Usk Prison
Usk is a men’s prison in the town of Usk, South Wales. It is managed jointly with Prescoed Prison.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Usk
To visit someone in Usk 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 Usk.
Contact Usk 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 Usk
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 01291 673 730
The booking line is open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 5pm to 7pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting Times:
- Tuesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm and 5pm to 7pm
- Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
Book legal visits by telephone.
Booking lines:
01291 671 730
Monday to Friday, 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am to midday
Getting to Usk
The closest railway station is Newport. From there you can get a taxi or take the bus direct to Usk town.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a free visitors car park.
There is also a disabled visitors car parking area outside the prison.
Entering Usk
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 Usk. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker 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.
Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Visiting facilities
There is no visitors centre at Usk.
Family days
Usk runs extra family day visits. Details of these visits can be given by emailing: [email protected].
Keep in touch with someone at Usk
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Usk.
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 during phone hours, which are 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 4:45pm on weekends. This list is approved by security and any new names must be checked and cleared before they are added.
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 Usk 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 Usk.
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 Usk.
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 also send postal orders and cheques. These should be made payable to ‘NOMS Agency’ and include the prisoners name and prisoner number on the back.
Gifts and parcels
Prisoners in Usk are given a facilities list which details items that can be sent to them by post. Contact Usk for more information on what’s allowed.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Usk
Usk 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 Usk 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 Usk, 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 Usk 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 280 prisoners live at Usk. Most live in shared cells across the 3 main wings, called A, B and C. Prisoners on the ‘enhanced’ behaviour level can apply to live in the Comber Unit, which is a separate dormitory style unit. There are TVs in all cells.
There are indoor and outdoor gym facilities offering a range of activities for prisoners of all physical abilities.
Usk has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to prisoners.
Education and work
Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities, ranging from basic skills, such as literacy, numeracy, computing skills and employability, to higher learning and qualifications. The programme also includes training in a variety of trades and professions, including:
- health and safety
- food safety
- wellbeing
- business studies
- woodcraft
- bricklaying
Work is available throughout the prison and in the industrial workshops.
Usk also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programme courses.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head of family provision at HMP Usk email: [email protected].
Support at Usk
Family services at Usk are provided by Invisible Walls.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01291 671 600 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 | 01291 671 703 | 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 Usk.
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Usk in response to independent inspections.
Contact Usk
Governor: Rob Denman
Telephone (24 hours): 01291 671 600
Fax: 01291 671 752
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Usk
47 Maryport Street
Usk
Monmouthshire
NP15 1XP
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.
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Updates to this page
Published 24 March 2020Last updated 14 November 2023 + show all updates
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Added translation
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Updated emergency contact number to 01291 671731
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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.
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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: HMP Usk visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.
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Added confirmation of secure video calls being made available at this prison.
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added survey link
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COVID19 Update
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First published.