Lindholme Prison
Lindholme is an adult male prison, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Lindholme
To visit someone in Lindholme 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 Lindholme.
Contact Lindholme 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 Lindholme
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Booking line: 01302 524 980
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open:
- Monday: 1:30pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 8:30am to 11am
- Thursday: 1:30pm to 4pm
- Friday: 8:30am to 11am
Visiting times:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 2:15pm to 4:15pm
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book a legal phone call by email to legalvisits.lindholme@justice.gov.uk
Getting to Lindholme
The closest railway station is Doncaster. From there you can get a taxi or take the bus, bus services are quite limited.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a free visitor’s car park.
There is also a disabled visitor’s car park.
Entering Lindholme
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.
Lindholme has a strict dress code policy, the following clothing is not allowed:
- low cut tops, vest tops (male or female), crop tops or tops revealing the navel, backless or see through tops
- skirts, dresses and shorts must end on the knee or below the knee. Dress straps must cover the whole of the shoulder. (Must not mirror the style of a vest). Strapless dresses and tops are not allowed
- ripped or damaged clothing – this includes inside pockets & is for the decency of staff searching you
- ponchos/cloaks
- footwear must completely cover both heels and toes. No steel toe caps or work boots, no football boots or children’s ‘Heely’ style trainers, sliders, flip flops or crocs (security reasons) are not allowed
- clothing which could easily be fashioned into a weapon such as those fitted with large buckles or spikes including belts or more than 4 chains and/or zips
- uniforms except for a child’s school uniform
- clothing bearing football team’s logos or any sports team logos
- all clothing bearing slogans that are deemed racist, insulting or derogatory
- sunglasses
- watches including smart watches
- no large items of jewellery such as large pendants or thick chains
- children’s clothing must also abide by the same restrictions
Restricted items:
- jewellery and hair accessories should be kept to a maximum of one item of jewellery per category for example: one necklace, one bracelet
- hats, scarves or other headwear are only allowed if they are religious articles. Any non-religious items of headwear must be removed
- no multiple layers of the same clothing, for example: several jackets. bottoms or leggings
There are strict controls on what you can take into Lindholme. 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.
There will be refreshments available to purchase during your visit.
If you are bringing small children for your visit you are allowed to take in:
- baby milk in sealed pouches or as unsealed powdered formula, which will be prepared by staff upon request
- baby food in sealed pouches or plastic containers only (glass jars are not allowed)
- prescribed powdered milk, provided that it has been pre-authorised by the visits booking staff
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.
Contact Lindholme if you have questions about visits by email Socialvisits.lindholme@justice.gov.uk
Visiting facilities
The Prison Advice and Care Trust runs a visitors centre where you can get support and information.
Telephone: 01302 524 700
Find out about call charges
Family days
HMP Lindholme run 9 family visits a year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting: Lindholme@prisonadvice.org.uk.
Keep in touch with someone at Lindholme
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Lindholme.
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 Lindholme using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Lindholme.
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 Lindholme.
All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.
National Prison Radio’s Family and Friends request show
National Prison Radio broadcasts into prison cells across England and Wales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Family and friends can stay connected with their loved ones in prison by sending song requests, written messages and voice recordings. They are then read and played out on weekly episodes.
You can send in a message, and hear the show, at nationalprisonradio.com
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 Lindholme are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Lindholme for more information on what’s allowed.
Family and friends 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.
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 Lindholme
Lindholme 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 Lindholme 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 Lindholme, 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 prisoner who arrives at Lindholme 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.
Lindholme runs a substance misuse programme for prisoners needing support in this area.
Accommodation
There are over 1,000 prisoners living at Lindholme, housed in 10 units with a mixture of single and double cells. There is also a purpose-built segregation unit.
Education and work
Lindholme provides individual learning plans for all prisoners. Their education, training, advice and support focus on preparing prisoners to get good jobs when they leave.
Learning and skills programmes include literacy, numeracy, GCSE English, maths and ESOL (English for speakers of other languages).
Prisoners can learn basic information technology (IT) or get higher qualifications in building computers, business admin and start-up, media and graphic design. There are courses in printing, engineering, fork lift driving, plumbing, carpentry, textiles, catering, barbering, cleaning, plastering, painting and decorating and hospitality. They can also take a range of gym qualifications.
Lindholme also offers life skills courses in family learning and drug and alcohol awareness.
Organisations Lindholme works with
Shelter helps prisoners with accommodation when preparing to leave prison.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
To contact our head of family provision at HMP Lindholme: Mark Wilson via email Lindholme@prisonadvice.org.uk.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01302 524 700 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01302 524731 | Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have any other problem contact Lindholme.
Independent inspections
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Lindholme in response to independent inspections.
Contact Lindholme
Governor: Rob Kellett
Telephone (24 hours): 01302 524 700
Fax: 01302 524 750
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP Lindholme
Bawtry Road
Hatfield
Doncaster
DN7 6EE
Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2 minute survey.
Updates to this page
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Details of what baby milk and food may be brought in on visits added.
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Added link to the National Prison Radio (NPR) request show for family and friends, under the 'Keep in touch with someone' section
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Updated dress code list.
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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: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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visit info
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Updated visit info
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Updated visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated: HMP Lindholme visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.
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First published.