Guidance

Hull Prison

Hull is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) for men over 18 just outside Hull, East Yorkshire.

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Book and plan your visit to Hull

To visit someone in Hull Prison you must:

  • be on that person’s visitor list
  • book your visit between 2 weeks and 24 hours 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 Hull prison.

Contact Hull Prison 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 Hull
  • somewhere to stay overnight
  • meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online.

You can book your visit by telephone.

Booking line: 01482 282 016
The booking line is open Monday to Friday: 8am to 12:30pm

Visiting times:

  • Monday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
  • Tuesday: 5:45pm to 6:45pm
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 5:45pm to 6:45pm
  • Friday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
  • Saturday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
  • Sunday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm

If you have any other queries, such as prisoner property, contact list additions, pin credit or finance, please call the switchboard on 01482 282 200.

The Grab bag phone line is no longer in operation. Grab bags can be purchased in person from the canteen on your visit.

You can book a legal visit by email: legalvisits.hull@justice.gov.uk mailbox is monitored Monday to Friday 8:30am to 12:30pm.

Legal Visit times:

  • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9am, 10am, 2pm and 3pm

Legal Video visit times:

  • Monday to Friday: 9:30am, 10:30am, 2pm and 3pm

Getting to Hull

Find Hull on a map

The closest railway station is Paragon Station, Hull. From there you can get a taxi or take the bus.

To plan your journey by public transport:

By car, head towards the ferry port and the prison is just before it. There is a free car park (number 4) for visitors on Southcoates Lane with 6 spaces for Blue Badge holders in front of the main gate.

There is a free visitors car park located at the rear of the Prison, Southcoates Lane.

Entering Hull

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.

Hull has a strict family friendly dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes. This means no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons. No multiple layers of clothing, no high boots or steel toe capped boots, no sportswear, no offensive slogans and no ripped or see-through clothing.

Refreshments are available to purchase during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into HMP Hull, including jewellery. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car - 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

In the visitor centre, there is a vending machine for hot drinks, baby changing facilities and disabled access. There is also a children’s play area. In the visiting hall, there is a canteen serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, snacks and sweets.

Family days

HMP Hull run numerous family visits throughout the year. Details on how these visits run can be obtained by contacting: Families.Hull@justice.gov.uk.

Keep in touch with someone at Hull

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

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 have phones in their cells but these do not accept incoming calls. They are able to make calls every day between 7:30am and 11pm. 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.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Hull using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

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 Hull.

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

People in Hull can apply for permission for visitors to hand in items during a visit.

All property will be opened and checked by officers. Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.

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.

Contact Hull for more information on what’s allowed.

Life at Hull

Hull 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 Hull 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 someone first arrives at Hull, 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 Hull 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 1,100 prisoners live at Hull across 6 houseblocks (A to F). Most prisoners share cells.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a broad programme of accredited and non-accredited learning opportunities provided by Novus. These range from basic skills, such as English and maths, to distance learning with The Open University, National Extension College and The Prison Education Trust.

The programme includes training in a variety of trades and professions, including:

  • English
  • Maths
  • Digital skills
  • ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)
  • Food preparation and cooking
  • Health & Safety
  • Food Safety
  • CSCS (Construction Health & Safety)
  • Joinery
  • Business
  • Art
  • Cleaning competencies
  • Support in preparing for employment upon release
  • Novus works
  • Distance learning

Employment and training are available throughout the establishment, in Industries, Kitchens and Gardens, whilst working in these areas prisoners can access accredited learning / training through vocational qualifications.

Hull also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programme courses.

Support for family, friends and significant others

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

To contact our head of family provision at HMP Hull email Families.Hull@justice.gov.uk.

Support at Hull

Lincolnshire Action Trust are the current providers for the family service. You can contact the team for any support, information and guidance by emailing families.hull@justice.gov.uk or you can call: 01482 282 574

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call 01482 282 200 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 01482 282 273 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 Hull.

Inspection reports

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

Contact Hull

Governor: S Mycroft

Telephone: 01482 282 200
Open 24 hours
Fax: 01482 282 403
Find out about call charges

Email: candc.hull@justice.gov.uk

Follow Hull on Twitter/X

Address

HMP Hull
Hedon Road
Hull
HU9 5LS

See map

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

Published 24 March 2020
Last updated 4 May 2023 + show all updates
  1. Updated information about education on offer to prisoners at HMP Hull

  2. Added legal visits and legal video call day and time slots

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

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

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

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

  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 visit info

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

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

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

  13. Covid-19 update

  14. Covid updates to visit times

  15. Added confirmation of secure video calling availability at this prison.

  16. added survey link

  17. Prison visits update.

  18. First published.