Coldingley Prison
Coldingley is a prison for adult men in Woking, Surrey.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Coldingley
To visit someone in Coldingley 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 Coldingley.
Contact Coldingley 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 Coldingley
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0330 016 8787
The booking lines are open:
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Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12pm to 5pm
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Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times:
- Monday: 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: No Visits
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Face to Face legal visits can only be booked by email: [email protected].
Legal visiting times
Thursdays: 9am to 11am
Video link visits
You can book a video visit via email [email protected].
Video visits time slots
You can book hourly slots from Monday to Friday: 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm.
Getting to Coldingley
The closest railway station is Brookwood which is around 2.6 miles from Coldingley Prison. From there you can take a bus or taxi.
The other mainline train station is Woking which is 5.5 miles from Coldingley Prison. From there you can take a bus or 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 Coldingley
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.
There is a visitor waiting area and you will be called in by staff to be booked in for your visit.
You must be at the prison gates no later than 10:15 am for morning visits and 3:15 pm for afternoon visits, if you are later than these times, you will not be allowed to enter.
You may have your finger or thumb prints scanned as part of a security check. You may also have an iris scan. All visitors, apart from children, will have their photo taken.
All visitors will need to be given a rub-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Coldingley 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 ripped jeans, no vest tops, no short skirts or dresses.
There is wheelchair access, disabled toilets and mobile hearing loops for those who need them.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Coldingley Prison. 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.
You may bring in dummies, baby wipes, nappies, milk powder and prescribed medication. All baby items must be in a clear plastic bag.
Please note that some of these items may be bagged and tagged in the Visitors’ search area prior to entry into the prison.
Refreshments are available to purchase inside the visits hall. Purchases must be paid for using a contactless payment method, as we do not accept cash.
You will be told the rules by a member of staff 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 visitor waiting room run by PACT. It includes toilets and a children’s play area, and staff are available to offer support and advice to visitors.
The visitors waiting room is open every day from 8am to 4:30pm.
There is a water dispenser in the waiting room.
Family days
Coldingley run 12 family visits a year and can only be applied for by the prisoner.
Once an application is accepted, a letter with all required information will be sent to both the prisoner and their family.
Keep in touch with someone at Coldingley
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Coldingley.
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 have phones in their cells and are able to make calls at any time during phone hours. They have to buy phone credits to do this. Phones do not accept incoming calls so they will always have to call you.
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 Coldingley Prison using the EmailaPrisoner.com. 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, go to the GOV.uk website and type in the search bar, locate a prisoner and complete the application.
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
You cannot hand any parcels or items in at the prison, except books.
Prisoners in Coldingley are given a list of approved items that can be purchased through approved catalogues.
Prisoners can apply though the application process to have a clothing parcel sent in, depending on their IEP level. Any unauthorised parcels posted in will be returned to the sender.
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
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Coldingley 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 Coldingley, 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 Coldingley 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.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Coldingley 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 Coldingley, 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.
Accommodation
There are over 500 prisoners at Coldingley, mostly housed in single cells.
There is a gym fitted out with weights and a badminton court and TV is available for prisoners who have earned privileges.
We have varied accommodation, A to D, which are some of the older wings have sanitation call system to access toilet facilities, these wings are currently being refurbished.
E wing has single and shared cells, all cells have showers and toilet facilities
F wing is shared accommodation for 10 prisoners.
G wing holds 63 single modular buildings that have showers and toilet facilities.
Education and work
As a resettlement prison, Coldingley only accepts prisoners who are prepared to work full-time and willing to take part fully in a resettlement programme.
The only prisoners accepted have a minimum of 2 years to their release date. If prisoners are participating in The Forward Trust’s 12-step programme, they too will be considered.
All prisoners must be willing to commit to the drugs testing programme.
There is a standard day for all prisoners. It includes full-time work in workshops, vocational training, education and the drug-treatment programme.
There is a new modern training and education centre, a prisons IT academy, business training, sports and varied industrial workshops.
Temporary release
Prisoners that are eligible for temporary licence (ROTL) will be individually risked assessed for suitability.
Support for family and friends
The prison advice and care trust team offer a wide range of relationship, parenting and family learning courses to encourage prisoners to make a fresh start.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01483 344 311
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.
Support at Coldingley
To contact the Head of family provision at HMP Coldingley, email [email protected].
The prison advice and care trust team offer a wide range of relationship, parenting and family learning courses to encourage prisoners to make a fresh start.
To find out more about these courses:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01483 344 476
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01483 344 300 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 | 0800 496 1475 | 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 [email protected] or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem contact Coldingley. If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Coldingley Prison in response to independent inspections.
Contact Coldingley
Governor: Governor D Ceglowski
Telephone (24 hours): 01483 344 300
Fax: 01483 344 427
Find out about call charges
Follow Coldingley on Twitter/X
Address
HMP Coldingley
Shaftesbury Road
Bisley, Woking
Surrey
GU24 9EX
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Updates to this page
Published 7 April 2020Last updated 15 February 2024 + show all updates
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Updated Family support information and added emergency contact information
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Secure video calls update.
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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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Updated rules for sending in money and gifts.
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Updated physical contact guidance
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Governor update.
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Updated visit info
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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 information about secure video calls.
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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.