Chelmsford Prison, found in Springfield Road, is a Male only Category B & Young Offenders Institution (YOI). Built in the 1830's as a county jail for Essex, it currently accepts prisoners direct from courts within its local catchment area, either convicted or on remand.

In 1996, Chelmsford Prison was expanded to relieve overcrowding, with three new wings being built which now form the induction, drug abuse treatment and vulnerable prisoner wings. Most recent figures released in 2007, showed the population to be at a maximum capacity of 695.

In 1999, Chelmsford Prison management were subject to severe criticism over the conditions of the jail as well as response times to cell alarms just five years after a prisoner was beaten to death by his fellow inmate. Two further inspections in 2000 & 2002 subsequently confirmed these findings, but in 2005, the institution was praised for improving standards. However, on Christmas Day, 2007, 18-year old Abdullah Hagar Idris hanged himself in the prison after being informed he was due for deportation.

Chelmsford Prison How to Get There: Being located close to the centre of the town, Chelmsford prison is easily accessible by various methods of transport or on foot.
Buses to Chelmsford Prison are run by Eastern National Bus Company. Bus Route numbers. 48, 53, 55, 56, & 353 currently serve the prison.
If arriving by car, use the Chelmsford Prison postcode CM2 6LQ in your SatNav. There is no parking available at the prison, so it is advisable to use Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre car park in Victoria Road which is approximately 5 minutes walk away.
Chelmsford train station is just under a mile away. Walking will take around 15 minutes, or you can catch one of the buses mentioned above from Chelmsford Bus Station which is directly opposite the rail station.

Chelmsford Prison Address
200 Springfield Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 6LQ

Chelmsford Prison Telephone Number: 01245 552000
Chelmsford Prison Fax Number 01245 552001

Chelmsford Prison Governor: Rob Davis

Chelmsford Prison Visits Booking Information: You can book a visit in two ways. The easiest way is using the Chelmsford Prison telephone number on 01245 552240 or 01245 552 265. The booking line is open between 8.15am - 12.15 & 1.45pm - 4.15pm Monday - Friday.
The other way to arrange a visit is to download and complete the visitors form, and then send it by email.
Your visit must be booked at least 24 hours in advance, and once made, cannot be changed. You will need to include the following information about every visitor, including any children: name, full address, date of birth, and relationship to the person you are visiting. These details must be correct otherwise you will not be permitted to visit.
The maximum number of visitors is six(6) at any one time, consisting of three(3) adults and three(3) children under four(4) years of age, who must remain seated on an adults lap at all times. Any child over the age of four(4) will be required to have a seat of their own and hence one less adult will be permitted. No one under the age of eighteen(18) is allowed to left alone without exception.

Chelmsford Prison Visiting Times: Visits are permitted every day except on Fridays during the following opening times.

Monday 2.15pm - 4pm
Tuesday 2.15pm - 4pm
Wednesday 2.15pm - 4pm
Thursday 2.15pm - 4pm
Friday NO VISITS
Saturday & Sunday 9.30am - 11am
2.15pm - 3.45pm
Bank Holidays 2.15pm - 3.45pm

Please be advised that the latest entry times for afternoon visits is 3.00pm and for morning visits is 10.00am. Should you arrive after these stated times, you will not be allowed entry to the prison.

Chelmsford Prison Your Visit: When you arrive at the Chelmsford Prison Visitors Centre, which is a voluntary run, for your first visit, your ID* will be checked, and a photo & scan of your thumb taken. Your thumb is then scanned both on entry and exit of the prison as a means of identifying you and to speed up the checking process. On future visits, you will only need to request a booking time and scan your thumb.
It is a condition of entry to Chelmsford prison that you comply with the biometric security system. All records will be deleted when the person you have been visiting is discharged from prison.

The only items which you are permitted to take into the prison are as follows.....

• Open visiting order
• Travel expense form
• £15 in coins in a clear bag
• Locker key
• If bringing a baby, you are allowed a bottle, dummy, & nappy
• Jewellery - wedding ring and/or engagement ring, small studs or hooped earrings. No watches or any other items are allowed.

In addition, you are not allowed to wear steel toe capped boots or more than one pair of trousers.

* When providing your identification (ID), at the Chelmsford Prison Visitors Centre, only the following will be accepted....

One of the following with a recognisable photograph:

• Passport (including foreign and time expired passports)
• Driving licence photo ID card
• EU identity card Immigration/HM Customs photo card
• Current employers cards (must show name, photo, signature and the employer must be known to exist
• Citzencard

Alternatively, two of the following are required....

• Recent utility bill (within last three months)
• Recent bank statement (within last three months)
• Paper driving licence (old style, not paper part of photo licence)
• Birth or marriage certificate
• Young person's proof of age card
• Trade Union or National Students' Union membership card
• Foreign identity or resident's card
• Medical card (not E111 card)

All visitors over 16 years old must provide Identification.

Chelmsford Prison Famous Inmates: Notable former inmates include former Arsenal & England footballers Tony Adams and Ian Wright. Adams was jailed after crashing his car and found to be 27 times over the legal alcohol driving limit, whilst Wright was imprisoned after motoring offences relating to tax and insurance. 
Another famous resident was renown British criminal and prison breaker, Alfred George Hinds, who also managed to escape from Chelmsford Prison in the 1950's, the only instance of a jailbreak from the prison in living memory.
More recently, Jack Tweed, the widower of the late reality TV and Big Brother star Jade Goody, had two stretches in Chelmsford Prison. The first for hitting a teenage boy with a golf club and the second for assaulting a taxi driver, during which he had to be moved to a more secure unit after threats from other inmates.

Chelmsford Prison Jobs: Latest figures provided by HMP Chelmsford states that it employs 427 people, of which 227 are prison officers. Vacancies do become available from time to time for a variety of positions, such as nursing, education, & caterering.

Doing Porridge at Chelmsford Prison: In 1979, whilst the prison was undergoing refurbishment, the film of the TV situation comedy series Porridge was shot entirely at Chelmsford Prison.

Chelmsford Prison and The Sex Pistols: The most famous punk rock band of them all, The Sex Pistols, recorded a live album at the jail in 1976 entitled ‘Live at Chelmsford Top Security Prison', which was released 14 years later in 1990.

Chelmsford Prison Map: