Isle of Wight Prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-03)

Isle of Wight is a high security men’s prison, set across 2 sites (Albany and Parkhurst), just outside Newport, Isle of Wight.

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Book and plan your visit to Isle of Wight

To visit someone at the Isle of Wight prison you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit 24 hours in advance
- have the required ID (#entering-isle-of-wight) 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 Isle of Wight prison.

Contact Isle of Wight (#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 Isle of Wight prison
- Somewhere to stay overnight
- Meals
How to book family and friends visits

You can book a visit by calling the booking line on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Booking line opening times are:
- Monday to Thursday: 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 4:15pm
- Friday: 10am to midday and 1pm to 4pm
How to book official visits

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

Official video visit times:
- Every day: 9:30am to 10am, 10:30am to 11am, 2pm to 2:30pm and 3pm to 3:30pm
To book an official face to face visit, you can:
- email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- telephone xx-xxxx-xxxx
The booking line operates:
- Monday to Thursday, 10am to midday and 1pm to 4:15pm
- Friday, 10am to midday and 1pm to 4pm
Official face to face visit times:
- Friday, 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday, 2pm to 4pm
Travel advice: don’t book your ferry to the Isle of Wight until you have email confirmation of your visit (see, Getting to Isle of Wight (#getting-to-isle-of-wight) for more details).

Getting to Isle of Wight

Find Isle of Wight on a map (https://xxx@xxx.xx,-1.3076508,17z)

If coming by public transport, you will need to take a ferry from one of the ports at Lymington, Portsmouth or Southampton. To plan your journey to the port:
- use National Rail Enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)
- use Traveline for local bus times (https://www.traveline.info/)
From there, take a ferry to the Isle of Wight. Don’t book your ferry until you have email confirmation of your visit.

To plan your ferry crossing use:
- Red Funnel Ferries (https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/), telephone xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Wight Link (https://www.wightlink.co.uk/), telephone xx-xxxx-xxxx
- Hover Travel (https://www.hovertravel.co.uk/), telephone 01983 811 000
Once on the island get a bus (https://www.islandbuses.info/) or take a taxi from the ferry port taxi rank to the prison.

There is parking on both Albany and Parkhurst sites with Blue Badge spaces available.

Entering Isle of Wight

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 searched before entering the prison.

You will also be searched using the passive drug dog (when available) which can lead to a full search and/or a closed visit.

If you refuse to be searched, you will be denied access to the prison.

Isle of Wight has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes. That means no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons. Religious headwear will be searched in a discreet area.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Isle of Wight. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (£1 refunded) or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

The only things you can take into the visiting hall are money (in coins), prescribed medication (handed to the desk officer), certain baby feeding items and disability aids.

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

Barnardo’s (https://www.barnardos.org.uk/) runs a visitors centre for both sites at the Albany site car park.

The centre provides information, support and guidance. You can purchase refreshments during your visit. You are allowed to bring in coins (no notes) for purchases. There is a children’s play area available to use.

It offers useful information packs for first-time visitors and emotional and practical support after a visit.

Family days

There are currently no family days being run.

Keep in touch with someone at Isle of Wight

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

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)

Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their cells but the phones do not accept incoming calls. They will always have to call you and need to buy phone credit to do this.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family between the hours of 7am and 10pm. 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 to keep the public and prisoners safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Isle of Wight 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 Isle of Wight.

Letters

You can write at any time but you must include your name and address within the letter. Anonymous letters are not allowed.

Write the prisoners’ full name and prisoner number (if known) on the envelope.

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by prison staff.

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

Prisoners are given a small list of items that can be sent in to them. They need written approval beforehand.

Once this approval has been given, make sure to include the prisoner’s name and number on the parcel.

All parcels will be opened, checked and X-rayed 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 Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight is committed to providing a safe, secure and decent rehabilitative environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them in custody and on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoners at Isle of Wight has a right to feel safe.

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).

The staff are responsible for prisoners safeguarding and welfare, and the Governor is ultimately responsible for staff and prisoners at all times.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Isle of Wight, and their pin phone account is activated, they will be able to call a family member. This call could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.

If they can’t make the call, staff will make contact on their behalf.

The prisoner will also 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 Isle of Wight 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 and risk reduction
Everyone also finds out about the rules, regime, equalities, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

There are over 1,000 prisoners at the Isle of Wight prison, housed in a mixture of single and double cells.

It consists of 2 former prisons (HMP Parkhurst and HMP Albany). On the Albany site, there are 7 wings and on Parkhurst there are 8.

Both sites have healthcare units, a gym and pastoral care.

Education and work

The prison provides a number of courses for prisoners convicted of sex offences.

Milton Keynes College offers a wide range of education, including degree courses and vocational training.

Prisoners can work in wood mills, textile shops, print shops, gardens and waste workshops.

Organisations Isle of Wight works with

There is support, education and help at the prison from:
- Barnardos
- Good Vibrations
- Changing Tunes
- Milton Keynes College
- Isle of Wight council
- Story Book Dads
- Shannon Trust
- Open University
- Prison Education Trust
- Care UK healthcare
- DARTS
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).

Barnardo’s (https://www.barnardos.org.uk/) offers further support, if needed.

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 Isle of Wight (#contacts).

Inspection reports

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

Contact Isle of Wight

Governor: Doug Graham

Telephone: 01983 634 000 24 hours Fax: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Follow Isle of Wight on Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/HMPIOW)

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Address

HMP Isle of WightAlbany HouseNewportIsle of WightPO30 5RS

See map (https://xxx@xxx.xx,-1.3076508,17z)

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a prisoner in Isle of Wight, call the safer custody hotline which is checked regularly each day.

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Leave your name, telephone number, the reason for your call and the name and prisoner number of the prisoner you’re worried about. You should be called back within 24 hours.

In an emergency, call the switchboard.

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