Huntercombe Prison - GOV.UK

Publish date: 2024-05-04

Book and plan your visit to Huntercombe

To visit someone in Huntercombe you must:

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a person can have. You can check this with Huntercombe.

Contact Huntercombe 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:

How to book family and friends visits

Huntercombe is running a limited visits schedule. Visits are also happening differently than normal, observing strict guidelines, which must be followed.

You can book your visit by telephone. There is no online booking service available.

Booking line: 01491 643195

The booking line is open: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 10am to 12pm

Visiting times:

You should aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your visit. Anyone arriving after 3:30pm will not be admitted.

Legal visits are on Tuesday mornings and can be booked by email: legalvisits.huntercombe@justice.gov.uk

Getting to Huntercombe

Find Huntercombe on a map

The closest railway station is Henley-on-Thames which is about 7 miles from the prison. You can take a bus or taxi from the station.

To plan your journey by public transport:

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

Entering Huntercombe

All visitors aged 16 and older need to bring valid ID, such as:

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

Huntercombe has a family-friendly dress code which means visitors should dress appropriately. You will be turned away if you are wearing revealing clothing like low-cut tops or ripped jeans. Additionally, you cannot wear anything with offensive patterns or slogans, football shirts or uniforms. Ask in the visitors centre if you have questions about the dress code.

There will be no refreshments available during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Huntercombe. 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 where family and friends can relax before they enter the visiting hall. There will be no refreshments on offer during your visit.

The visiting hall includes a baby changing facility. All areas are wheelchair friendly.

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) offers practical advice and emotional support to friends and family of men in prison.

Telephone: 01491 643 328
Find out about call charges

Keep in touch with someone at Huntercombe

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

Secure video calls

Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends need to download the purple visits app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their rooms 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. 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 Huntercombe using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name, date of birth and prisoner number on the envelope.

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.

Gifts and parcels

Friends and family can send books to prisoners. They must be bought and sent from approved retailers: Waterstones, WH Smith or Amazon.

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

It’s not possible to send any other items or property. You can send prisoners money instead which they can use to buy items through a catalogue system.

Life at Huntercombe

Huntercombe is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

It accommodates foreign national men with between 3 and 30 months left to serve and provides liaison and forums with Home Office Immigration Enforcement.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Huntercombe has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board.

Huntercombe also works with the Samaritans to train prisoners to be Listeners for those who need support during difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Huntercombe, 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 Huntercombe gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Around 480 men live at Huntercombe in a mixture of single and shared rooms.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities, ranging from basic skills, such as English and maths, to higher learning and qualifications. Vocational training is available in bricklaying, painting and decorating, industrial cleaning and kitchen work.

The gym offers a range of activities for prisoners of all physical abilities.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

Support at Huntercombe

Family Engagement support for Huntercombe is provided by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT).

Email: huntercombe@prisonadvice.org.uk

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem, please write to the Governor.

If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.

Governor: David Redhouse

Telephone: 01491 643 100
Fax: 01491 643 101
Find out about call charges

Follow Huntercombe on Twitter

Address

HMP Huntercombe
Nuffield
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 5SB

See map

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Huntercombe, contact the safer custody hotline. Leave as much information as possible and a telephone number for staff to call you back.

Email: safercustodyhuntercombe@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 01491 643 225
Find out about call charges

If it is not urgent, leave a message with your telephone number on the safer communities line on:

Telephone: 0345 039 0015

In an emergency, call the main prison telephone number and ask to speak to the orderly officer.

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