HMP Stafford

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6505 Find out about call charges

The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.

Visiting times

The visits centre is open on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from midday to 4:30pm.

Booking in for visitors starts at midday to 3pm.

You can book all non-legal official video visits by email, [email protected]

Find Stafford Prison on a map

There are no direct services to the prison, but buses stop at Sainsbury’s in Chell Road, only a short walk away. The bus station (Queensway) is also very close to the prison.

On leaving the station (Stafford connects to Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, London Euston on the West Coast main-line), you can either take a taxi or walk.

Use the pelican crossing, then turn left and follow the road around into Victoria Road, keeping to the right-hand side of the road. Cross at the mini-island and take the pedestrian walkway (straight on) past the Crown Court.

Cross the road into St. Mary’s Passage and follow the path, keeping St. Mary’s Church on your left. On entering the town, turn left at McDonald’s and walk straight through the town centre until you come to Queensway (The Ring Road).

You will see Starbuck’s Café on your right. Cross the first three lane road (Pelican crossing) and turn right, following the path to the second two lane road (Pelican crossing).

On crossing the road, turn left, keeping the railings on your left. Walk straight up Gaol Road, with the prison wall on your right.

You will see a zebra crossing, nearly opposite the main prison gate. Cross over the road and turn left into County Road.

The visits centre entrance is immediately on your left, in the large three floor building.

If you are using sat nav, the postcode to use is ST16 3AW. Leave the M6 motorway at Junction 14 and take the Eccleshall Road (2nd exit from the North and 3rd exit from the South). Follow the road for 1 mile and you will reach an island, taking the third exit for Town Centre.

Take the nearside lane and turn left at the traffic lights into Browning Street. At the mini roundabout, take the third exit onto Gaol Road. Pass the petrol station on your left and the main prison gate will be on your left.

There is a small public pay and display car park opposite the prison gate.

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.

This site provides more detailed information about many topics (booking, visits times, directions, facilities, dress code and so on) linked to visiting someone in prison, so we would recommend having a look, before visiting.

HMP Stafford operates a biometrics system to identify visitors.

If it is your first visit, the PACT staff will explain the system, which requires you to place your index finger onto a reader, followed by standing still and having your image taken.

You will be allowed to use a locker, to keep any unauthorised items which are not allowed into the prison. This includes items such as excess money, mobile phones, medication, shopping and so on.

You will be allowed to take your ID, locker key and money, up to the value of £30, to enable you to purchase refreshments, sweets etc. in the Visits Hall.

Essential medication can be taken into the prison. You must notify the visits centre staff that you need this.

You will be required to pass the medication to the senior officer in the visits hall before you go to your allocated table. They will keep it safely for you, until you require it.

Disabled visitors can use a toilet within the prison gate and adjacent to the visits hall.

The car park adjacent to the visits centre has a number of designated disabled parking spaces. As the visits hall is on the first floor, disabled visitors may wish to use the lift.

We have a number of tables which provide more space for wheelchair users.

If you have a sight or hearing disability, please indicate to the visits centre staff that you may need assistance. We will be very pleased to assist you in any way we can, to ensure that you can gain full and safe access into and out of the establishment.

There are baby changing facilities within the visits centre and visits hall.

We can accommodate pushchairs, however we would request that you do not bring large prams, given the lack of access and space within certain areas of the prison.

If you are bringing young children or babies, we will allow bottles and dummies to go into the prison. Please ensure that you have necessary food and/or refreshments for babies, before entering the prison.

Once you have left the visits centre, please cross Gaol Road (via the zebra crossing) to your right. The entrance into the prison for visitors is through the door to the left of the main vehicle gate.

Once inside, you will be subject to a search by prison staff. They will explain the search procedures to you. It is similar to when you go to an airport, passing through a metal detection portal and a pat-down search.

You may also be subject to a passive drug dog search, in relation to unauthorised items.

You will pass into the visits hall and be allocated a table, where your visits will take place.

Visits staff will give a verbal indication to you 5 minutes before the visits session is due to finish. We try to optimise the amount of contact time you have with your loved one, given the time and effort is has taken for visitors to travel to HMP Stafford.

At the end of the visit, you will return to the visits centre, following the same route as when you entered. Please ensure that you collect all of your possessions before you travel home.

Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £30 to buy refreshments and food from the canteen.

If you visit a family member, partner or someone who does not get other visitors, you may be able to get help paying for travel to the prison, overnight accommodation and meals.

You can find additional information about this by emailing: [email protected] or via telephone: 0300 063 2100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or by writing to Help with Prison Visits, PO Box 17594, Birmingham B2 2QP.

All visitors to prisons must follow a strict dress code.

HMP Stafford operates a family orientated visits policy.

A large number of visitors are accompanied by children and we want to foster a decent, safe and relaxed family environment for all of our visitors.

Our dress code reflects this aim so, for example, see-through, revealing clothing cannot be worn, nor clothing that displays offensive, abusive or insulting words or gestures.

Our staff will make decisions and judgements as to when clothing is inappropriate, taking account of decency and diversity.

Further information about our dress code is available within the visits centre and via the Barnardo’s staff.

Offensive, abusive, threatening words or behaviour towards staff within the Visits Centre and establishment will not be tolerated and may result in the visitor being asked to leave.

Consideration will also be given regarding the suspension of future visits.

Lewd or inappropriate behaviour within the visits hall, may also result in similar action.

There is a leaflet available within the visits centre, offering further details and information, linked to visiting at HMP Stafford. Please ask the PACT staff for a printed copy.

The visits centre staff will need certain information from you on arrival. They will check that you have a confirmed booking to visit, via the visits booking line.

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.

Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £30 in coins (notes are not allowed). Refreshments are available to purchase in the visiting hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Stafford Prison. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a £1 coin) 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.

There is a visitors centre run by PACT, Family and friends can relax, buy refreshments from the tea bar and get advice and support from the staff. There is a play area for children and baby changing facilities.

The centre is open from midday to 4:30pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

You can call the visits centre on 01785 773132. Find out about call charges

HMP Stafford hold 6 family days a year. Normally bimonthly, the dates are based on the Staffordshire school holiday timetable.

We make dates available each January for the year ahead as to give our prisoners plenty of time to make the necessary application and to inform their visitors.

The family day is held over a longer period than normal visiting days, 10am to 4pm.

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

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. 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 Stafford prison using the Email a Prisoner service.

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

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, call the booking line on 0300 060 6505.

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