The Verne Prison
The Verne is a prison on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, for men convicted of a sex offence.
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Book and plan your visit to The Verne
Prison visits are temporarily suspended at The Verne following national restrictions in England. We will update here as soon as this changes.
Find out more about visiting someone in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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
- register to use the secure video calling service. Read more about how it works
You can also contact the Prisoners’ Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003
Keep in touch with someone at The Verne
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a resident during their time at The Verne.
Secure video calls
Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends need to download the purple visits app, create an account, register all visitors, and add the prisoner to their contact list.
Phone calls
Residents do not have phones in their rooms 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 The Verne 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 The Verne.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact The Verne.
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, prisoner number and date of birth on the back.
Gifts and parcels
Family and friends can hand in books and legal documents for residents before a visit.
Other items may be accepted by post but you must write to the governor for permission beforehand. If you don’t do this, your parcel will be returned.
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 The Verne
The Verne is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at The Verne has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
All safeguarding processes are overseen by Dorset Safeguarding Adults Board.
Arrival and first night
When a resident first arrives at The Verne, 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 The Verne 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.
Accommodation
Nearly 600 men live at The Verne across 6 units. Each unit has its own common room and dining area. Residents have keys to their own rooms.
Residents have access to a library, operated by Dorset County Council, which includes books in multiple languages and a variety of magazines and newspapers.
There is also a well-equipped gym, fitness and sports programme.
Education and work
The Verne operates a full education programme provided by Weston College, with links to the Open University for distance learning courses.
There is also a wide range of work opportunities for residents throughout the prison, such as in the kitchens, gardens, recycling centre and barbers. Men can work as wing assistants, wing peer support workers and orderlies. There are also roles within The Verne’s woodmill, assembling furniture, and in The Verne’s 4 contract workshops which cover:
- creating breakfast packs for other prisons
- repairing televisions
- repairing bicycles
- creating leather goods for use in prisons.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem, write to The Verne and address your letter to the complaints coordinator within the Business Hub.
If you can’t resolve the problem directly, you can make a complaint to HM Prison and Probation Service.
Contact The Verne
Governor: David Bourne
Telephone: 01305 825 000
Find out about call charges
Address
HMP The Verne
Verne Common Road
Portland
Dorset
DT5 1EQ
Safer custody hotline
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in The Verne call the control room.
Telephone: 01305 825 058
Find out about call charges
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Last updated 6 November 2020 + show all updates
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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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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Added confirmation of secure video calls being made available at this prison.
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Added survey link
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First published.