Guidance
Downview Prison and Young Offender Institution
Downview is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Sutton, Surrey, for women aged 18 and over.
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.
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Book and plan your visit to Downview
To visit someone in Downview you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit in advance
- have the 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 person can have. You can check this with Downview.
Contact Downview 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 Downview
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
You can also book by telephone.
Booking line: 0300 303 0633
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Thursday: 2:15pm to 3:45pm
- Saturday: 2pm to 4pm
- Sunday: 2pm to 4pm
Visitors must arrive before 3:15pm.
How to book legal and professional visits
Email: hmppsvisitbooking@justice.gov.uk
You can also book by telephone.
Booking line: 0300 303 0633
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times:
- Tuesday: 9am to 11am
- Thursday: 9am to 11am
Getting to Downview
The closest railway stations are Belmont and Sutton.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Downview
When you first arrive at Downview, head to the visitors centre to sign in. The staff will direct you from there.
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
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may be sniffed by a security dog. You will also have to go through a metal scanner unless you have a doctor’s note.
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £20 in coins (the visitors centre may be able to change notes for you). The money can be used to buy food and drink from the snack bar in the visiting hall.
There are strict controls on what you can take into the prison. 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 run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust charity. Family and friends can relax, buy refreshments and get advice and support from the staff.
It is open from 12:15pm to 4:30pm on visiting days.
Family days
Downview holds regular family days which give residents more time to spend with family and loved ones in a relaxed setting. Contact Downview for details.
Keep in touch with someone at Downview
You may not be able to speak with someone at Downview during their first few days. This is because it can take time to approve who they can be in touch with.
Women do not have phones in their rooms so they will always need to call you rather than you call them.
Phone calls
Residents can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security.
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 Downview using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the resident, depending on the rules at Downview.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Downview.
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 ‘HM Prison Service’ and include the resident’s name and prisoner number on the back.
Gifts and parcels
Residents are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. These can be ordered online from Amazon or Argos and sent directly to Downview or they can be sent from home.
There are limits on the number of parcels a resident can receive, which may vary by resident. Contact Downview for details.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Downview
Downview is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where women can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Downview 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 Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board.
Arrival and first night
When a resident first arrives at Downview, 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 Downview 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 property allowances, the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
They will be introduced to some of the other residents who will give support and guidance where needed. Help is also available for anyone who has difficulty speaking or understanding English.
Accommodation
Around 300 women live at Downview. There are several residential wings serving different purposes. Each woman gets her own room.
Facilities include a developed gym and astroturf football pitch.
Education and work
Women at Downview can study or take workshops and training in a range of subjects including:
- English
- maths
- IT
- hairdressing
- beauty
- catering
Courses are provided by Weston College.
Downview has partnerships with the London College of Fashion, Max Speilmann Academy (photo printing) and the Clink charity (catering) to give residents work experience and opportunities for employment on release.
Temporary release
Downview residents have the opportunity to gain work experience in the local community. This is known as release on temporary licence.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem contact Downview. If you can’t resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Downview in response to independent inspections.
Contact Downview
Governor: Natasha Wilson
Telephone (24 hours): 0208 196 6300
Safer Custody Hotline: 0208 196 6370
Fax: 020 8196 6301
Address
HMP/YOI Downview
Sutton Lane
Sutton
Surrey
SM2 5PD
Safety concerns
Email safercustody.downview@justice.org.uk if you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a woman in Downview.
You can also contact Downview if you would prefer to speak to someone.
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey.
Published 2 October 2019
Last updated 25 March 2020 + show all updates
Last updated 25 March 2020 + show all updates
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Prison visits update.
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Safer Custody Hotline added
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First published.