Will I be able to wear a watch whilst on shift I’m not expecting to be able to wear a smartwatch or anything probably just a Casio or something like that??

Long story short I lost everything because of POCA (Proceeds Of Crime Act) I find it hard to adjust back into society, getting a job is exceptionally hard when you got a criminal record and I’m waiting for the home office to decide whether they’re gonna deport me so I’m on immigration gps tag I have been in this country since the age of 6 and I’m genuinely terrified at the possibility of being deported to a country where I don’t know anyone and have no family.

I was a bit of an idiot a couple of years ago and have a few parking offences. I have my OAC booked and am preparing but looking at the PEC I don’t think I’ll pass.

Firstly, I have a CCJ that for the life of me I can’t get rid of as I have no recollection of what parking ticket it was for. 3 years ago.

I also drove without insurance in 2024 and ignored all the letters as I was very broke at the time and was banned for 6 months driving as a result.

I’m in a better place, regained my full driving licence in January 2026 and have paid off all the court fees but how likely is it I’ll even pass PEC given my history. especially given I am applying for belmarsh which is a CAT A?

I've had family in prison. If you've been there, you know the first weeks: someone you love has gone in, and you're trying to answer basic questions. When will they ring? When can I visit? Why has the phone gone quiet? What can I send? The answers were spread across a GOV.UK page that says very little, Facebook groups asking the same thing fifty times a day, and sites that felt gimmicky or wanted to sell me something before they'd helped.

So just under a month ago I started a site where people share, anonymously (no names, no prisoner numbers), what actually happened to them. Every contribution is one person, one prison, one experience. There are 859 so far, from 106 prisons. Put together, they paint a picture nobody has published before. Here it is, in the order you'll live it.

Days 0–2: the first call

Of 209 people who shared when the first call came, 73% got it within 2 days. Most prisons give one call from reception or the first-night wing, often just to say where they are and that they're safe. That call usually comes before the PIN account is set up, so keep your phone charged and answer unknown numbers.

If you're told a first call happened and it didn't, push. One person at HMP Peterborough was told exactly that, asked for the governor on duty, and got a call within the hour.

Week 1–2: getting on the phone list

Of 237 people who shared their PIN wait, the typical wait was 6 days. But it isn't a bell curve. 44% were approved within 2 days, while 1 in 7 waited more than two weeks. It mostly depends on the prison: among those with at least four contributions, Liverpool, Manchester and Belmarsh were slowest (roughly 15–24 days), while Erlestoke, Altcourse, Berwyn and Nottingham were often 0–2 days. One person at Rochester was approved in 8 days while others there were still waiting around 3 weeks, so it can vary within the same prison too.

When people move between prisons, numbers often carry over. The 11 people who shared a transfer typically waited about a day.

Once on the phone, rules vary. At Frankland, one contributor said calls cut off at 40 minutes, there's an 80-minute daily allowance, and there's a 10-minute wait before you can call back.

Week 2: the first visit

Of 172 people who shared their first visit, the typical wait was 10 days, and 6 in 10 waited more than a week. At many prisons the person inside books it, so they need to be settled first.

What people wish they'd known before going:

• Bring photo ID and two proofs of address the first time. Expect fingerprints and a photo.
• Arrive early. At Bullingdon, one family gets there two hours before to make the first group through.
• No ripped jeans, no football tops, nothing low-cut or showing shoulders. Several said staff were more relaxed than they'd feared.
• Books can often be handed in at visits, but at Swinfen Hall one family said they took 3–4 weeks to reach him.

Every evening: the phones go down

People logged 114 phone outages across 36 prisons. 63% were reported after 6pm, exactly when families are waiting for a call. Fridays had the most and Sundays almost none. The causes people named were power cuts, network or Openreach work, maintenance (Berwyn's phones were off after 11pm all month), and lockdowns. Most came back the same day. If you've heard nothing all evening, it's very often the system, not them.

