cardiff hmp prison visits

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• Crime, justice and law
• Prisons and probation

Secure video calls with prisoners

How to book and make a secure video call with somebody in prison.

Applies to England and Wales

You can book and take part in a secure video call with a family member or friend in prisons in England and Wales.

Video calls last up to 60 minutes and can have up to 4 people on the call talking to a prisoner. All callers must be on the prisoner’s visitor list and the ‘main caller’ must be over 18. People under 18 can be on the video call, as long as they are on the prisoner’s visitor list.

Every adult prisoner and young person in custody is offered up to two 30-minute video calls or one 60-minute video call per month. The governor may allow additional calls for wellbeing reasons and in exceptional circumstances.

Video call security

You’ll need to follow the usual prison rules around what to wear and how to behave. Remember that all calls are recorded, and prison staff may view or listen to calls as they are happening. The call can be paused or ended if prison rules are not followed.

What you’ll need to make a video call

• Mobile phone or tablet – this service is not available using a computer
• An account with a secure video calling application
• Passport, driving license or another government-issued photo ID
• Proof of address (if your ID does not include this)
• The prisoner’s name, number and date of birth
• Names, dates of birth and addresses for everyone who would like to be on the video call

How to get set up for a video call

You need to use one of 2 apps to have a video call with someone in prison. The app you need to use will depend on the prison.

To find out which app is used by the prison you wish to call, please visit the relevant GOV.UK page for individual prisons .

Step 1: Download and install an app

Download the app being used at the prison.

You can download the Prison Video app via the Prison Video website and Purple Visits app via the Purple Visits website .

Both apps are free and also available from Google Play or the Apple App Store .

You will need to install the app on your phone or tablet.

Step 2: Create an account in the app and add everyone who will be on the call

To create an account on either app you will need to be over 18 years old and have a picture of your driving license, passport or other government-issued photo ID.

It can take up to 24 hours for your account to be verified.

Once verified, set up the call: You must include the names and dates of birth of everyone who will be on the video call. You will also need to upload ID for people over 18.

Finally, add the name of the person you want to want to have the video call with as a ‘contact’.

Step 3: Make a video call request

The exact process of booking a call will depend on the prison.

For some prisons, you will be able to select a possible date and time in the next 7 days in the app. In other prisons, staff will book a date and time following a request from the prisoner.

Either way, you’ll receive a confirmation email when your video call has been scheduled.

Step 4: Get set up for the video call

You need a reliable internet connection. Wi-Fi is recommended, but you can also use 3G or 4G mobile data.

You don’t need headphones for the video call, but it may help with the sound quality.

Step 5: Have the video call

You should open your app ahead of the scheduled video call time and be ready for the call to start. Call times are fixed and cannot be extended.

Calls will be paused if anyone:

• who is not booked on the call appears on the camera
• behaves in a way that would not be appropriate for a social prison visit
• tries to record the call or take a screenshot

If a call is paused, you will need to go through a security check before it can start again.

Tips for a successful video call

Keep the camera still.

Try to keep your phone or tablet as still as possible. It may be best to rest it against something.

Good lighting and a plain background

You must have the call in a private place rather than a cafe or public space. Make sure the room is well-lit. Uneven lighting, for example sunlight, can disrupt the way the system recognises faces.

It is best to sit in front of a plain wall. Pictures or patterns in the background may affect the camera being able to stay focused on your face.

Clear sight of everyone on the call

Make sure that your whole face – and the faces of any additional people – can be seen clearly.

If there are young children on the call, make sure they either look directly at the camera or else stay out of the picture.

The call may be paused if only part of a face or the back of a head can be seen.

Updated to reflect the change to free video calls

Secure video calls information has been updated.

Removed a line about a person's face needing to be in view of the camera at all times so the call doesn't pause. Linked to the prison directory instead of listing all prisons where calls are available.

Added more prisons where video calls are available.

Added to the list of prisons where secure video calls are available

Added prisons where video calls are available

Updated list of prisons offering secure video calls

First published.

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Hmp cardiff.

• Inside Time Reports
• 13th December 2014
• Male Cat. B , Prison Visit , Wales

Prison information

Address: HMP CARDIFF, Knox Road Cardiff CF24 0UG Switchboard: 02920 923100 Managed by: HMPPS Region: Wales Category: Male Cat. B Link to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cardiff-prison

Description

The establishment holds adult convicted and remand prisoners and those awaiting sentence. It is designated to hold category B and C prisoners, including life-sentenced prisoners.

Phone: 0300 303 2301 Email: [email protected]

The lines will be open Monday to Friday from 09:00-17:00

Visit Booking: Online

Use this online service to book a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can book a visit.

You’ll get an email confirming your visit. It takes 1 to 3 days.

