Durham Prison
Durham Prison is a men’s prison in the city of Durham.
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Book and plan your visit to Durham
To visit someone in Durham Prison you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit between 2 weeks and 24 hours 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.
Contact Durham Prison 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 Durham prison
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 303 2300
The booking lines are open:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12pm to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times
- Monday: 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm, Family Learning session, 5pm to 6:30pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm
Ex Fam Days:
- 24, 31 August
- 2 November
- 21 December
Father and Child:
- 7, 14, 21, 28 September
- 5, 12, 19, 26 October
- 9, 16, 23, 30 November
- 7, 14 December
Family Learning:
- 25 August
- 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 September
- 6, 13, 20, 27 October
- 3, 10, 17, 24 November
- 1, 8, 15, 22 December
How to book legal and professional visits
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0191 332 3816
Legal visits booking line hours: 8:30am to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Legal visiting times
- Monday: 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday to Thursday: 9am to 11:45am and 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
You must inform booking staff if you need to bring equipment with you (such as a laptop). Your booking confirmation will explain restrictions during your visit.
There is a court video link available for a prisoner’s legal representatives if there is capacity. Ask booking line staff for more information.
Video link visits
Email: [email protected]
Telephone booking: 0191 332 3818
- Monday to Friday: 9am to 11:45pm and 2pm to 4pm
Getting to Durham prison
The closest railway station is Durham, around a 20-minute walk away, or you can take a taxi.
Durham bus station is around a 15-minute walk from the prison.
To plan your journey by public transport use:
There is no visitor’s car park.
There is no disabled visitor’s car park, however, two disabled bays are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Entering Durham Prison
All visitors 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 over the age of 10 will have their photo taken.
Durham has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut or revealing tops, no short shorts, no short dresses, no see-through clothing, no football shirts, no offensive slogans and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons). Visitors are also not allowed to wear smart watches, sunglasses, steel toe cap footwear or metal hair accessories.
You can purchase refreshments in the visitor centre and in the visits hall. You are permitted to bring in up to £20 in coins for purchases.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Durham. 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 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 visitors and family support centre run by Nepacs. Staff and volunteers in the visitors centre can provide you with information and support.
Refreshments can be purchased in the visitor centre and in the visits hall. You are permitted to bring in up to £20 in coins for purchases.
Family days
HMP Durham has various family visits throughout the year. Details on how these visits run can be found on NEPACS website.
Keep in touch with someone at Durham
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Durham.
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 have phones in their cells but 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 Durham 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 Durham.
Letters
You can write at any time.
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
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.
Life at Durham
Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham, 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 be able to have a shower and 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 Durham 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
Almost 1,000 prisoners live at Durham, mostly on remand (they have not yet been sentenced).
There are 7 wings plus a segregation unit and healthcare centre.
Education and work
Prisoners in Durham Prison have the opportunity to take part in education, vocational training and employability courses.
Education is provided by Novus and includes:
- skills for life
- IT
- customer service
- art
- horticulture
- English for speakers of other languages
Vocational training is available that reflects the local employment market. It covers:
- construction
- IT
- warehousing
- recycling
- food and hospitality
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head of family provision at HMP Durham email: [email protected]
You can also get support from NEPACs, who run the visitors centre at Durham is run by NEPACs, who can offer help and support regarding
- Visits
- Property
- Healthcare
- Finances
- PIN phone
Opening hours
- 0191 332 3676 Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm
- 0191 332 3462 Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm
Contact NEPACs on:
Freephone 0800 012 1539
Email [email protected]
Text 07983 437 457
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 0191 332 3400 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 | 0191 332 3695 | 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 Durham.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Durham in response to independent inspections.
Contact Durham
Governor: Tim Healey
Telephone (24 hours): 01913 323 400
Fax: 01913 323 401
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Durham
Old Elvet
Durham
DH1 3HU
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Updates to this page
Published 5 May 2020Last updated 27 March 2023 + show all updates
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Secure video call update.
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Updated legal/official visiting time slots and added time slots for legal video calls.
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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: Visits temporarily suspended
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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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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 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 visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information 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.