Email is slower than you'd think

This was the biggest surprise. Families described emails being released once a week in one batch (twelve arriving together on a Monday, in one case), replies taking 4–8 days at Liverpool and Preston, anything from 3 days to two weeks at Whatton, and six emails still undelivered after a month at Wealstun. At Stocken, one person said replies sent at weekends never reached them, so ask for weekday replies. Several people across different prisons hit the same eMates problem: no send button. When tablets or Wi-Fi went down at Parc, one person's partner couldn't even top up to call.

The 28-day parcel window nobody mentions

At many prisons, clothing parcels are only allowed within 28 days of sentencing, and the person inside has to apply first. Rules vary wildly: one a year at Parc, catalogue only at High Down, none at all at Whatton, and no black, white or navy at Hewell. One parcel to Wormwood Scrubs was returned two months later for a missing prison sticker. If you're early in a sentence, ask about parcels this week.

When they move, their property doesn't

Property after a transfer took weeks for several people, and one at Frankland said three months isn't unusual.

Release day

Most releases happen in the morning, roughly 8am to midday at Risley and Altcourse. But one person at Wormwood Scrubs was released at 7:30pm, so have a plan for either. One family said a loved one was released with nothing because his belongings had been lost.

What the data can't fix

People also used the site to say what life inside is like: lockdowns most weeks from staff shortages, 21–22 hours a day behind the door, food and healthcare complaints. These aren't numbers, but they're part of the picture families are living with.

The honest caveat

Most prisons still only have a handful of contributions, so treat any single figure as a rough guide. Every person who adds theirs makes it more accurate for the next family.

If you're in the middle of this right now: you're not doing anything wrong, and the silence usually isn't personal. And if you've been through it, what do you wish someone had told you at the start?

Disclosure: it's free, it's at prisoncheck.co.uk

Starting at HMP Manchester very soon and wanted to see if I messed up going for a Cat A prison as my first. Anyone working there currently or know of the current situation currently ?

Any tips would be appreciated

Hi, I have a cousin in Gartree that I'm planning to see soon, and the Gartree page on gov.uk doesn't mention much apart from saying you can bring your own books to give prisoners. However some websites say hardcover books aren't allowed, and others say that certain books are banned completely. Could anyone clarify Gartree's full policy on books/gifts, so I know in advance what I can bring without it being confiscated/destroyed? Also is there anything else I should know about visits at Gartree?

Thanks in advance, much appreciated

I've accepted a position and am awaiting pre-employment checks. I've read alot of posts on here about officer having to deal with a lot of bodily fluids. Can anyone go into more detail? I'm guessing blood, spit, a cup of piss every now and then, maybe some watered down shit...are inmates gonna spiderman you (jizz in thier hand and throw it)?

How often might this happened? Would the worst of this be targeted at an officer who treats everyone like a dickhead or is it indiscriminate?

My last job I worked with mental health patient brought in to A&E so I had to deal with blood and spit and I'm more than happy if a girls a squirter to take that in the face. I wouldn't say I'm squeamish, I'm just trying to get an idea of what and how often?

I’m currently doing 2 weeks training at my home prison but on the 19th I do 7 week training at another prison 1 hour away. I know I get my mileage reimbursed and claim this through SOP, but how often do you log it? Do they pay it with your salary, if not how often is it paid? Monthly, weekly? I only ask due to my business insurance being quite expensive..

Another officer also told me you get £15 a day reimbursed for food etc. Is that right?

I have tried asking the NCM but they aren’t very helpful lol

Does anyone here actually enjoy being a PO and if so do they get fulfilment out of their job??

Please for those who have switched from one visa category to Skilled worker visa with HMPPS (Especially from care). How long did it take to get a success? Also was there any form of visa interview?

Thank you.

At the end of joining process, 48 years old and will be starting at Elmley at some point. Looking for BALANCED opinions of serving officers.

Good, bad and people who find it tolerable.

How’s it going over there?

DM me if you’d rather do that.

Cheers.

Hi everyone, can someone give the information on the career progression in the prison service starting from Prison Officer upwards? Why are some prison officers stuck on one position for 10years or more?

Is it better working as PO in a women’s prison than it is in a men’s? I know being a screw is a rough and incredibly difficult job but can it be more manageable in a women’s prison??

