We operate a pre-booked visits system for both social and legal visits. This means that families, friends and legal visitors must be registered with the prison before a visit can be booked.
Visitors must be registered by prisoners who can add them to their visitor list via their in-cell terminal. This puts them in control of managing their visitors. The requests are then reviewed and approved by Security. Once approved, the prisoner will receive a notification that the visitor has been successfully registered.
Visitor must arrive 30-40 minutes prior to the start of the visit session to go through the security procedure. If you have any questions or concerns, our team are happy to help and will respond.
Visitor times and FAQs - Social and legal
HMP Fosse Way are pleased to invite you to our welcoming environment where the visits hall has soft furnishings with no fixed furniture to provide a much more comfortable visit.
Once visitors are approved, prisoners will be able to arrange their own visit via the in-cell terminal and then tell their family and friends which day and time the visit is booked for.
To request a booking for a legal visit please email: [email protected].
Further information about legal visits can be found at the bottom of this page.
Highlighted sessions are the ones we are currently running and maybe subject to change
From 31st July 2023 onwards, visit times are:
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
| Monday | 09:15 - 11:15 | 14:00 - 16:00 | |
| Tuesday | 09:15 - 11:15 | 14:00 - 16:00 | 17:45 - 19:15 |
| Wednesday | 09:15 - 11:15 (Legal visits) | 14:00 - 16:00 | 17:45 - 19:15 |
| Thursday | 09:15 - 11:15 | 14:00 - 16:00 | 17:45 - 19:15 |
| Friday | 09:15 - 11:15 | 14:00 - 16:00 | |
| Saturday | 09:15 - 11:15 | 14:00 - 16:00 | |
| Sunday | 09:15 - 11:15 | 14:00 - 16:00 |
Family visits
Identification
On the first visit, all visitors will have their photo ID, proof of address and biometrics taken. Acceptable ID includes:
- passports
- identity cards from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country
- UK photocard driving licences
- EU or EEA driving licences
- NI Electoral identity cards
- a US passport card
- a proof of age card recognised under PASS with a unique reference number (This includes the Citizen ID card)
- an armed forces identity card
- a UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
Acceptable proof of address includes:
- utility bill (gas, electric, satellite television, landline phone bill) issued within the last three months
- local authority council tax bill for the current council tax year
- bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement or passbook dated within the last three months
- HMRC self-assessment letters or tax demand dated within the current financial year
- Electoral Register entry
- NHS Medical card or letter of confirmation from GP’s practice of registration with the surgery
- council or housing association rent card or tenancy agreement for the current year
- benefit book or original notification letter from Benefits Agency (but not if used as proof of name)
Visitors bringing children must bring the child’s ID to every visit. Acceptable ID documents include:
- birth certificate
- passport
- Red Book
There are children’s play facilities within our visitor area to make sure the experience is positive to families with young children.
Appropriate clothing during visits - visitors
Visitors to the establishment are expected to wear appropriate, decent clothing during their visit.
All visitors wishing to enter visits must be appropriately dressed at all times. The following restrictions apply to all visits:
Lower garments
- No mini skirts (unless legs are suitably covered e.g., leggings / tights underneath).
- Shorts must be over knee length.
- Only one pair of trousers not two.
- Leggings must not be see-through, rear half covered by top.
- No trousers with holes/rips or that exposes the skin.
- No see-through leg wear or skirts.
- Jeans need to be pulled up around waist.
Upper garments
- No short or cropped tops that reveal naked midriff.
- No outdoor coats.
- No item with hoods.
- No see-through tops or tops that expose cleavage.
- No football shirts or sports shirts with team logos.
- No halter neck or backless tops.
- No vests/string vests.
Footwear
- No over the knee boots.
- No stilettos (mid heels are acceptable).
- No steel toe caps.
- No flip flops.
Accessories
- No sunglasses.
- No jewellery that poses a health and safety risk, e.g., bracelets with protruding or sharp edges.
- No hats and head wear unless it can be verified by a member of the pastoral team it is for religious purposes.
- Items of clothing that may perceived as offensive or racist (print) are strictly forbidden.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
On arrival visitors should make their way to the main reception, where staff will assist them with any questions and guide them through the visits procedure. The main reception will provide facilities for visitors to refresh themselves prior to their visit.
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Personal belongings must be put in a locker in the main reception or left locked in vehicles. Visitors will set their own 4-digit code for a locker.
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Visitors should arrive 30-40 minutes before their visit is due to start.
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You may be entitled to help with your travel expenses. Please visit the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme page for more information.
Ex-prisoners can visit as long as prior agreement from the Director is approved. The request to visit should be addressed in writing to the Director of HMP Fosse Way.
Dress code
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Prisoners must wear suitable clothing for the visit’s hall; no coats, jackets, vest tops, shorts, torn or damaged jeans, and no flip flops will be permitted.
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No watches will be allowed in visits hall.
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Prisoners are required to wear an identification bib for the duration of the visit, this must always remain on and can only be removed by staff once the visit is complete.
Conduct
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Prisoners must remain seated throughout the entire visit, if there is a need to leave the seat please speak to an officer.