ID: Every visit Children’s Visits: Family days

Acceptable forms of ID

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• Category C - NEW
• Male Cat. C
• 24th January 2017
• Prison Visit

2 thoughts on “ HMP CARDIFF ”

Hi, I have my partner in your prison, he says it’s one of the best he’s been too, not that he’s been to many through crime, it’s through bring passed around. The only complete I have is getting through on the phone for a visit. My example today, I’v been ringing none stop since 9.30 after returning from the nursery run, and I mean none stop as redial, redial. The most annoy thing was I got through 4 times for the phone to be ringing, but no reply. For it then again tone engaged. I don’t get a chance to visit much as I don’t drive, plus I live miles away.so when I get a chance of someone bringing me, I can never get through for a visit. Yes I understand the lines are busy. But it’s so frustrating when there not answered. I’m hoping I now get through this afternoon as I have a little boy who’s not seen his daddy for 6 weeks now. This shouldn’t be his punishment…

Cardiff Prison I am a Cardiff-based writer who wondered whether there might be any opportunity to offer to facilitate a Reading/ Writing group at the prison. G.K.B.

Editorial: You should write a letter to the governor setting out what you would like to do, your qualifications to offer it and how you think it might benefit prisoners.

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Visitor Centres

Visitor centres.

‘We understand that visiting someone in prison can be upsetting for both children and adults. The experience along with all the rules and regulations can be intimidating and confusing’.

The staff in our Invisible Walls Visitor Centres try to make the experience of visiting a prison as positive as possible. They are friendly and welcoming and will explain everything to you and help you through the process.

• HMP Cardiff
• HMP Bedford
• HMP Littlehey
• HMP Prescoed
• HMP Five Wells
• HMP Oakwood

Our teams are there to support you before and after your visit and we can offer advice, guidance and information, as well as connecting you with a wide variety of organisations to assist you with any ongoing challenges. We also hold a number of Family Forums each year, in collaboration with the prisons, which are opportunities to discuss suggestions and improvements to the service.

VISITING TIMES

HMP Parc Heol Hopcyn John, Bridgend. CF35 6AP. Tel: 01656 300202

HMP Oakwood Oaks Drive, Featherstone. WV10 7QD. Tel: 01902 791426

HMP Cardiff Knox Road, Cardiff. CF24 0UG. Tel: 01234 373219 / 01234 373220

HMP Prescoed Coed-y-Paen, Pontypool, Monmouthshire NP4 0TB. Tel: 01291 675 158

HMP Five Wells Doddington Road, Wellingborough. NN8 2NG. Tel: 01933 832852

HMP Littlehey Crow Spinney Lane, Huntingdon. PE28 0SR. Tel: 01480 335000

HMP Bedford St. Loyes Street, Bedford. MK40 1HG. Tel: 01234 373219 / 01234 373220

Blog Government Digital Service

https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/09/15/you-can-now-book-a-prison-visit-online/

You can now book a prison visit online

Booking a prison visit should be simple and straightforward. Until now that was far from the case. Booking a visit required both prisoner and visitor to jump through hoops: paper forms and drawn-out phone calls. And if the visit date turned out to be impossible, they had to start all over again.

Now you can book a visit online . It takes about 5 minutes. Before, picking an available date was pot luck. Now there's a date-picker that lets you select 3 possible slots instead of 1. It’s a straight-forward service with user-needs at its heart but, if you get stuck, you can call the prison's visits booking line and someone will help you with the booking.

Here's a very short film we've made about it:

By making it easier to book visits, prisoners will see more of their friends and family. Evidence suggests this will help their rehabilitation. Transformation isn't just about websites.

The service was built by the Ministry of Justice, with a combined team from the National Offender Management Service, HM Prison Service and MoJ Digital Services.

For more of the story behind this service, read Mike Bracken's account of his trip to HMP Rochester or check out the service’s transformation page .

Join the conversation on Twitter , and don't forget to sign up for email alerts .

You may also be interested in:

• Prison visit booking: using digital analytics to inform alpha development
• Making prison visits easier to book
• Meet the Transformation team

Sharing and comments

Share this page, 20 comments.

Comment by Pauline posted on 23 August 2015

How do you find out the prisoners number??? so you can go ahead with online booking of a visit?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 24 August 2015

You can find a prisoner using this service: https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner However it will be the prisoner's responsibility to get in touch with you to let you know their prison number etc.

Comment by linda posted on 15 August 2015

This service does not appear to work this is day 2 trying to use it

Comment by Olivia posted on 30 July 2015

Hi, If a visit is booked and someone cant make it, is it possible to change the name of one of the people to someone else?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 30 July 2015

It's best to contact the prison directly if this happens. You can find contact details here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Thanks, Louise

Comment by Paige posted on 28 July 2015

Hi my partner was sent to nottingham today, I was on his previous list 4 months ago for a visit. Will that still be on the system all will it have to he put through again if so how long does it take to be approved for a visit? Thanks Paige.

