Personal letters and visitsE+W
10.—(1) Subject to paragraph (7) an inmate shall be entitled—
(a)to send and to receive a letter on his reception into a young offender institution and thereafter once a week; and
(b)to receive a visit twice in every period of four weeks, but only once in every such period if the Secretary of State so directs.
[(1A) During a coronavirus period, the Secretary of State may, either generally or in a particular case, and for such periods of time as the Secretary of State considers necessary, suspend any entitlement to a visit under paragraph (1)(b), if the Secretary of State considers that such a suspension is necessary as a result of the effects, or likely effects, of coronavirus on or in relation to inmates or the young offender institution and proportionate to what is sought to be achieved.]
(2) The governor may allow an inmate an additional letter or visit as a privilege under rule 6 or when necessary for his welfare or that of his family.
(3) The governor may allow an inmate entitled to a visit to send and to receive a letter instead.
(4) The governor may defer the right of an inmate to a visit until the expiration of any period of confinement to a cell or room.
(5) The [independent monitoring board] may allow an inmate an additional letter or visit in special circumstances, and may direct that a visit may extend beyond the normal duration.
(6) The Secretary of State may allow additional letters and visits in relation to any inmate or class of inmates.
(7) An inmate shall not be entitled under this rule to receive a visit from—
(a)any person, whether or not a relative or friend, during any period of time that person is the subject of a prohibition imposed under rule 77; or
(b)any other person, other than a relative or friend, except with the leave of the Secretary of State.
(8) Any letter or visit under the succeeding provisions of these Rules shall not be counted as a letter or visit for the purposes of this rule.