Rochester Prison
Rochester is a prison and young offender institution for men over 18 in Rochester, Kent.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Rochester
To visit someone in Rochester you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 2 working days in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
Seating arrangements at this prison allow 3 visitors over the age of 16, plus 3 children under that age. Children may have to sit on your lap. 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 Rochester.
Contact Rochester 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 Rochester 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 060 6513
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times:
- Monday: 2pm to 3:45pm
- Tuesday: 2pm to 3:45pm
- Wednesday: 2pm to 3:45pm
- Thursday: 2pm to 3:45pm
- Friday: 2pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday: 9:15am to 10:45am and 2pm to 3:45pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 3:45pm
Legal visiting times
- Monday to Friday: 9:30am to midday
Entering Rochester
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 rub-down search, including children
- You may also be subject to a search by trained 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 Rochester. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car
- Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Getting to Rochester
Find HMP Rochester on google maps.
| The closest railway station is Rochester. From there you can get a taxi or take the arriva bus route. 145 or 142 bus or alternatively you can walk which is approximately 45minutes. |
To plan your journey by public transport use:
There is a free visitors car park.
There is also a disabled visitors car park.
Keep in touch with someone at Rochester
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Rochester.
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, as well as access to phones in communal areas. They can only make outgoing calls 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 Rochester and get replies from them using the Email a Prisoner service. You can also attach photos and they will be printed off and handed out.
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 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
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.
Prisoners with standard or enhanced privileges can receive a clothing parcel once every 6 months. Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel. All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Other items must be ordered by the prisoners using an approved catalogues or from the ‘canteen’.
Family days
HMP Rochester run 12 family visits a year. Details on how and when these visits will run can be found by contacting the family services manager.
Life at Rochester
Rochester 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 Rochester 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 Rochester, 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 arriving at Rochester 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
Rochester holds around 695 prisoners in single and double cells, some of which have showers.
Education and work
As a resettlement prison, Rochester offers a wide range of vocational training, work opportunities and offending behaviour programmes.
Vocational training includes painting and decorating, brick laying, carpentry, stone masonry, plastering, tiling, welding, construction skills, catering and gym courses.
There are educational opportunities, including English and maths, IT, mentoring and distance learning.
Temporary release
Release on temporary licence (ROTL) allows prisoners that meet its criteria to visit and stay over with family or partners. Once prisoners are in their last 6 months, they can apply. It happens once a month, starting with 2 nights and going up to 4.
Prisoners can be released on ‘special purpose licence’ in exceptional circumstances, if the criteria are met.
‘Resettlement day release’ is also considered for anyone who wants access to training and education.
There is rigorous risk assessment prior to any period of release being granted.
Organisations Rochester works with
Rochester also works with:
- the Forward Trust which helps prisoners to stop reoffending
- MKET to provide education
- NHS England for healthcare
- Inreach which offers help to people with special needs
- Nacro for support with housing
- Sussex Pathways for restorative justice and resettlement
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Rochester
Family services at Rochester are provided by PACT..
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01634 803100 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 | 01634 803268 | 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 a problem, please write to the correspondence/complaints department at the main address.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Rochester in response to independent inspections.
Contact Rochester
Governor: Dean Gardiner
Telephone: 01634 803 100
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, with an external switchboard at other times
Fax: 01634 803 101
Find out about call charges
Email: [email protected]
Replies are usually posted out in 2-3 weeks.
Address
HMP/YOI Rochester
1 Fort Road
Rochester
Kent
ME1 3QS
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Updates to this page
Published 11 March 2020Last updated 30 October 2024 + show all updates
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Added new Legal visiting time slots
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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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: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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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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Visits update
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Updated visit info
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Updated visit info
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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 video call info
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added survey link
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First published.