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 29 July 2015

You might want to get in touch with the prison first before booking a visit. You can find the contact details of the prison here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder

Comment by Debs posted on 27 July 2015

Hello Is there a list of prisons where online booking can't be used?

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 28 July 2015

According to the information on this page: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits , you can arrange a visit to any prison in England and Wales through this service. If you're visiting someone in Northern Ireland or Scotland you'll need to contact the prison directly.

This link also lists the type of visits that are not covered by the online service: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits so you need to get in touch with the prison directly.

Hope that's helpful.

Comment by c.steer posted on 26 July 2015

So how do I find the booking form to fill in I am new to computers

Comment by Louise Duffy posted on 27 July 2015

Here's the link to the booking form: https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits

You'll need this information to complete the form:

prisoner number prisoner’s date of birth dates of birth for all visitors coming with you make sure the person you’re visiting has added you to their visitor list

Hope that's useful.

Comment by Shawnaa posted on 09 May 2015

i have a visit booked which i did online but i do not have a visiting order woll the prison let me in?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 11 May 2015

Your identity will be checked on arrival to make sure you’re on the visitor list.

Comment by jessicca posted on 27 January 2015

What happens after you book the visit and its confirmed by email do you need the visiting order ?

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 29 January 2015

The Visiting Order (VO) number is generated by the booking system, it is included in your confirmation email and you will need this to change or cancel a booking.

However, if you're visiting a prison the guidance is that you only need your ID, not the VO number. If when you visit the prison you are asked for the VO number you should report this via the Contact Us link on the Prison Visits Booking form.

I hope that helps.

Comment by Ilysa Mcnally posted on 18 November 2014

How late in advance can I book e.g. book a visit today (Tuesday) for the Sunday coming???

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 19 November 2014

Hi Ilysa. Thanks for your question. A visit needs to be booked 3 working days in advance. So in this case, the visit request would have to be no later than Tuesday to allow for a visit on Sunday.

Comment by carole posted on 23 October 2014

How far in advance can you book visits

Comment by Carrie Barclay posted on 23 October 2014

Hi Carole. You can book up to 28 days in advance. Thanks for your question.

Comment by kimberly posted on 16 August 2015

does anyone know how to cancel a visit online?

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Cardiff Prison Information

Contact information, booking a visit to cardiff prison.

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Cardiff Prison Address and Contact details

HM Prison Cardiff

Cardiff Prison can be found in the Adamsdown area of the city, postcode CF24 0UG, and is a category B Local/Training Male only facility.

Operated by Her Majesty’s Prison Service, Cardiff Prison holds prisoners from the surrounding court area of South East Wales and has a current capacity of 784 inmates in cellular accommodation. This was increased in 1996 after three older Victorian wings were refurbished and three new wings added to help house the number of life-sentenced prisoners, now standing at 96.

Overseen by the current governor, Richard Booty, Cardiff Prison accepts Category B & Category C prisoners along with those classed as stage 1 and stage 2 life sentences. It also houses people who have been remanded in custody from the local area. To assist inmates with their rehabilitation, the prison offers a full time education programme, training courses and employment in prison workshops, alongside a Detoxification Unit for those dependant on alcohol and drugs, a resettlement unit and work based courses.

Cardiff Prison Address Contact Details, Telephone Number and Postcode

Tel: 02920 923100

Fax: 02920 923318

Cardiff Prison Address Official website

Cardiff Prison Visiting Times

The prison has various social and official visiting times and is open to social visits throughout most of the year as follows…

Social Visiting Times

Mon: 1.45pm – 2.45 pm & 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Tue: 1.45pm – 2.45 pm & 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Wed: 1.45pm – 2.45 pm & 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Thu: 1.45pm – 2.45 pm & 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Fri: 1.45pm – 2.45 pm & 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Sat: 9.45am – 11.15am & 1.50pm – 3.20pm

Sun: 1.50pm – 3.20pm

N.B. There are no visits on the fist Wednesday of each month due to staff training.

No visits on Christmas Day, Boxing Day & Good Friday.

Other Bank Holidays are on a Saturday basis.

Cardiff Prison Official Visiting Times

9.15am – 10.30am

10.15am – 11.30am

2.00pm – 3.15pm

3.00pm – 4.15pm

For cardiff prison visit bookings, please telephone 02920 923327. Lines are open 9.00am – 7.30pm.

Cardiff Prison Address, Parking and How To Get There

Due to its location close to the city centre, Cardiff Prison has good transport links and is easily reached.

By Road: From M4 Westbound, leave the motorway at J29 onto the A48M signposted for Cardiff. Take the 3 rd exit off the dual carriageway onto the A4161 signposted to the Docks/East. Carry on along this road through several sets of traffic lights until you see the hospital on your left. Take the 1 st left after passing the Blind Institute into Fitzalan Road.

