HMP/YOI Isis: Key Facts, Visiting and Contact
Last reviewed: July 2026
What kind of prison is Isis?
Opened in 2010, Isis was purpose-built as a young adult establishment focused on education, skills and work. As a Category C training and resettlement prison it sits in the middle of the security scale – closed conditions, but with a regime intended to prepare young men for release. Its population comes largely from the London courts and boroughs. For how categorisation works generally, see our guide to the types of prison and prisoners.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Category C training and resettlement prison / young offender institution |
| Holds | Young adult men (mainly aged 18–30), around 600–650 places |
| Opened | 2010, on the Belmarsh site in Thamesmead, SE London |
| Operator | HM Prison and Probation Service (public sector) |
| Address | HMP/YOI Isis, 1 Belmarsh Road, Thamesmead, London SE28 0EB |
| Visit booking | Online at gov.uk/prison-visits once you are on the prisoner’s visitor list |
What inspectors say
HM Inspectorate of Prisons carried out an unannounced inspection in November–December 2025. The published report found a mixed picture: the regime, work and training offer had improved since the previous inspection, and inspectors praised determined leadership driving improvement – but there was still too much violence, drugs were widely available, and too many young men were locked up during the day with too few allocated to education, skills and work. The prison’s Independent Monitoring Board reports raise similar themes. If someone you love is at Isis and struggling, encourage them to use the wing staff, chaplaincy and Listeners scheme, and see our guide to getting help inside.
Visiting Isis
You must be on the prisoner’s approved visitor list before you can book. Book free online via GOV.UK with the prisoner’s name, date of birth and prison number. Bring accepted photo ID; arrive with time to clear security. The prison is reached via Plumstead or Woolwich Arsenal stations and local buses, and shares its visitor approach with Belmarsh – leave extra time on busy days. Money can be sent via the GOV.UK send money to a prisoner service, and mail should include the prisoner’s full name and number.
• “Isis is part of Belmarsh” – they share a site and an outer wall, but are entirely separate prisons with different regimes and booking systems.
• “It’s a children’s prison” – Isis holds young adults 18 and over, not under-18s.
• “Category C means low risk of everything” – it is a closed prison; visits, property and mail rules are strictly enforced.
• “You can just turn up to visit” – visits must be booked in advance and you must already be on the visitor list.
Preparing for release from Isis
Because Isis is a resettlement-focused prison, the final months of a sentence should involve work on housing, employment, bank accounts and identity documents, supported by the prison’s resettlement team and the young man’s community offender manager. Families can help enormously by keeping letters and calls going, confirming a release address early, and gathering documents (birth certificate, National Insurance number) that speed up benefits and job applications. Charities including the Prison Reform Trust and Switchback work with young Londoners leaving custody, and under the Sentencing Act 2026 release planning now starts earlier in the sentence for many prisoners, so ask about it well before the release date.
FAQ
How do I find out if someone is at Isis?
Use the GOV.UK find a prisoner service – you will need their date of birth, and the prisoner must consent to contact.
What courses and work are available?
Isis has workshops, vocational training and education provision (inspected by Ofsted), with an emphasis on employability for young adults; allocation depends on assessment and availability.
Can prisoners call home?
Yes – in-cell or wing phones call approved numbers only, paid from the prisoner’s PIN account. Family can top this up by sending money.
Who inspects and monitors Isis?
HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the Independent Monitoring Board, and Ofsted for education.
For nearby establishments see our pages on UK prisons A–Z, and for what the early weeks inside feel like, our founder Daniel Hockey writes from first-hand experience of serving a sentence, from HMP Wandsworth to open conditions at HMP Ford.
