Guidance
Bure Prison
Bure is a prison near Norwich in Norfolk for men convicted of a sex offence.
Prison visits are temporarily suspended following instructions for people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. We will update here as soon as this changes. You can also follow @HMPPS on Twitter and read a rolling update page.
There are a number of other ways to contact someone in prison if you are unable to visit them. You can:
- leave a voice message using the Prison Voicemail Service
- send them an email using the email a prisoner service
- write to them
You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003.
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.
Book and plan your visit to Bure
To visit someone in Bure you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
Someone in Bure can have 2 or 3 visits a month depending on behaviour.
Contact Bure 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:
- travel to Bure
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
Alternatively, if you have been sent a visiting order in the post, you can also book by telephone.
Booking line: 01603 326 252
Tuesday, 8:30am to 12pm, 12:30pm to 4:15pm
Wednesday, 10am to 12pm, 12:30pm to 2pm
Thursday, 10am to 12pm, 12:30pm to 2pm
Friday, 12:30pm to 4:15pm
Saturday and Sunday, 8:30am to 12pm, 12:30pm to 4:15pm
Find out about call charges
Enquiries only: socialvisits.bure@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
Visiting times:
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 9:15am to 11:15am, 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 9:15am to 11:15am, 2pm to 4pm
How to book legal and professional visits
You must book at least 48 hours in advance.
Booking line: 01603 326 266
Fax: 01603 326 272
Monday to Friday, 9am to 12:30pm, 1:30pm to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times are Tuesday, 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm.
Getting to Bure
For sat nav purposes use postcode NR10 5AJ.
The closest railway station is Norwich, which is about 14 miles from Bure Prison. A subsidised bus, which picks up from the train and bus station, can be booked through the visitors centre on 01603 326 252.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Bure
All visitors aged 16 and older need to bring one of the following types of photo ID:
- passport
- driving licence
- benefit book
- senior citizen’s public transport pass
- annual public transport season ticket (with photo card)
- employer ID card (if it shows the name of the visitor and the employer)
- European Community identity card
If you do not have any of the above, a bank card together with a birth certificate, marriage certificate or rent book is acceptable.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children.
Bure has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should dress appropriately (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £20 in coins in a clear bag (notes are not allowed). The money can be used to buy food and drink from the tea bar in the visiting hall.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Bure. 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 friendly and welcoming visitors centre, run by Spurgeons. The visitors centre has a welcome desk, tea bar, TV, children’s play area and staff who can provide you with information.
In the visiting hall there is a tea bar and toys and activities for children.
Children’s visits
Children’s visits are held on a Friday afternoon, once a month. This is usually on the last Friday of the month, but sometimes moves to accommodate school holidays. The resident must apply for these.
Children’s visits are organised by Spurgeons to support fathers and grandfathers in maintaining relationships with their children or grandchildren. At these visits, you can move freely around the visiting hall and get involved in play activities as a family.
Keep in touch with someone at Bure
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a resident during their time at Bure.
Phone calls
Residents do not have phones in their rooms so they will always need to call you rather than you call them.
They can phone anyone named and approved 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.
Residents can call you as many times a day as they like (depending on their phone credit), but each call is limited to 15 minutes. They also have to wait 15 minutes to call again. They can call throughout the day until 6:45pm in the week and 5pm on weekends.
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 Bure using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos, depending on the rules at Bure.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Bure.
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.
You can also send:
- postal orders
- cheques
- cash
Postal orders and cheques should be made payable to ‘HMPPS’ and include the resident’s name and prisoner number on the back.
Gifts and parcels
People in Bure can only have books and clothing sent in. Clothing can only be sent during the last 6 months of a resident’s sentence. Contact Bure for more information on what’s allowed.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Residents can buy a variety of items for themselves through a catalogue system.
Life at Bure
Bure is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Bure has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
All safeguarding processes are overseen by Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board.
There’s a listener scheme for residents, overseen by the Samaritans, if they need a peer to talk to. There’s also a drop-in service for residents to get support.
Arrival and first night
When a resident first arrives at Bure, 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 Bure gets an induction that lasts about 3 days. They will meet professionals and peers 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 the chaplaincy team
- settling in at Bure and feeling safe
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Around 650 men live at Bure across 7 units.
Most rooms are single and have in-room toilets and sinks, personal safes, privacy locks and some have showers.
Education and work
Bure has a wide range of learning opportunities. Residents can gain further qualifications and learn practical skills, such as bricklaying.
Bure also offers specific behaviour programmes for men convicted of a sex offence.
Temporary release
Residents at Bure can apply for release on temporary licence (ROTL) if they fit the criteria. All applications are then assessed.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Bure
Families visiting Bure can get help from family support workers at the Spurgeons visitors centre. They can offer signposting and referrals if needed.
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem contact Bure. If you can’t resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
Contact Bure
Governor: Simon Rhoden
Telephone: 01603 326 000
Fax: 01603 326 001
Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm, Friday 8am to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Bure
Jaguar Drive
Badersfield
Norwich
Norfolk
NR10 5GB
Safer custody hotline
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Bure, call the safer custody hotline. The phone line is monitored 24 hours a day and all calls are treated as confidential.
Telephone: 01603 326 400
Find out about call charges
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.
Published 30 January 2020
Last updated 25 March 2020 + show all updates
Last updated 25 March 2020 + show all updates
-
Visits information updated
-
First published.