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Prison Act 1952

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Prison Act 1952 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 11 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. Central administration

    1. 1. General control over prisons.

    2. 2.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    3. 3.Officers and servants of Prison Commissioners.

    4. 4.General duties of Prison Commissioners.

    5. 5.Annual report of Prison Commissioners.

    6. 5A. Appointment and functions of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons.

  3. Visiting committees and boards of visitors

    1. 6.Independent monitoring boards

  4. Prison officers

    1. 7. Prison officers.

    2. 8. Powers of prison officers.

    3. 8A. Powers of search by authorised persons .

    4. 9. Exercise of office of chaplain.

    5. 10. Appointment of prison ministers.

    6. 11. Ejectment of prison officers and their families refusing to quit.

  5. Confinement and treatment of prisoners

    1. 12. Place of confinement of prisoners.

    2. 13. Legal custody of prisoner.

    3. 14. Cells.

    4. 15.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    5. 16. Photographing and measuring of prisoners.

    6. 16A. Testing prisoners for drugs , psychoactive substances and other substances.

    7. 16B. Power to test prisoners for alcohol.

    8. 17. Painful tests.

    9. 18.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    10. 19. Right of justice to visit prison.

    11. 20.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    12. 21. Expenses of conveyance to prison.

    13. 22. Removal of prisoners for judicial and other purposes.

    14. 23. Power of constable etc. to act outside his jurisdiction.

  6. Length of sentence, release on licence and temporary discharge

    1. 24. Calculation of term of sentence.

    2. 25.†Remission for good conduct and release on licence of persons sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

    3. 26, 27.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    4. 28. Power of Secretary of State to discharge prisoners temporarily on account of ill health.

  7. Discharged prisoners

    1. 29.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. 30. Payments for discharged prisoners.

  8. Provision, maintenance and closing of prisons

    1. 33. Power to provide prisons, etc.

    2. 34. Jurisdiction of sheriff, etc.

    3. 35. Prison property.

    4. 36. Acquisition of land for prisons.

    5. 37. Closing of prisons.

    6. 38.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  9. Offences

    1. 39. Assisting a prisoner to escape

    2. 40A.Sections 40B and 40C: classification of articles

    3. 40B.Conveyance etc. of List A articles into or out of prison

    4. 40C.Conveyance etc. of List B or C articles into or out of prison

    5. 40CA.Unauthorised possession in prison of knife or offensive weapon

    6. 40CB.Throwing articles into prison

    7. 40D.Other offences relating to prison security

    8. 40E.Section 40D: meaning of “authorisation” and other interpretation

    9. 40F.Offences under sections 40B to 40D: extension of Crown immunity

    10. 41. Unlawful introduction of other articles.

    11. 42. Display of notice of penalties.

  10. Disposal of property

    1. 42A.Disposal of unauthorised or unattributable property

  11. Places for the detention of young offenders etc

    1. 43.Places for the detention of young offenders etc

    2. 44—46.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  12. Rules for the management of prisons and other institutions

    1. 47. Rules for the management of prisons and places for the detention of young offenders

  13. Miscellaneous

    1. 48.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. 49. Persons unlawfully at large.

    3. 50. Application of certain provisions to remand homes and attendance centres.

  14. Supplemental

    1. 51. Payment of expenses out of moneys provided by Parliament.

    2. 52. Exercise of power to make orders, rules and regulations.

    3. 53. Interpretation.

    4. 54.Consequential amendments, repeals and savings.

    5. 55. Short title, commencement and extent.

  15. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE A1

      Further provision about Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons

      1. Delegation of functions

        1. 1.(1) The Chief Inspector may delegate any of his functions...

      2. Inspection programmes and inspection frameworks

        1. 2.(1) The Chief Inspector shall from time to time, or...

      3. Inspections by other inspectors of organisations within Chief Inspector's remit

        1. 3.(1) If— (a) a person or body within sub-paragraph (2)...

      4. Co-operation

        1. 4.The Chief Inspector shall co-operate with— (a) Her Majesty's Inspectors...

      5. Joint action

        1. 5.(1) The Chief Inspector may act jointly with another public...

      6. Assistance for other public authorities

        1. 6.(1) The Chief Inspector may if he thinks it appropriate...

      7. Joint inspection of courts

        1. 7.(1) The Chief Inspector may inspect any aspect of the...

    2. FIRST AND SECOND SCHEDULES

      . . .

    3. THIRD SCHEDULE

      . . .

    4. FOURTH SCHEDULE

      . . .

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