Wormwood Scrubs Prison
Wormwood Scrubs is a men’s prison in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Wormwood Scrubs
To visit someone in Wormwood Scrubs you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 2 days 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 person can have. You can check this with Wormwood Scrubs.
Contact Wormwood Scrubs 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 Wormwood Scrubs
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking and information line: 0300 060 6511
Find out about call charges
The booking line opens:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times
Visitors arriving more than half an hour late will not be admitted.
Weekdays:
- Monday: A wing 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: B wing 9am to 11am
- Wednesday: C wing 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: D wing 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: E wing 9am to 11am
Weekend dates:
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Sundays in September: C wing - 8th, 22nd - A/B/C/D OR E Family Day Session – 15th, 29th
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Sundays in October: C wing - 6th, 20th - A/B/C/D OR E Family Day Session – 13th, 27th
If you have any issues regarding your visit, please email [email protected]
Please be advised that this email address is for issues and queries, and we aim to respond to you within 3 working days.
Family Development Sessions
A Family Development Session is held on alternating Sunday afternoons on a wing-by-wing basis. This session may include family days, children’s visits, homework clubs and other initiatives.
Visits Facilities tuck shop
You can purchase light refreshments and cold snacks for the first hour of your visit from inside the visitor centre. Payments are by contactless only, no cash is accepted. No refunds or exchanges unless a product is faulty. Please note, if you are attending a children’s visit on a Wednesday, please arrive promptly for your visit and the tuck shop will be opened to purchase items between 8:45am and 9am.
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits can take place at an open table or a closed booth, face to face or via video link.
Face To Face
- Monday to Friday: 9am to 9:55am, 10:05am to 11am, 2pm to 2:55pm and 3:05pm to 4pm
Booking via email: [email protected]
Booking via phone: 0300 060 6511
Double sessions can be booked if you would like to utilise 2-hour slots, but we ask that you only book a double session if needed.
Prohibited articles
Send an email to [email protected] if you require an authorisation application to bring a prohibited article into the establishment (i.e cameras, recording equipment etc). This must be completed by the host visitor to the site and completed at least 72 hours prior to the visit. Please note, laptops do not require prior authorisation, but Wi-Fi must not be connected.
Video Links
- Mondays to Fridays: (1 hour sessions) 9am to 10am, 10am to 11am, 2pm to 3pm or 3pm to 4pm
2 hour session:
- 9am to 11am
- 2pm to 4pm
Booking via email: [email protected]
Booking via phone: 0300 060 6511
There needs to be 2 working days’ notice before any bookings or amendments are made.
If you no longer require your legal visit slot then please make cancellations or amendments at the earliest possible opportunity, failure to attend without cancellation results in a lost slot which others could utilise.
Getting to Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs is a 10-minute walk from East Acton underground station. The closest mainline railway station is London Paddington. Several local bus routes pass the prison.
To plan your journey by public transport:
If coming by car, you can park outside the prison. You will need to pay and display at certain times during the week. Check times and prices on the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham website.
There is no visitor parking in the prison.
Entering Wormwood Scrubs
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.
Wormwood Scrubs has clothing requirements that must be adhered to for security reasons.
The following clothing should not be worn:
- hats, scarves or head coverings which are not worn on religious grounds
- jackets, coats, hoodies or gloves
- damaged or ripped clothing (irrespective of design)
- metal hair accessories
- steel toe capped shoes/boots/cycle/motorcycle shorts
- non-prescription sunglasses
- see-through/revealing clothing
- items of clothing that display offensive/abusive or insulting words or gestures
- mini or very short skirts/dresses without leggings
- shorts which are shorter than mid thigh to knee length
- visible/exposed underwear
- smart watches
- heavy metal jewellery
- jumpsuits or playsuits
- flip flops or sliders
- football shirts
- Hoodrich branded clothing
- sleeveless or vest tops
- midriff or cleavage on show
- cargo/pocketed trousers
- multiple pairs of trousers
- ponchos
There are strict controls on what you can take into Wormwood Scrubs. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security, including 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 centre run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) charity.
The centre is open:
- Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm
- Friday 8am to 1pm
- Saturday 8am to 5pm
- Sunday 1pm to 5pm
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 8735 0595
Find out about call charges
Keep in touch with someone at Wormwood Scrubs
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Wormwood Scrubs.
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 access to in-cell and landing phones for making outgoing calls to preapproved phone numbers only.
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 Wormwood Scrubs 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 Wormwood Scrubs.
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, you can use the Find a prisoner - GOV.UK service online.
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
Prisoners are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Wormwood Scrubs for more information on what’s allowed.
Family and friends are strongly advised to use Parcelforce to send parcels in to prisoners to ensure successful delivery. Parcelforce are reliably able to comply with the prison’s local security requirements for receiving parcels. Whilst other couriers may be used, if they cannot comply with the prison requirements parcels this can lead to delays or parcels being returned.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
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.
Life at Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Wormwood Scrubs 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 Wormwood Scrubs, 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 at the prison who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.
Induction
Each person who arrives at Wormwood Scrubs 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
There are around 1,200 prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs in a mixture of single and shared cells. There are 5 main wings (A to E) plus a number of smaller specialist units.
Facilities include book rooms on all wings and a fully equipped gym.
Wormwood Scrubs Prison has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to prisoners.
Education and work
Prisoners can choose from a broad range of learning opportunities, including:
- english
- maths
- information and communication technology (ICT)
- english for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
- catering
- customer service
- barbering
- rail-track laying
There are several contract workshops at Wormwood Scrubs where prisoners can gain work experience and qualifications, including industrial cleaning, laundry, and textiles.
Support for family and friends
Contact point for families & significant others: [email protected].
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 020 8588 3200 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 | 0208 588 3216 | 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. |
| Health concerns | 0117 240 1193 | If you have a health concern about someone in HMP Wormwood Scrubs, call the Prisoner Health Information and Liaison Line (Call PHILL) to speak to the health team confidentially. |
| 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 contact Wormwood Scrubs.
Independent inspections
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Wormwood Scrubs in response to independent inspections.
Contact Wormwood Scrubs
Governor: Amy Frost
Telephone: 020 8588 3200
Fax: 020 8588 3201
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Road
London
W12 0AE
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2 minute survey.
Updates to this page
Published 2 June 2020Last updated 30 October 2024 + show all updates
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Updated visits booking line opening times.
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Updated dress code information, information about prohibited items for legal/professional visits and weekend visiting dates and times.
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Added translation
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Updated weekend visiting times running from Nov to Feb.
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Weekend visits calrified with new date from Nov to Feb.
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Update to the out of hours safer custody phone number.
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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: 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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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Visits update
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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 coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Added confirmation of secure video calls made available at this prison.
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Updated governor name
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First published.