HMP/YOI Elmley
Kent, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Group
HMP/YOI Elmley is a Category B / Category C men's prison in Kent. If someone you care about is here, this page brings together what matters most — visiting, keeping in touch and finding support — in plain, practical English.
Start here
Most people come here for one of three reasons. Pick the one that fits.
Visiting
Visiting takes a little planning. You'll usually need to book ahead, be on the person's visitor list and bring the right ID. The visiting times, how to book and what to expect are below — along with help if it's your first visit or money is tight.
Social visiting times
| Day | Available sessions |
|---|---|
| Monday |
1:45pm–4pm
|
| Tuesday |
1:45pm–4pm
|
| Wednesday |
1:45pm–4pm
|
| Thursday |
1:45pm–4pm
|
| Friday |
1:45pm–4pm
|
| Saturday |
1:45pm–4pm
|
| Sunday |
1:45pm–4pm
|
Always confirm visiting times when you book — they can change at short notice.
Official video visit times (hourly slots)
Official face to face visiting times
Before you go — checklist
- Be on the person's approved visitor list
- Book in advance and bring valid photo ID
- At least one visitor must be 18 or over
Visitor centre & family support
Run on site by Prison Advice & Care Trust (Pact) — a warm welcome, plus practical and emotional support for families and friends.
If you’re on a low income you may be able to claim back the cost of visiting a partner or close relative in prison.
Travel
Cheapest public transport fare, or 20p per mile by car (30p in Scotland). Car hire up to £40 a day.
Meals
£3.50 to £5.10 towards food for journeys lasting more than 5 hours.
Overnight stay
£28–£34 per adult and £14–£17 per child where an overnight stay is approved in advance.
Who can get it
You must be the prisoner’s spouse, civil partner or partner, a close relative (child, parent, grandparent or sibling, including step and adoptive), their named next of kin, or their sole visitor.
You also need to get one of:
- Universal Credit — if your household gets no more than £1,250 a month (excluding housing costs)
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- A valid NHS HC2 certificate (or partial help with an HC3 certificate)
How to claim
- Apply online, or by post, phone or email.
- You can claim for visits made in the last 28 days or planned for the next 28 days.
- You’ll need the prisoner number, your National Insurance number, your receipts/tickets and a visiting order stamped by the prison.
You can usually get help with one visit every 2 weeks.
Helpline open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
More support for families
- Prisoners’ Families Helpline — 0808 808 2003 — free, confidential advice
- Pact: first-time families guide — Help with prison visit costs
- NICCO: Assisted Prison Visits Scheme — Directory entry
Rates and rules can change — always check the latest details on GOV.UK before you travel.
More about visiting
To visit someone in Elmley you must
- be on that person’s visitor list. (You can call the booking line to be added.)
- book your visit in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go. Photo ID is essential.
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
Prisoners on remand can have up to 12 visits each month, if there’s space. Once sentenced, visitors need a visiting order (VO) and will get 2 every 14 days. Prisoners with enhanced privileges will get 2 extra visits a month.
Contact Elmley if you have any questions about visiting.
To arrange a visit you can
- book your visit online
- telephone 01795 802 358
The booking lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Find out about call charges
For visits enquiries only you can call: 01795 802 195
On arrival you can book in at the visitor centre, check in opens from midday each day, the cut off for entry is 2:45pm.
The visits centre is open from 9am to 4:30pm, facilities are on site.
Weekends and bank holidays
- Visit centre opens at 9am
- Check in opens at midday
Cut off for entry and closing time remains the same.
To arrange an official video visit you can
- email [email protected]
- telephone 01795 802 373
The booking line opens, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
Find out about call charges
Two-hourly visits can be booked between midday and 2pm only.
Official face to face legal visits can be booked by email to [email protected].
Find Elmley on a map
When travelling to Elmley, avoid going via Elmley Nature Reserve.
If you are travelling via M2
- leave the motorway at junction five
- join the A249 towards Sheerness/Sheppey
- once over the Sheppey Crossing, follow signs towards Eastchurch and Leysdown
- at Eastchurch follow the local signs to HMP Elmley
The closest railway station is Sheerness. From there you can get a taxi or take the bus,
To plan your journey by public transport use
- National Rail Enquiries
- Traveline for local bus times
There is a free visitors car park.
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering Elmley Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
You can collect a waiting number from the visitors centre from 9am.
You can book in at the visitor office up to half an hour before your visiting time slot.
The office is open midday to 4:30pm.
- All visitors go through our EGS (Enhanced Gate Security) this process is similar to airport security (bag x-ray and metal portals).
- All visitors can be subject to a pat-down search, including children.
- You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
- Visitors must adhere to the prison dress code that applies when entering Elmley, please see the dress code below.
- There are strict controls on what you can take into Elmley. You will have to leave all the things you have with you in a locker, apart from items required for infants and medication is subject the individual concerned and to our security processes. Elmley is cash only and each adult visitor can take up to £60 each to spend on Hot and Cold refreshments throughout the duration of your visit.
- Call the booking line or 01795 802 195 if you have any questions about visiting.