From M4 Eastbound, leave the motorway at J33 onto the A48M signposted for Cardiff Airport and take the 2 nd exit from the roundabout onto the A4232. Immediately after passing through the Buetown Tunnel, take the 1 st left and then the 2 nd exit off the roundabout. Follow the road over the flyover, from which you will see the prison walls, and then turn right, then left, then left again.

Parking: There is a multi-storey car park opposite the prison called the Knox Road Car Park, postcode CF24 0EA.

Train: Cardiff Queen Street station is adjacent to the prison and is only a 5 mins walk, a distance of approx. 400yards to the front entrance. Regular services are available from the main railway station in the city, Cardiff Central, or taxis are outside with journey times around 5-10mins depending on traffic.

Bus: Most bus services pass the prison on their way into the city centre. Ask your driver for more details on the best stop for you which you should alight, or call 029 2066 6444 for more information.

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Visiting the prison

Booking a visit - domestic visits (Family & Friends)

Prisoners are responsible for booking their own visits; this is done by using an application on the Central Management System (CMS) – accessed via touchscreen computer terminals that are located on each unit in the establishment. Once a visit has been approved it is up the individual prisoner to inform his family and friends of the date and time of the visit.

The maximum time a visit can be booked is 14 days in advance and the minimum is 3 days in advance.

Prisoners can book up to 3 adult visitors per session and 3 children less than 18 Years of age. However, if the child is over 17 they will be classed as an adult.

It is the responsibility of the prisoner to book and inform friends and family of the time and date of visits.

Staff are not responsible for booking or informing family and friends of visits or cancellation of visits.

It is also the responsibility of the prisoner to inform visitors of correct identification requirements as well as other visit regulations, however visitors are encouraged to check the website for further details.

For sending correspondence / emails to your family or friend in prison, you can take advantage of the emailaprisoner.com system. Please log on to https://www.emailaprisoner.com and follow the instructions.

Domestic visitors’ identification

All visitors to closed prisons, both Adults and Children, whether visiting for social or official purposes must be required to prove their identity on Reception. (Children’s birth certificates are suitable to prove the name and date of birth).

Two separate forms of up-to-date identification will be required to gain entry to the prison, including one photographic identification and two proof of address:

• Driving Licence - Acceptable on its own if photograph and the address matches the address provided by the prisoner on CMS.
• Passport - Including foreign passports and time expired passports where the photograph is still recognisable.
• Bus Pass (elderly only) - Must have been issued by the Local Authority. Photograph must match.
• Student / Employers I.D. - Must clearly show the name of the visitor and educational establishment / employer. Photograph must match.
• Citizen Card - A Citizen Card is an official UK ID / proof of age card recognised as such by the Home Office. Obtained online. A Standard application costs £15 and takes 21 days (card posted by Royal Mail 2nd class); an Urgent application costs £30 and takes 1-2 workingdays (subject to verification; card posted by Special Delivery guaranteed Next Day by 1pm). you can find out more at www.citizencard.com. Must be official, the photograph must match.

Two Proof of address can include: (No more than 6 Months old)

• Utility bill
• Benefit book / Letter
• Council tax/tax credit award
• Household bill or statement with the address on

For other forms of ID that may be acceptable please ensure you contact the prison Visits Booking line for advice.

If a visitor is unable to produce ID as above, staff may accept combinations of two or more of the following below, but must also include two proof of addresses:

• ‘Birth/marriage certificate
• ‘Rail or bus pass with photo
• ‘Cheque book or credit/debit card (counts as one, do not accept as two)
• ‘Employer’s pass or ID or student ID card not acceptable under paragraph 2
• ‘Young person’s ‘proof of age’ card
• ‘Trade Union or National Students’ union membership card
• ‘Library card, if it has a signature that can be compared with the visitor’s signature
• ‘Rent book
• ‘Foreign identity or resident’s card (other than EC ID cards acceptable in their own right)
• ‘Expired documents from the above lists that appear satisfactory in other ways
• ‘ID Card from Prison Visitors Organisations

You may be refused entry if you do not have sufficient ID. This will be decided by the Visits Manager on duty. The Director has the discretion to accept any form of identification that clearly identifies the visitor in a satisfactory way.

Having had ID checked all visitors will have their photograph taken, fingerprints and hand stamped with UV ink.

All adults and children over 10 years of age will have their finger-prints taken.

Booking a visit - legal/officials only

Our dedicated booking line is staffed: Monday to Friday between 0830-1630 hrs.

Official visitors can book by phone or via email.

[email protected]

To book by phone call: +44(0) 151 522 2196 / +44(0) 151 522 2047

For non-confidential correspondence to your clients, you can take advantage of the emailaprisoner.com system. Please log on to https://www.emailaprisoner.com/ and follow the instructions.

