Channings Wood Prison
Channings Wood is a men’s prison near Newton Abbot in Devon.
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Book and plan your visit to Channings Wood
To visit someone in Channings Wood 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.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Channings Wood.
Contact Channings Wood 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 Channings Wood
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
You can book your visit by telephone.
Booking line: 01803 812060
Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 2:30pm
Find out about call charges
Or email: socialvisits.channingswood@justice.gov.uk.
Visiting times:
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
Saturday and Sunday visits alternate between prisoners in the main prison and the vulnerable prisoners unit. The booking line can advise you on the appropriate weekend day to visit.
The visiting entitlement is one hour only, between the hours of 2pm to 4pm, however we will endeavour to allow you to have as much time as possible.
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits are by appointment only.
Video links
Channings Wood accept video links for the courts, probation interviews, legal visits and inter-prison visits. For court and probation video links, email OMU.channingswood@justice.gov.uk.
For legal visits and inter-prison visits, email legalvisits.channingswood@justice.gov.uk.
In your email, include:
- name of the prisoner
- reason for the video link
- date and time
- contact details
Getting to Channings Wood
The nearest train station is Newton Abbot. The prison is 4 miles from the train station so you will need to get a taxi. There is a large taxi rank at the train station and will cost approx. £10 to get here.
To plan your journey by public transport use:
There is a bus stop at the front of the drive to the establishment that leaves from Sherbourne road in Newton Abbot (main bus station) this is a county bus service and information for the service can be found here.
There is a free visitors car park and there is also a disabled visitors car park.
Entering Channings Wood
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.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Visitors must adhere to the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit.
There will be no refreshments available during your visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Channings Wood. 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.
For new born babies, pre made feeds in sealed packs and pre made formula are allowed.
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.
Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors centre, run by PACT. They can provide you with information and help. You can also buy drinks and snacks and there is a play area for children.
There is also a children’s play area in the visiting hall and snack bar offering hot and cold food and drinks.
Family days
Channings Wood run family visits throughout the year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting: Family_Strategy@justice.gov.uk
PACT provides a range of activities for the whole family.
Keep in touch with someone at Channings Wood
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Channings Wood.
Secure video calls
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.
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.
Phone calls
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 Channings Wood 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 Channings Wood.
Letters
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, contact Channings Wood.
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 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 - 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
People in Channings Wood are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Channings Wood 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.
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 the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
Life at Channings Wood
Channings Wood is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every prisoner at Channings Wood has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.
Arrival and first night
When a prisoner first arrives at Channings Wood, 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 or family needs.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Channings Wood gets an induction that lasts about a week. 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
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Channings Wood is split into the main site and the vulnerable prisoners unit and can house around 700 prisoners in total.
There is a gym, sports hall and sports field.
A chapel and separate multi-faith room is available. Appropriate services and meetings are arranged for all major religions.
Education and work
All prisoners at Channings Wood (unless over retirement age) are expected to work and take part in activities to help prepare them for release and reduce reoffending.
The prison has 4 large industrial workshops and many vocational training courses and educational activities as well as offending behaviour programmes.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our Head of Reducing Re-Offending or our family champion at Channings Wood please email: Family_Strategy@justice.gov.uk
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01803 814 600 if you have an immediate or emergency concern about the welfare of a prisoner and ask for the orderly officer or duty governor.
Safer custody hotline
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a prisoner at Channings Wood prison that are not an immediate concern, call the safer custody hotline.
Telephone: 01803 814679
24 hour answering machine
Find out about call charges
Please leave a message giving as many details as possible including the prisoners name, prisoner number and what wing they are located on if you know it. If you wish, you can leave your own details and a contact number so the prison can give you feedback, if appropriate.
You can also read more information about safer custody concerns on the Prisoners Families website.
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem contact Channings Wood.
Inspection report and action plan
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Channings Wood in response to independent inspections.
Contact Channings Wood
Governor: Huw Sullivan
Telephone: 01803 814 600
Fax: 01803 814 601
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Channings Wood
Denbury
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 6DW
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.
Last updated 2 August 2022 + show all updates
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Secure video calls update.
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated rules for sending in money and gifts.
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Updated physical contact guidance
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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safer custody hotline update
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Added safer custody reporting information
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Added survey link
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Updated governor name
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First published.