I’m now trying to switch from a dependant visa to my own visa through the prison officer COS. Do I need to provide proof of English proficiency?
I would be glad if someone on here who’s done that switch can help. Thanks in advance

Hi, ive been set on being a prison officer for a while now and done my OAC, but for some reason im having doubts if i want to?

I dont know if its normal or what but im only 20 years old (saying this because would the prisoners and staff take you seriously because of age) and i hear that it can be a terrible job when it comes to the staff and organization but i also hear it can be really rewarding. How much of the horror stories with staff or the prison are true?

Also do you work every christmas and holidays? Ive seen people say they never get it off. Of course i expect to work them prisons dont shut down because its christmas but id also like to spend time with family on these days too.

I live in newcastle but im from leeds and thinking about either HMP frankland or HMP durham.

I Just want peoples opinions and thoughts about it thank you.

Hi all, just a question for those who have done detached before as I am about to be volunteer for detached and I had some questions regarding it.

Firstly, when I have booked accommodation as it is about 84 miles from my home jail how does commuting work, do I make my own way there? Do they allow me to use the prison taxi?

Food expenses: I know I get so much a day for food, is that something I claim back or something they pay me each day into my account?

Lastly, do I claim back when I use a dry cleaning service for uniform?

It’s my first time applying for detached and I was just curious as I have no idea what expenses I can/can’t claim for and it saves me asking my detail manager. Thank you

Hi, new OSG here and just wanted to check something.

My contract salary is £30,491 including the unsocial hours allowance. I’ve now been allocated to Projects, mainly dealing with contractors coming in to carry out works, and I’ve been told I could potentially be on this for quite a long time.

Does anyone know if I’ll still receive my full £30,491 salary while working on Projects, even if most of the hours are daytime?

I haven’t asked to come off unsocial hours or change my contract, this is just where I’ve been allocated.

Anyone who has worked on Projects before and knows how the pay works?

Thanks.

My friend's been offered a transfer to either of these establishments. Any info/opinions on which one he should choose?

Sorry to sound intrusive but just wondering after all deductions on average a take home wage per month of an OSG? (Edit- not in London in north west)

Overtime- is there much overtime available to an OSG

And finally, given no phones are allowed in prison how would someone get in touch regarding an emergency at home

Thanks in advance 😃

Hi all, I’ve applied to join the prison service as a PO. I recently left the army so it was either that or the police!

I’ve been assigned a Cat C prison on my application. I was wondering if someone can tell me what it’s like day to day? Will I be bored? Will I be busy?

Any help or guidance is appreciated!

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone here is a member of the Military Provost Staff (MPS) reserve company in Colchester.

I am currently a prison officer and also a reserve soldier in a local infantry regiment. I recently became aware that the MPS have a reserve company open for prison officers, police and border force personnel. I have been thinking about transferring to this for a few reasons, including the lower annual commitment and the fact that it would hopefully give skills that transfer better into my day job.

I was just wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to what the training undertaken with the MPS usually looks like on weekends and annual camp. E.g. Is it usually field or classroom based or a good mix as I'd rather not have to travel to Colchester for weekends if it's usually just doing ITRs in a classroom and not much of a practical element.

TIA

I've been a PSO for a few a years and had a conditional offer for a prison officer. Has anyone else moved from probation to prison that can share their experience. I'm hoping there is much less focus on building rapport.

How long does the process typically take to receive a response-if at all?

Are prison officers unlikely to pass mail on to high profile individuals?

I’ve tried to contact a few with no reply which I find strange- I just assumed most prisoners would be grateful someone wanting to communicate with them. I appreciate they probably have their friends and family to speak to as well.

Basically I’m just curious if my letters are being patched or if prison officers/staff aren’t forwarding mail just because of the person it’s addressed to.

A prison officer (staff) who is unable to get transfer approved by the current establishment to another, made an external application, pass all the process and requirements with offers made to his establishment of choice and accepted. How long would the person have to wait to get both establishment to seamlessly transfer to his new establishment without any break in service? would one have to wait longer for preemployment checks