Legal visitors’ identification

The forms of identification set out below are acceptable. If the visitor does not possess such identification then the forms of identification for social visitors are also acceptable. If in doubt, Visits staff may telephone the visitor’s employer (e.g. solicitors office, barrister’s chambers, probation department) to check the visitor is bona fide. Get the telephone number from the phone book or direct enquiries, not from the visitor:

• Members of either House of Parliament: Houses of Parliament ID card.
• Legal Advisers: identity card issued by firm/ chambers, or introductory letter on headed letter paper of firm/chambers.
• Police, Immigration and Customs Officers: warrant card.
• Probation Officers: probation department ID card.
• Staff from other prisons, HQ or Home Office Staff: prison service security pass or home office pass.
• Consular Officials: consular ID card.
• Other public officials: departmental or local authority pass or ID card (but only if it shows the name of the visitor and the name of the department or local authority).
• Social workers: identification cards.
• Researchers: Security Photo pass or official letter (visits must be pre-arranged) and
• NHS: photographic identification badge/card. Independent sector healthcare photographic identification badge/card.

Visitors Centre

Safe Ground is the organisation responsible for the day to day running of the Visitors Centre at HMP Altcourse where our team is working hard to create a space and a service which is welcoming, comfortable, efficient, and conducive to meaningful engagement. In time, visitors also have the opportunity to access therapeutic spaces facilitated by a specialist member of the team based on site.  Alongside our day-to-day delivery of the Visitors Centre service and family support work, Safe Ground is delivering therapeutic group work programmes to men in custody. Together, our services represent the movement of the establishment towards a model of best practice in implementing ground-breaking person-centred interventions. For more information visit  Safe Ground - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group

Visiting times until 1 st October

Visitors will need to arrive at the visits centre at least one hour prior to the visiting time in order to be processed in time for the visit to commence.

Monday to Friday

13:30-14:30 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 12.15pm)

15:15-16:15 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 14:15hrs)

18:15-19:15 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 17:00hrs)

09:15-10:15 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 08:15hrs)

11:00-12:00 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 10:00hrs)

14:00-16:00 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 13:00hrs)

13:45-14:45 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 12:45hrs)

15:30-16:30 (BOOKING - VISITORS TO BOOK IN 14:30hrs)

Visiting times from 2nd October

Official Visits Monday to Friday

AM Sessions

1 st Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 08:30. Visit Time 09:00 to 10:00

2 nd Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 10:00. Visit Time 10:30 to 11:30

PM Sessions

1 st Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 14:00. Visit Time 14:30 to 15:30

2 nd Session. Solicitor Arrive at search area 15:30. Visit Time 16:00 to 17:00

NB Duration of each session is 1 Hour. A request for an extended 2 Hour session can be authorised subject to availability.

On arrival Legal Visitors do not need to go to the Visits Centre. Report directly to the main reception with your ID.

Social Visits Monday to Sunday

1 st Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 08:00. Visitor comes through search area 08:30. Visit Time 09:00 to 10:00.

2 nd Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 09:30. Visitor comes through search area 10:00. Visit Time 10:30 to 11:30.

1 st Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 13:30. Visitor comes through search area 14:00. Visit Time 14:30 to 15:30.

2 nd Session. Visitor Arrives in VC 15:00. Visitor comes through search area 15:30. Visit Time 16:00 to 17:00.

Purple Video Visits

Purple Visits will take place on a Saturday and Sunday only and the times are the same as the Social Visits Sessions and will be booked in the usual way.

All of the above Visiting Times will come into effect from the 2 nd October 2023.

Visits Staff retain discretion to accept any other forms of identification, singly or in combination, that clearly identify the visitor in a satisfactory way.

The following list of items must not be brought into or taken out of the prison by staff or visitors:

• Explosives and other dangerous items
• Any item of contraband such as illegal or unauthorised substances (including steroids etc)
• Any article intended for a prisoner
• Weapons of any description including imitation weapons
• Alcohol (except Communion wine brought in by Chaplaincy staff)
• Aerosols (e.g. spray deodorant / hairspray)
• Cans (e.g. drinks can)
• Metal Cutlery (beyond P4)
• Metal nail files
• Civilian Clothing (if in uniform)
• Spare uniform
• Chewing Gum
• Mobile Phones and associated parts (unless authorised under the Offender Management Act
• Pagers (unless authorised)
• Cameras (unless authorised under the Offender Management Act )
• Video Cameras (unless authorised under the Offender Management Act
• Any other sound or picture recording devices (unless authorised under the OMA)
• DVD recorder / players
• Non healthcare / prescribed drugs
• Tobacco, lighters, matches or any other smoking paraphernalia
• Large amounts of money
• Unofficial tools e.g. personal screwdrivers
• Tool repair kits

How we collect and use your data

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COLLECTION OF DATA

In order to facilitate your visit to one of our prisons and to ensure that we deliver appropriate levels of security and safety and prevent crime, for identification purposes we shall collect your name, date of birth, address, a biometric template of your fingerprint and a photograph. A series of reference points from a finger print are collected, allowing a unique identification pattern. We do not collect or hold actual fingerprints.

