by our Head of Operations who can be contacted at BusinesshubWhitemoor@justice.gov.uk.
Support at Whitemoor
The Ormiston Families team provides a range of information, guidance and support to families and friends of prisoners.
Families and Significant Other Lead is Governor D Watson Head of Operation.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01354 602 350 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 | 01354 602400 | 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 Whitemoor.
Contact Whitemoor
Governor: Ruth Stephens
Telephone: 01354 602 350
Fax: 01354 602 351
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Whitemoor
Longhill Road
March
Cambridgeshire
PE15 0PR
Updates to this page
Published 2 June 2020Last updated 2 August 2022 + show all updates
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Secure video calls update.
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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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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 local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Added legal visits booking and time slot information
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated: HMP Whitemoor visiting times and visiting procedure changes in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated information to include confirmation of secure video calls being available at this prison.
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First published.