Isis prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-30)

Isis is a men’s prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Thamesmead, South East London. It is named Isis after the ancient name for the River Thames.

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Book and plan your visit to Isis

To visit someone in Isis you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit in advance
- have the required ID (#entering-isis) with you when you go
For all visits, at least one visitor must be 18 or older. Up to 3 adults and 3 children can visit, but spaces are limited so numbers may need to be restricted. Each visiting application is dealt with on a case by case. You will be informed if we are unable to accommodate the number of visitors in your group for your chosen visit session.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Isis prison.

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 Isis
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
Any help given might not cover the full cost of your travel.

How to book family and friends visits

Social and family visits can only be booked by the prisoner internally.

Visiting times:
- Tuesday, 2:30pm to 4pm
- Wednesday, 2:30pm to 4pm
- Thursday, 2:30pm to 4pm
- Saturday, 2:30pm to 4pm
- Sunday, 2:30pm to 4pm
How to book official visits

To arrange an official visit you can:
- email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- telephone xx-xxxx-xxxx
The booking line operates:
- Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to midday and 1pm to 5pm
- Friday, 8:30am to midday
Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Official video visits times:
- Monday to Friday, 10am to midday and 2:15pm to 3:45pm
Official face to face visit times:
- Tuesday to Thursday, 2:15pm to 3:15pm and 3:30pm to 4:15pm
- Wednesday, 2:15pm to 3:15pm and 3:30pm to 4:15pm
- Thursday, 2:15pm to 3:15pm and 3:30pm to 4:15pm
Getting to Isis

Find Isis on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,0.xx-xxxx-xxxx,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc0f0756caf279870!8m2!3d51.4978104!4d0.xx-xxxx-xxxx?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

The closest railway station is Plumstead, and DLR station is Woolwich Arsenal.

Local buses are 244 and 380.

To plan your journey by public transport:
- use Transport for London journey planner (https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/)
- use National Rail Enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)
There is a visitor car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Isis

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.

Isis has a strict dress code policy which means visitors should dress in a family-friendly way. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like:
- vests
- low-cut tops
- high-cut shorts or dresses
- ripped jeans
- hats
- scarves
- gloves
- bandanas
- high-heeled shoes
- metal toe cap boots
- see-through clothing
- excessively large metal hair accessories
- non-prescription glasses, that is: sunglasses
- items of clothing that display offensive abusive or insulting words or gestures
- shorts which are shorter than mid-thigh to knee length
- excessively revealing, that is, very short skirts/dresses
- see-through tops
- visible or exposed underwear (with exception of brassier straps in the shoulder area)
- ripped clothing where the rips are in the torso, buttocks area or crotch/groin area or less than 5 inches away from the crotch/groin or buttocks area
- helmets of any kind (except medical issue)
- smart watches of any kind including fitness trackers
- footwear with plastic or metal tags that resemble property tags
- steel toe capped shoes/boots
- cycle/motorcycle shoes
- football shirts
- anything with offensive patterns or slogans
Call the visits booking line if you have any questions about the dress code.

An adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £20 in coins. Two or more visitors can take £40 in coins.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Isis. 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 Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) (https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/hmp-yoi-isis) charity. Full visiting facilities are now available including the serving of refreshments during social visits and a children’s play area.

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Sunday, midday to 5:00pm Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Family days

We aim to provide four family days a year: Easter, Summer Holidays, October half-term and Christmas holidays.

These will be divided by one family visit per residential unit.

Keep in touch with someone at Isis

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

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their cells so they are able to call you. 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 (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 Isis using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

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

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

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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call)

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 Isis (#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 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 (https://send-money-to-prisoner.service.gov.uk/help/apply-for-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 Isis are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Isis (#contacts) for more information on what’s allowed.

In the first 28 days, prisoners can apply to get a clothing parcel handed in. They can apply for another after 6 months. Parcels can be handed in at visits.

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 Prison education and library services, Annex A (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-education-and-library-services-for-adult-prisons-in-england/annex-a-sending-and-handing-in-of-books-to-prisoners).

Life at Isis

Isis 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 Isis 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 someone first arrives at Isis, 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 Isis 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 also finds out about the rules, fire safety and how things like calls, biometric application kiosks and visits work.

Accommodation

Around 600 prisoners live at Isis in 2 house blocks called Thames and Meridian. There is a mixture of single and double cells.

Facilities include a gym, education and vocational training centre, segregation unit and fitness academy.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to education and training provided by Novus (https://www.novus.ac.uk/).

They can get academic qualifications, as well as certificates in a broad range of work-related subjects, including:
- construction
- waste management
- bicycle repair
- barbering
- industrial cleaning
- catering
- media and reprographics
- broadcasting and media studies
- English for students of other languages
Isis runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programmes (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/offending-behaviour-programmes-and-interventions).

Prisoners also have the opportunity to apply for jobs in almost all aspects of prison life. Those who do a learning and development qualification can apply for jobs as mentors and peer group workers.

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).

Support at Isis

Family support in the visitor centres, family days, family group work and one to one case work around family issues is all provided by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) (https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/).

Specialist staff and voluntary workers make sure that friends and families get a warm welcome. They offer emotional support and practical information about prison life and procedures.

Extra individual support and information packs can be given to first time visitors.

Family group work is offered which focuses on how fathers can build and maintain healthy relationships with their families while in prison. They help prisoners to set realistic goals for family life, to consider the practical and emotional impact on themselves and their families and how to deal with them.

Oxleas (http://oxleas.nhs.uk/) also provides family-focused sessions about issues such as drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, wellbeing, relationships, communication, resilience and family group conferencing. It can also refer family members on to relevant services they may find useful.

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call xx-xxxx-xxxx 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 Isis (#contacts).

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Isis (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/isis-prison-action-plan) in response to independent inspections.

Contact Isis

Governor: Emily Thomas

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm Weekends: 7am to 5pm Fax: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Address

HMP/YOI IsisWestern WayThamesmeadSE28 0NZ

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,0.xx-xxxx-xxxx,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc0f0756caf279870!8m2!3d51.4978104!4d0.xx-xxxx-xxxx?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/hmpisis/).