Our prisons operate CCTV and staff may wear Body Worn Video Recording Equipment. We do not collect biometric readings or photographs of children under 16, however with the use of CCTV, images may routinely be captured.

DATA SHARING

We will only share your information with a third party where there is a legal obligation to do so.

RIGHTS OF ACCESS, CORRECTION, ERASURE AND RESTRICTION

You have legal rights in connection with personal information. Under certain circumstances, by law you have the right to:

• Request access to your personal information (commonly known as a “data subject access request”). This enables you to receive a copy of the personal information we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
• Request correction of the personal information that we hold about you. This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate information we hold about you corrected.
• Request erasure of your personal information. This enables you to ask us to delete or remove personal information where there is no good reason for us continuing to process it. You also have the right to ask us to delete or remove your personal information where you have exercised your right to object to processing.
• Object to processing of your personal information by us or on our behalf in certain situations.
• Request the restriction of processing of your personal information. This enables you to ask us to suspend the processing of personal information about you, for example if you want us to establish its accuracy or the reason for processing it.

DATA RETENTION

We keep personal data in accordance with our clients’ and Sodexo’s retention procedures. These retention periods depend on the nature of the information (e.g. we apply different retention periods to different type of information such as CCTV and your visitor record), and may be subject to change.

If you have any questions or concerns about how long we retain your personal data, please contact the Data Protection Officer using the details below.

FURTHER ADVICE / GUIDANCE

To exercise your rights, you can contact us by writing to us at the following address: [email protected] or email the Global Data Protection Office at the following email address: [email protected] stating your surname, first name and the reason for your request. We will most likely ask you for additional information in order to identify you and to enable us to deal with your request

You also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office and file a complaint. ( https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ )

Latest News

Ways to stay in touch... .

• Health Boards
• NHS 111 Wales
• Staff Information

Meet the HMP Cardiff Healthcare Team

14th March 2023

The healthcare team at HMP Cardiff work as part of a multi-disciplinary team that are involved in providing care to prisoners with a wide range of mental and physical health problems, organising admissions and the discharge of prisoners, and assessing, planning and evaluating care.

HMP Cardiff is a remand centre, covering the courts of South East Wales with space for up to 800 men. Working with a prison environment is a challenging, but unique experience, ensuring the provision of holistic and patient centred care, considering the ongoing care and support needs of prisoners on their release from prison.

The HMP Cardiff team are offering individuals a chance to hear more about the work they do to support prisoners and find out more about the roles available within prison healthcare at a dedicated ‘Meet the HMP Cardiff Healthcare Team’ drop-in event.

If you’re a GP, registered nurse, Healthcare Support Worker or Pharmacy Technician who would like to find out more about the prison and how the multi-disciplinary team operates, there will be an opportunity to have 1-1 discussions with all team members and the Governor at the drop-in session.

The event will take place on Thursday 23rd March at 6pm – 7.30pm within the Chapel at Cardiff Royal Infirmary (CRI).

On-site car parking is available both in front of CRI and at the back, accessible by using the call button.

This event is supplementary to the Recruitment Event being held by PCIC on Saturday 25 th  March, which is promoting all available community roles. To find out more, or to express your interest,  please visit this webpage.   

Staff Testimonial

Jordan White, Staff Nurse at HMP Cardiff

"Working as a staff nurse, the main aspect of my role is to deliver care to prisoners as part of multi-disciplinary team to ensure the men in our care are afforded the same healthcare they would receive in the community.

"The prisoners I work with are often vulnerable and have complex and challenging healthcare needs, and those who are well, we aim to keep well through education and various health promotion activities.

Working in a prison environment can be very challenging and is like no other healthcare job I have done before. Despite the challenges, the job is also very rewarding and I can honestly say I feel I make a difference almost every day."

HMIP Reports, HMP Cardiff

The prison was given an inspection in July 2019, the full report can be read at the Ministry of Justice web site, just follow the links below. In their latest report the inspectors said:

HMP Cardiff is a category B local prison for men. At the time of this inspection it held a little under 750 prisoners. It is a traditional local prison, situated in the heart of the city, and serving the courts of south-east Wales. The prison consists predominantly of Victorian buildings, but there have been some more modern additions in recent decades. The prison was last inspected in the summer of 2016 when we found that outcomes for prisoners were not sufficiently good in two out of four of our inspection areas. Purposeful activity and resettlement were judged to be reasonably good.

I had also been present during the 2016 inspection, and was pleased to find that in the intervening period the prison had made real progress. The grades had improved in all but one of our healthy prison tests, rising in safety, respect and purposeful activity. In view of the challenging context in which prisons, particularly local prisons, have been operating in recent years, this represents a very significant achievement. It is my judgement that much of the improvement can be ascribed to the excellent relationships that existed between staff and prisoners, and the obviously energetic and well-focused leadership of the senior team. These positive relationships had, in turn, contributed to the ability of the prison to address some of the basics that shaped the character of a jail, such as levels of violence, the prevalence or otherwise of drugs, and the living conditions experienced by prisoners.