You will not be allowed to enter HMP Elmley wearing any of the following
- steel toe-capped boots or shoes with exposed metal parts
- high vis PPE/ work uniforms
- cycle or motorcycle shoes or boots
- stiletto or platform shoes
- gloves, hats, scarves or any headgear that is not worn on religious grounds. (Babies bonnets are acceptable but must be removed by parent for searching)
- sunglasses (unless prescription glasses)
- smart watches of any kind, including fitness trackers
- clothing that has offensive, racial or sexist logos, words or pictures
- clothing made by Hoodrich, Criminal Damage or AYEgear
- excessively revealing clothing, which includes: very short skirts/dresses above the knee shorts that are shorter than mid-length hotpants and running shorts see through tops, crop tops and strapless tops (modestly strapped tops are accepted) unitard jumpsuit/ tight jumpsuit enhancing leggings / shorts
- visible or exposed underwear of any kind (with exception of brassier straps in the shoulder area)
- ripped clothing for the torso
- ripped jeans above the knee will not be allowed
- excessively large metal hair accessories
- helmets of any kind (except medical issue)
- football shirts and sports shirts with team names
- double layers of clothing below the waist
- very short skirts/dresses above the knee
- shorts that are shorter than mid-length
- hotpants and running shorts
- see through tops, crop tops and strapless tops (modestly strapped tops are accepted)
- unitard jumpsuit/ tight jumpsuit
- enhancing leggings / shorts
Please follow the dress code to prevent being turned away.
Clothing cannot be removed during the visits session and visitors must make sure they are comfortably dressed before they enter the visitor searching area.
This list is not exhaustive. All enquiries should be directed in the first instance to the staff in the visitors centre or visits senior officer.
- Vending machines are available in the visiting centre.
- Tea bar selling hot and cold refreshments in the visits hall in the prison.
- Male / female / disabled WC and baby changing areas in both the visits centre and hall.
- There is an unsupervised children’s activities area inside the visitor’s centre and inside the prison we have a Soft Play supervised area. (terms and conditions are available on arrival) Children permitted entry will be subject to height restrictions and will be issued a wrist band, no shoes allowed but all children will wear socks during play.
- Disabled access to the prison is in place including parking.
Elmley run 12 family visits a year. Details on how these visits run can be found in the visitor centre or by asking in staff in the visits hall. Applications can be completed and handed to the staff in the visits centre.
Keep in touch
There are several ways to stay close between visits — phone calls, secure video calls, emails and letters. How each one works at this prison is explained below.
Secure video calls
Many prisons offer secure video calls so you can see each other between visits.
How video calls work on GOV.UKMany prisons use the Email a Prisoner service — you pay a small fee per message and can sometimes pay for a reply.
Phone calls
The person inside can only call numbers on their approved list, and most calls are monitored. With Prison Voicemail you can leave a message for them to call you back.
Letters
You can write as often as you like — put the prisoner’s number on the envelope. Most post is checked by staff.
More about keeping in touch
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Elmley.
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
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 the Prison Video app works
Prisoners have phones in their cells but can only make outgoing calls so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this. They can be used between 6am and 10:30pm.
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.
You can send emails to someone in Elmley using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Elmley.
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 use, www.gov.uk/find-prisoner.
All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.
Money & gifts
You can send money to someone here, and there are rules about gifts and parcels. Below is how to send money safely and what you're allowed to send.
How to send money
- 1 Use the free GOV.UK "Send money to a prisoner" service with a debit card (Visa, Mastercard or Maestro) — credit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted.
- 2 You’ll need the prisoner’s number and their date of birth.
- 3 Money usually arrives in less than 3 working days, but it can take up to 5.
If you can’t use the online service
No debit card? You can set up a basic bank account to get one.
Can’t use a computer or the internet? You can apply for an exemption to send money by post — this is only granted in exceptional circumstances.
Rules can change — check GOV.UK for the latest details before you send money.
Life inside
Knowing what daily life is like can be a real comfort. Here's what to expect — arriving and the first night, where people live, and the education, work and support on offer.
Education & work
Learning, training and work that help someone build skills and a future for release.
Daily routine
Arriving and the first night, where people live and how the day is structured.
Support for families
Having a loved one in prison is hard. You don't have to manage it alone — these services are free and confidential.
Prison Advice & Care Trust (Pact)
Worker: Helen New
[email protected]Helpline: 0808 808 2003
Visit websitePrisoners' Families Helpline
Confidential advice and a listening ear, whatever stage you're at.
0808 808 2003 Free to callWho do I contact?
There are different numbers and inboxes depending on what you need — we've grouped them by what you're trying to do.
Call the prison Phone
01795 802 358The main switchboard for questions about visiting or the person inside.
Safety or wellbeing concern Phone
01795 802 433For serious but non-life-threatening concerns about a prisoner's safety. You can also complete a Safer Custody contact form.
Samaritans Phone
116 123Someone to talk to any time, day or night, if things are getting too much for you.
Open 24 hours, every dayReport a staff concern Phone
0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine)Anonymous, independent line if you're worried a prisoner is being mistreated by staff.
Stop unwanted contact Phone
0300 060 6699If a prisoner is contacting you and you want it to stop, use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service.
Complaints & correspondence Email
[email protected]Video calls Email
[email protected]Common questions
Most visits are booked free online through the GOV.UK 'Visit someone in prison' service. The person inside must add you to their visitor list first, which can take up to 2 weeks. You will need their prisoner number and date of birth, and the date of birth of everyone visiting. Some prisons take bookings by phone instead.
Everyone aged 16 or over needs valid photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. You will go through a security check, so leave phones, smart watches and bags in a locker (bring a £1 coin). You can usually take in a small amount of cash for refreshments, essential medication and basic baby items.
If you are on a low income you may be able to claim back travel costs through the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme, which can also help with meals and an overnight stay for longer journeys. You usually need to be a partner or close relative and getting certain benefits.
Send money online for free using the GOV.UK 'Send money to a prisoner' service and a debit card. You will need the prisoner's number and date of birth, and it usually arrives within 3 working days.
You can keep in touch by phone, secure video call, email and letters. Video calls are set up through the Prison Video or Purple Visits app, and many prisons use the Email a Prisoner service for messages.
A family-support charity runs visitor support at HMP/YOI Elmley, offering a warm welcome, practical advice and someone to talk to. You can also call the Prisoners' Families Helpline free on 0808 808 2003.