Guidance

Dartmoor Prison

Dartmoor is a men’s prison in Devon.

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Book and plan your visit to Dartmoor

To visit someone in Dartmoor 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. Maximum of 3 visitors will be allowed.

Most prisoners in Dartmoor are allowed up to 3 visits per month. You can check this with Dartmoor.

Contact Dartmoor 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 Dartmoor
  • somewhere to stay overnight
  • meals

How to book family and friends visits

Dartmoor is running a full visits schedule.

The maximum visit time is 2 hours.

You can book your visit online.

You can book your visit by telephone.

You can also register to use the secure video calls service.

Visits booking line: 01822 322 022

The booking line is open:

  • Monday to Friday: 10am to 12pm
  • Saturday: closed
  • Sunday: closed

Visiting times:

  • Monday: closed
  • Tuesday: closed
  • Wednesday: closed
  • Thursday: closed
  • Friday: 2:30pm to 4:30pm
  • Saturday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2:30pm to 4:30pm
  • Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2:30pm to 4:30pm

To improve your experience, and maximise your time, please can we ask that visitors arrive at the establishment to book in from the following times:

  • Morning session: 8:30am to 9am
  • Afternoon session: 1:30pm to 2pm

Legal Visits operate Monday to Friday from 9am to 3:15pm.

We can offer CVP (Cloud Video Platform) visits, telephone calls and in person visits.

Please contact 01822 322 408 or email LegalVisits.Dartmoor@justice.gov.uk for more information.

Face to Face legal visiting times

  • Monday to Friday: 9am to 3:15pm

Video link visits

To have a secure video call with someone at HMP Dartmoor you need to:

  • Download the Prison Video app
  • Create an account
  • Register all visitors
  • Add the prisoner to your contact list.

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.

  • Monday to Friday: 9am to 3:15pm

To have a secure video call with someone at HMP Dartmoor you need to:

  • Download the Prison Video app
  • Create an account
  • Register all visitors
  • Add the prisoner to your contact list.

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.

Video visits time slots

Video visits are running in the afternoon on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There are later slots available on Tuesdays, with the facility running until 6:15pm.

Getting to Dartmoor

Find Dartmoor on a map

The closest railway station is Plymouth which is around 16 miles from Dartmoor Prison. From there you can take a bus or taxi.

To plan your journey by public transport:

There is parking available onsite for visitors, including spaces near the front entrance for Blue Badge holders (to use this facility, please contact dartmoor@prisonadvice.org.uk in advance to arrange).

Entering Dartmoor

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.

Booking in for you visit is done in the external visitors centre, this process will be overseen by both prison and Pact staff.

All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Dartmoor has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).

Refreshments are available for purchase for during your visit; these can be ordered prior to your visit in the external visitors’ centre.

Unfortunately, late arrivals will not be able to purchase refreshment items.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Dartmoor. 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.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors’ centre outside of the prison, there are locker facilities to store personal items prior to entering the prison. The staff in there can provide you with information and you can buy drinks and snacks.

There is children’s play area within the visits centre.
Email: dartmoor@prisonadvice.org.uk

Family days

Family Days are operated through PACT. They can provide you with information and help.

Family visits take place once per month and there are two types of family visits. Child Centred Visits (CCVs) and Adult Only Visits (AOVs). CCVs are currently held 8 times per year and AOVs are held 4 times per year.

All applications to attend these visits must be made by the prisoner. Applications must be made using the PACT family visits application form, these can be found on the wings.

All applications for these visits are subject to approval by the Family visits committee, this is made up with representatives from various departments and its purpose to ensure fair and equal access.

Keep in touch with someone at Dartmoor

There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Dartmoor.

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.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners across the site now have phones in their cells; however, they will always have to call you, and they will need 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.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Dartmoor 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.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Dartmoor.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prison number, contact Dartmoor Prison.

All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You cannot send gifts and parcels to Dartmoor. Instead you can send money and the prisoner can purchase approved items.

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 send gifts and parcels to Dartmoor. Instead you can send money and the prisoner can purchase approved items.

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 Dartmoor

Dartmoor 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 Dartmoor 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.

If you have any concerns about a prisoner at Dartmoor, contact the Safer Custody team

Arrival and first night

When someone first arrives at Dartmoor, 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, ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs, and answer any initial questions they might have.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Dartmoor gets an induction that lasts about 2 weeks. 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 finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work. Everyone also has a gym induction.

Accommodation

Up to 689 Dartmoor prisoners are accommodated at HMP Dartmoor. The majority of cells are singular accommodation, and they all have a toilet, sink and furniture.

There are six residential units:

  • Arch Tor
  • Burra Tor
  • Down Tor
  • East Tor
  • Fox Tor
  • Granite Tor

It is a smoke-free site. Prisoners are integrated and live and work together in a supportive community.

Education and work

Prisoners at Dartmoor are encouraged to take part in meaningful activity and gain qualifications by enrolling into education and vocational training or work in one of the prison industries or domestic roles.

Dartmoor has a wide range of employment opportunities for prisoners. There is an emphasis on full-time employment, which is available in:

  • Catering
  • Gardens
  • Laundry
  • Textiles
  • Braille
  • Desktop Publishing
  • Concrete Creations
  • Furniture manufacture

The prisoners can also study for NVQ or City & Guilds vocational qualifications while they work.

Education is available full or part time. Opportunities range from basic skills to Open University courses. Vocational training includes:

  • Dry lining, brickwork and plastering
  • Painting and decorating

Dartmoor works with Weston College.

There are also offending behaviour courses include thinking skills, alcohol and violence programmes.

There are resettlement services that offer advice on housing, debt management and help with finding employment.

Temporary release

Dartmoor prison does offer a ROTL programme, however the eligibility criteria is prohibitive to the majority of our prisoner.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Support at Dartmoor

Family services at Dartmoor are provided by PACT.

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call 01822 322000 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 01822 322 111 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 unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Dartmoor.

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 Dartmoor in response to independent inspections.

Contact Dartmoor

Governor: Steve Mead Telephone: 01822 322 000
Fax: 01822 322 001
Head of Reducing Reoffending (Families Lead): Michael Walker Find out about call charges

Follow Dartmoor on Twitter/X

Address

Princetown
Yelverton
Devon
PL20 6RR

See map

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.

Published 19 November 2019
Last updated 2 August 2022 + show all updates
  1. Secure video calls update.

  2. Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

  3. Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.

  4. Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

  5. Updated physical contact guidance

  6. Revised visiting times added.

  7. New visiting times and booking information added.

  8. 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.

  9. Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.

  10. Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.

  11. Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.

  12. Updated information about secure video calls.

  13. Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

  14. Updated survey link

  15. Prison visits update

  16. First published.