Prescoed Prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-10)

Prescoed is a men’s open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in the village of Coed-y-Paen, South Wales. It is managed jointly with Usk Prison.

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Book and plan your visit to Prescoed

To visit someone in Prescoed you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- have an appointment to visit
- have the required ID (#entering-prescoed) with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

Contact Prescoed (#contacts) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits), including:
- travel to Prescoed
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits

Prescoed is currently operating a limited visits schedule for family and friends. All family/friends visits are now generated internally by written application from the person you wish to visit. There is no online booking service available.

Visiting times:
- Wednesday, 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday, 2pm to 4pm
How to book official visits

To arrange an official visit you can telephone, 01291 675131.

The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to midday and 2pm to 4pm

Official video visits:

To book an official video visit, you can email, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Official video visit time slots:
- Monday to Friday, 9am to midday and 2pm to 4pm
Video visits must be booked using a CJSM email account. You will be asked to provide proof of identification at the point of booking with a prisoner. You will also require ID at your appointment time for all visits.

Official visit face to face time slots:
- Monday to Friday, 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm
All electronic equipment such as laptops, must be pre-authorised and have a visible factory printed serial number for entry. You can query any issues with the booking team.

Getting to Prescoed

Find Prescoed on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.9414967,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x71290068aa09618e!8m2!3d51.6856926!4d-2.9414967?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

Prescoed is about 5 miles from Pontypool, New Inn and Cwmbran stations. There are no local bus services so you will need to take a taxi from the station to Prescoed.

To plan your journey by public transport, use National Rail Enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/).

There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Prescoed

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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/management-of-security-at-visits-policy-framework-open-estate/acceptable-forms-of-identification-id-when-visiting-a-prison-in-england-and-wales-annex-a).

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

Visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like revealing clothing or clothing with offensive slogans. Ask at the visitors centre if you have questions about appropriate dress.

Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £20 which can be used to buy food and drink from the coffee shop in the visiting hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Prescoed. 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 run by the Invisible Walls (https://invisiblewalls.co.uk/) services. Family and friends can relax and get advice and support from the staff.

The centre opens at 1:15pm on visiting days.

Telephone: 01291 675 056 Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Family days

HMP Prescoed runs 10 family days each year – 8 are held in school holidays and 2 are adult visits in term time.

Dates are published internally for the prisoners at Prescoed to apply and book.

Keep in touch with someone at Prescoed

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

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app (https://prisonvideo.com/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.

Read more about how it works (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call)

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 from 6am to 11:55pm, daily. 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 (https://prisonvoicemail.com/).

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 Prescoed using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

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

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 Prescoed (#contacts).

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 (https://www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money).

You can also send postal orders and cheques. These should be made payable to ‘NOMS Agency’ and include the person’s name and prisoner number on the back.

Gifts and parcels

Prescoed does not normally accept items sent to prisoners by post. Prisoners can apply for permission under special circumstances.

You can send prisoners money instead which they can use to buy items through a catalogue system.

Contact Prescoed (#contacts) for more information.

Life at Prescoed

Prescoed 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 Prescoed 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 (https://www.prisonersfamilies.org/pages/category/need-urgent-help?Take=24).

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Prescoed, 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 Prescoed gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will be given talks by some of the governors and 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

Up to 260 prisoners live at Prescoed, across 11 accommodation blocks. There are a mixture of single and shared cells. There are dining facilities, a library and a barber shop.

Prisoners have access to a gym and sports hall and can take part in a varied programme of activities.

Prescoed also 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 English, Welsh and maths, to higher learning and qualifications. The programme also includes training in a variety of trades and professions, including:
- health and safety
- food safety
- computing skills
- drug awareness
- bricklaying
- barbering
Most work at Prescoed is provided by the local Cilwrgi Farm, where prisoners perform a variety of roles and gain professional experience and qualifications.

Prisoners can also take courses in recycling and waste management at the waste management unit.

Temporary release

Prisoners may be considered for temporary release with the proper checks and planning. Day release and overnight release can be granted to help prisoners maintain family and community ties and prepare for leaving prison.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends (https://www.gov.uk/support-for-families-friends-of-prisoners).

To contact our reducing reoffending team please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Support at Prescoed

Family services at Prescoed are provided by G4S (https://www.g4s.com/en-gb/what-we-do/care-and-rehabilitation-services/care-and-rehabilitation-services).

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call 01291 675026 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem, contact Prescoed (#contacts).

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Prescoed (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usk-and-prescoed-prisons-action-plan) in response to independent inspections.

Contact Prescoed

Governor: Rob Denman

Telephone (24 hours): 01291 675 000 Fax: 01291 675 158 Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Address

HMP PrescoedCoed-y-PaenPontypoolMonmouthshireNP4 0TB

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.9414967,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x71290068aa09618e!8m2!3d51.6856926!4d-2.9414967?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey (https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/prescoed/).

Helpwch ni i wella’r dudalen hon. Rhowch eich adborth i ni yn yr arolwg 2 funud hwn (https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/prescoed-prison/).