The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Amendment Rules 1998

Amendment of rule 55 of the principal Rules

24.—(1) Rule 55 of the principal Rules (visits by persons of a prisoner’s choice) is amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this rule.

(2) For paragraph (1) there is substituted the following paragraph:–

“(1) This rule applies to visits to a prisoner (other than an untried prisoner or a civil prisoner) by any person with whom the prisoner wishes to communicate.”.

(3) In paragraph (5), for sub-paragraph (b), there is substituted the following sub-paragraph:–

“(b) except where the Governor otherwise authorises and subject to the provisions of any direction made for the purposes of rule 63(3)(a), no officer shall listen to any conversation between the prisoner and his visitor.”.

(4) After paragraph (7) there is inserted the following paragraph:–

“(7A) A Governor shall only permit a visit in terms of this rule by a friend or relative of a prisoner who is, or has previously carried on the profession or vocation of, a journalist, author or media representative if–

(a) the person is visiting on a personal basis and not for professional or vocational purposes; and

(b) before being admitted to the prison he gives a written undertaking to the effect that any material obtained during the visit–

(i) will not be used by him for professional or vocational purposes and in particular for publication or broadcast or use on, or transmission by, any form of electronic medium; and

(ii) will not be disclosed by him to any other person for use by that person or anyone else for the purposes of journalism, broadcasting or publishing.”.

(5) In paragraph (8), for the words “58 to 62” there are substituted the words “58 to 62D”.