Importantly, the prison was relatively safe. Fewer prisoners than in similar establishments told us they felt unsafe, which is an enormously important indicator that affects so much else that happens in a jail. We often see the corrosive impact of violence on many aspects of prison life when the prisoners themselves are living in fear. It is much to Cardiff’s credit that while violence figures across the prison estate have generally been rising at an alarming rate in recent years, they had managed to buck the trend. Violence had not increased since the last inspection.

The comprehensive drug supply reduction strategy had undoubtedly had an impact. At the last inspection there were very real concerns about the flow of drugs entering the establishment and in, particular, the role played in this by prisoners being recalled to prison. Illicit drugs were still a very real problem, but the positive mandatory drug testing rate had dropped, and at least there was a sense that there was a degree of control over the situation. The prison would undoubtedly benefit from more technology to assist them in their efforts, and the lack of a body scanner was a significant gap in their defences. In the meantime, they cannot afford to relax their vigilance in any way, and it is our view that although it should be subject to regular review, the current searching regime for new prisoners entering the jail remained proportionate.

Alongside the stabilisation of violence and drug supply, living conditions had improved significantly since the last inspection. Communal areas and cells were cleaner, there was a programme of renewing cell furniture, showers had been improved on some wings, there was now much easier access to basic kit and bedding than at the last inspection thanks to the prison now having its own laundry, and lavatories were better screened. It was certainly true that there were still overcrowded cells, but in general, for a local prison of its type and age, a great deal of progress had been made.

Cardiff prison was, of course, not immune from the social problems that affect wider communities. Some 65% of prisoners arriving at the prison reported having mental health problems. Over half of new arrivals reported drug problems, and a third said they had problems with alcohol. In the six months prior to our inspection more than 350 prisoners required alcohol detoxification. There was also the worrying statistic that since the last inspection, levels of self-harm had risen threefold. More needed to be done to understand why this had happened. All of this placed enormous demands on health care provision, the details of which can be seen in the body of this report. It was a mixed picture, and some of our key concerns and recommendations focus on the provision of services to meet very high demand.

A further social issue that had a significant impact on the prison, and the service it could give to those in its care, was that of homelessness on release. Over the six months prior to the inspection an extremely high figure of 47% of the prisoners being released from the prison did not have any form of accommodation to go to. The community rehabilitation company (CRC) did not follow through with prisoners adequately after their release, and so it was not known how many prisoners eventually found appropriate accommodation. The well-established correlation between homelessness in these circumstances and the risk of reoffending is well known. This was a problem that is clearly beyond the ability of the prison service to address on its own. I have therefore taken the unusual step of making a recommendation to both HMPPS and the Welsh Government that they should work together to find solutions to this very serious problem.

Overall, this was an enormously encouraging inspection as it showed what can be achieved in a traditional local prison. HMP Cardiff disproves the clichés about inner-city Victorian prisons inevitably being places of squalor, violence and despair. The improvements since the last inspection were incredibly encouraging to see, and were testimony to the hard work that had brought them about. On this, my second inspection of Cardiff, it was also clear to me that many prisoners had responded positively to the improvements and wanted to make their own contribution to the prison and thereby to their own futures

Peter Clarke CVO OBE QPM  September 2019                                 

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons”

Return to Cardiff

To read the full reports, go to the Ministry of Justice site or follow the links below:

• HMP Cardiff ( 563.78 kB ) , Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Cardiff (15-26 July 2019)
• HMP & YOI Cardiff (597.51 kB) , Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP & YOI Cardiff (25–26 July, 1–5 August 2016)
• HMP Cardiff , Announced inspection of HMP Cardiff (18–22 March 2013)
• Garchar Ei Mawrhydi Caerdydd , Arolygiad lle rhoddwyd rhybudd o Garchar Ei Mawrhydi Caerdydd (18–22 Mawrth 2013)
• HMP Cardiff , Unannounced short follow-up inspection of HMP Cardiff (28-30 June 2010)
• CEM Caerdydd , Adroddiad arolygiad dilynol byr dirybudd o Garchar Ei Mawrhydi Caerdydd (28-30 Mehefin 2010)
• HMP Cardiff/CEM Caerdydd , Unannounced inspection of HM Prison Cardiff (7-11 January 2008)/Arolygiad lle rhoddwyd rhybudd CEM Caerdydd (7-11 Ionawr 2008)

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Rising prison population places severe strain on resources at HMP Cardiff

• #HMP Cardiff

In its 2022-23 annual report , the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Cardiff raises serious concerns over the impact ongoing population pressures are having on prisoners. The IMB notes that this is highly likely to continue unless significant measures are taken to address this on a national basis.

