Guidance

Hatfield Prison

Hatfield is a prison and young offender institution near Doncaster for men aged 18 and over. It is split into 2 sites, Hatfield Main and Hatfield Lakes.

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

Book and plan your visit to Hatfield

To visit someone in Hatfield you must:

  • be on that prisoner’s visitor list
  • book your visit at least 3 days in advance
  • have the required ID with you when you go

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have.

Call 01405 756509  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 Hatfield
  • somewhere to stay overnight
  • meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online, by telephone or by email, socialvisitshatfield@justice.gov.uk

Visits booking line: 01405 746 611.
The booking line is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 11:30am
Find out about call charges

Visiting times for HMP Hatfield:

Main site:

  • Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 4pm

Hatfield Lakes site:

  • Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 2pm to 4pm

Face to Face legal visits can only be booked by telephone using the visits booking line: 01405 746 611. Face to face legal visits will be accommodated on an ad-hoc basis.

Getting to Hatfield

Find Hatfield on a map

The prison is split over 2 sites, which are located approximately 4 miles apart:

HMP/YOI Hatfield (Main site)
Thorne Road
Hatfield
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN7 6EL

HMP/YOI Hatfield (Lakes site)
Lancaster Drive
Lindholme
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN7 6FA

Find Hatfield on a map

The closest stations to the prison are Thorne North and Thorne South but the service is limited and there is no taxi rank.

To plan your journey by public transport:

There is limited parking available onsite for visitors, including spaces in the main car park for Blue Badge holders.

Email: socialvisitshatfield@justice.gov.uk.

Entering Hatfield

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.

Whilst there is no routine searching of visitors, all visitors may receive a pat-down search prior to entering the visits hall this includes any children present. Security dogs may also be present at the time of visiting, and you may be sniffed by them.

Hatfield 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 during your visit at both sites.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Hatfield. You will be asked to place any items that are not permitted into lockers at the main gate. You can take in pushchairs, changing and feeding items for your baby.

Hatfield aims to provide an enjoyable visiting experience for families so expects you to be respectful and to always supervise your children.

You will be informed of 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.

Please call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.

Visiting facilities

Hatfield has a cafe in the visiting halls of both sites where you can buy hot and cold food and drinks.

Lockers are available for visitors to store items prior to entering the establishment.

At both sites there are areas set aside for children to play in.
Email: socialvisitshatfield@justice.gov.uk

Family days

HMP/YOI Hatfield runs several themed family days per year.

The days consist of family activities, crafts and quizzes themed around seasonal events.

Staff run the family days working in partnership with Reducing Re-offending, the Prison Advice and Care TrustNovus and other internal departments.

Keep in touch with someone at Hatfield

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Hatfield.

Secure video calls

HMP Hatfield is not currently able to facilitate secure video calls.

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their cells, they have phones on their landings which they are able to use to make outgoing calls, Prisoners will have to buy phone credits to make calls these can be purchased from their canteen, calls can be made anytime up to 10pm.

Prisoners can phone anyone named on their contact list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive and 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 HMP Hatfield Prison using EmailaPrisoner.com. Through this service, family and friends can send a message this is then 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.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the prisoner’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Hatfield.

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

Clothing and gifts cannot be sent into Hatfield, instead clothing is allowed to be exchanged during temporary release. Contact Hatfield for information on what’s allowed.

Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved one or they can order books direct from approved retailers, for the retailer to send directly to the prison.

For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Life at Hatfield

Hatfield is committed to pushing the boundaries and seeking new ways to improve and enhance resettlement in the community. The prison has an ethos of encouraging prisoners to take responsibility for their own lives while also respecting others.

If you have more general questions or concerns about how prisons operate and how prisoners are cared for you can find out more on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Hatfield 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 HMP Hatfield, contact the Safer Custody team  via telephone:

01405 756 509
Find out about call charges

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Hatfield, 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 person who arrives at Hatfield 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.

Everyone is given an induction booklet to keep for their own reference.

Accommodation

Hatfield is split across 2 sites, Hatfield Main site and Hatfield Lakes. The Lakes site is part of Hatfield but is 3 miles away, next to Lindholme Prison.

Hatfield Lakes is the smaller of the sites with 56 double cells. Prisoners can expect to spend their first 3 months at this site. Prisoners then get transferred to Hatfield Main which has 222 rooms.

There is a library and a gym at both sites.

Education and work

Prisoners at HMP Hatfield 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.

HMP Hatfield has purpose-built education suites offering training and education in:

  • industry - such as warehousing, maintenance, horticulture, recycling
  • retail - such as training as a barista or serving in the farm shop
  • charity - which is run by external companies such as Recycling Lives
  • physical education - such as recreational PE programmes, navigation awards, basketball and first aid

HMP Hatfield engage with a large and diverse portfolio of employers who offer paid employment to prisoners via temporary release.

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

Temporary release

At a suitable point after transfer, prisoners may access opportunities via release on temporary licence (ROTL). There is a full and robust risk assessment involving many partner agencies. ROTL allows prisoners to access work, further training and maintain family ties in the community.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

If you or a member of your family are under pressure to do anything against your will, please telephone this number. You can remain anonymous, and calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

Telephone: 01302 522 607

To contact our head of family provision at HMP/YOI Hatfield email: socialvisitshatfield@justice.gov.uk.

The Head of Reducing Reoffending is our Family and Significant Others (FaSO) lead and is responsible for our overarching FaSO strategy.

Support at Hatfield

Hatfield’s family support provider is the Prison Advice and Care Trust. There is a helpline which offers practical and emotional help and advice to anyone who is affected by imprisonment.

Telephone: 0808 808 3444
Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call 01405 746500 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 01405 746 509 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 Hatfield.

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Hatfield in response to independent inspections.

Contact Hatfield prison

Governor: Mick Mills

Telephone: (24 hours): 01405 746 500
Fax: 01405 746 501 Find out about call charges

Follow Hatfield on Twitter/X

Address

HMP/YOI Hatfield (Main site)
Thorne Road
Hatfield
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN7 6EL

See map

HMP/YOI Hatfield (Lakes site)
Lancaster Drive
Lindholme
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN7 6FA

See map

Telephone: 01302 524 600

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

Published 24 March 2020
Last updated 1 April 2022 + show all updates
  1. Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

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

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

  4. Updated rules for sending in money and gifts.

  5. Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.

  6. New visiting times and booking information added.

  7. Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

  8. Updated visit info

  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 coronavirus restrictions. 

  12. Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

  13. Updated: HMP Hatfield visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.

  14. added survey link

  15. Prison visits update.

  16. First published.