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Prisoners are not allowed to approach any other table in visits hall or engage in any conversation with any other visitors or prisoners other than those allocated to the individuals specific visit.
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Unacceptable behaviour, acts of aggression, behaviour of a sexual nature, and abusive language will not be tolerated. This will result in the visit being terminated and may affect any future visits.
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Contact: A kiss and embrace is permitted at the start and the end of the visit only. Holding hands is permitted if it is above the table and hands are always visible to staff. No hands inside clothing or others clothing will be permitted, failure to follow these requests or warnings from staff will result in visits being terminated.
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Prisoners are not allowed to pass or receive any item during a visit, other than items purchased at the visits shop.
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Prisoners are not allowed to share food or drink during a visit. Items purchased at the visits shop may be taken out of the visit’s hall by the visitors only and not prisoners. Lids must always remain on cups.
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Prisoners are not permitted to move chairs or tables. Staff will issue warnings if this rule is broken and may result in a visit being terminated.
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If prisoners choose to leave the visits area, (except for using the toilet) the visit will be terminated.
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When informed by staff that the visit is over, prisoners must leave the visits hall immediately.
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At the end of a visit prisoners must ensure that the table and the surrounding area are left free from litter and toys.
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Children must always be supervised by the accompanying adult.
The number of social visits a prisoner can have depends on their level in the Incentives Scheme. This level is determined on behaviour and commitment to rehabilitation.
All visitors will be searched, including children.
Security measures could include:
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Drug dog search
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Rub down search
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X-ray portal search
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Handheld metal detector
All visitors will have their finger scanned along with a photograph taken.
All visits areas are covered by CCTV and staff wear body worn video cameras. All footage is recorded, stored and retained in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
The only item permitted to be taken into the visits hall is £60.00 per adult visitor, and this must be in coin form. Monies should not be left loose on the tables provided.
Mothers with baby are able to bring in nappies, one bottle (which will provide milk for) and baby wipes. A changing area is located in the main reception.
Required medication for the timing of your visit can be brought into this establishment. This must be declared on entry and on entering the visits hall handed to a member of staff, until required.
A selection of refreshments and snacks can be purchased in the visit’s hall via the Visits Café, kindly ran by PoPs. All items purchased MUST be consumed in the visits hall, no items are permitted to be removed by prisoners or visitors at the end of a session.
If visitors are:
• found in possession of any banned and unauthorised items;
• found passing them over to a prisoner;
• suspected of smuggling drugs or other unauthorised articles;
the police will be called and the visitor may be arrested. This could result in a prison sentence or being banned from visiting all prisons.
Family and friends cannot telephone a prisoner directly. However, you can write a letter, which can either be placed in the postal box in the Visitors Centre or alternatively this can be sent to:
HMP Fosse Way
1 Tigers Rd
Wigston
LE18 4WS
Please remember to include the prisoners name and number.
Telephone messages cannot be passed on unless in life threatening emergencies.
Contact the Prisoner Location Service:
https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner
Prisoner Location Service
PO Box 17594
Birmingham
B2 2QP
You will need to give them:
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your name, or the organisation you represent
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your date of birth
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your address, including postcode
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the name of the person you want to find
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the reason you want to find them eg. you’re their solicitor, or a family member
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any other names they may have used
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their date of birth
Visitors cannot give prisoners cash during visits, however, they can send money to a prisoner's account, for free, by debit card.
You will need the prisoner number and their date of birth. Go to www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money.
Secure video calling
We offer Purple Visits for Prisons which is a secure video calling platform specially designed for use within the criminal justice system.Register and create a Purple Visits account
Once registered, all bookings should be made through the Purple Visits app.
Download the Purple Visits app
If you have a Purple Visits account you can log in, if not, simply create an account. Then tap on the 'Request Video Call' and follow the prompts.
Support and advice
Partners of Prisoners
Partners of Prisoners (POPS) is a registered charity that delivers visitor centre services at HMP Fosse Way. They provide a warm welcome, advice and support for all visitors on a range of issues, including travel, debt and housing. We also provide one to one support around the visiting process and prison procedures.
Visit Partners of Prisoners website
Support for families
If you need help regarding a family member in the prison, you can find support information through the link below. This is an online safety portal run by the Prisoners Families Helpline. It contains advice for family members and friends of prisoners regarding any concerns they may have and includes an online Concern Form for any concerns that aren't urgent.
Concerned about a prisoner?
We want to make sure that families have information at their fingertips when they are concerned about a prisoner here at HMP Fosse Way. We now have an online safer custody portal which will signpost you to the right source of information
Legal visits
Wednesday: 09:00-10:00 and 10:30-11:30. Double slots can be booked if required on request.
Legal visitors will be required to bring photographic ID on the first visit so we can register you onto our system.
If you require IT equipment for the visit, this will need to be pre-arranged. Please request at the time of booking a visit.
HMP Fosse Way Link provides a professional service to Crown and Magistrates Courts. This is a real time, two-way transmission by video of images and sound between two or more locations, offering an effective way of conducting hearings.
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Parole hearings
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Court of Appeal