The Board reports that:

• A large proportion of prisoners are forced to share cells and have no access to out of cell space at mealtimes. Consequently, men in shared cells must eat in the same space as their shared toilet.
• There was a significant increase in the use of illicit substances in the summer of 2023. The Board, however, acknowledges the prison’s response, increasing levels of searches, monitoring visits and introducing body scanners and a full complement of dogs on site.
• Levels of self-harm continued to be a concern, with 374 incidents in the reporting period, including several prisoners who self-harmed multiple times. 
• Although over 80% of prisoners released from HMP Cardiff during the reporting period were recorded as having accommodation to go to on release, this means that almost 20% were released homeless.

Despite this considerable pressure, the Board is pleased to report that:

• Improvements have been made in responding to the health and wellbeing requirements of prisoners.
• A neurodiversity hub and an incentivised substance-free living unit were both opened in 2023, supporting the progress of prisoners.
• Prisoner volunteers, such as Samaritan’s listeners, wing representatives, mentors, and peers make a valuable contribution.

IMB Cardiff Chair, Jaci Rankmore, said:

“Along with the wider prison estate across England and Wales, HMP Cardiff is facing daily and significant pressures in terms of its population. We recognise this is not a problem at Cardiff alone and the Board calls for longer term solutions to be introduced across the prison estate. 

Prisoners are overwhelmingly accommodated two to a cell, raising concerns about privacy and decency; our 2022-23 report seeks reassurance from the UK government around the improvement of basic conditions in the prison.

We would, however, like to acknowledge the work of the Governor and staff, and the contribution made by prisoners at HMP Cardiff in achieving an overall safe and positive environment in the face of these unprecedented pressures.” 

Cardiff Prison

Tel: 02920 923100  –  Knox Road, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF24 0UG

HMP Cardiff is located in the Adamstown area of the city, and is a category B local / training prison. It houses male adults, mostly those who come from the catchment area surrounding Cardiff. The prison has been there since the Victorian era, and was built to replace Cardiff Gaol, which was deemed unable to cope with the sheer volumes of prisoners. Since its construction, the prison has undergone many improvements, though has not been without its controversy. Its capacity is currently 784. If you’d like to visit HMP Cardiff, please use the map on this page.

Tel: 02920 923100

Operational capacity: 784 as of 4th September 2008

Knox Road, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF24 0UG

Prison Phone have been saving inmates at HMP Cardiff money on their calls from the prison to any UK mobile phone since 2013.

We do this by allocating a dedicated and secure local number to your mobile phone, this means when the inmate at Cardiff prison calls the new local number we have provided they will be charged at just the local landline rate (around 10p per minute) rather than the standard mobile rate (which is around 40p per minute).

This in turn helps to stretch the inmates PINS phone credit further and reduces the amount you need to send in for them to top up!

Send me Cardiff prison details via FREE SMS

Mobile number:

Here’s some facts about Cardiff Prison

HMP Cardiff is a category B prison in Cardiff, south Wales. Opened in 1832, the prison is in Adamsdown, Cardiff and can hold 784 male prisoners.

A total of 20 executions took place at HMP Cardiff, the last being 28 year old Mahmood Mattan on the 3 September 1952. He was wrongly accused of the murder of Lily Vorpet, and was sentenced to death by hanging. His case was quashed in September 1998, and the family were awarded £725,000, the first award to a family after a person was wrongfully hanged.

A group of four men were recently arrested after a homemade bomb made out of tea whiteners erupted in HM Prison Cardiff. Bethhan Jenkins said ‘That was very concerning to them as staff”.

To view the latest inspection report, click here.

Monday to Friday visits are 13:30 – 14:30 & 14:45 – 15:45. Saturday visits are  09:45 – 10:45 & 13:30 – 14:30. Sunday visits are 13:30 – 15:00.

20 executions have taken place at HMP Cardiff. All those who were executed were buried in unmarked graves within the prison grounds.

HMP Cardiff came under considerable criticism in 1997, when it was discovered that they were chaining sick prisoners to their beds.

Keith Allen spent time here as a remand inmate .

Prison Phone offers phone tariffs that reduce the costs of calls from this prison by up to 75%! This enables prisoners to get the support and love that they are missing from home, while reducing costs for the inmate. Find out more below.

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

21 April 1926 to 8 September 2022

• Our reports
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• / HMP Cardiff

HMP Cardiff

Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Cardiff (15-26 July 2019)

HMP Cardiff ( 564 kB )

HMP Cardiff Action Plan (December 2019)

HMP Cardiff Action Plan ( 449 kB )

Adroddiad arolygiad dirybudd o Garchar Ei Mawrhydi Caerdydd gan Brif Arolygydd Carchardai EM (15–26 Gorffennaf 2019)

HMP Caerdydd ( 861 kB )

Cynllun Gweithredu HMP Caerdydd (Rhagfyr 2019)

Cynllun Gweithredu HMP Caerdydd ( 464 kB )

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