COVID-19 Information Hub
The safety and wellbeing of those living and working in our prisons is a priority for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). We are working with the Scottish Government, Health Protection Scotland, our NHS colleagues and a range of other partners on a daily basis to manage the unprecedented challenges we are all now facing.
The SPS has robust pandemic plans in place which are implemented on a phased basis in response to escalation demands. We continue to follow public health advice, which means that anyone in our care who displays symptoms of the virus will be asked to self-isolate, as well as those how may have been in contact with that individual.
DAILY COVID INFORMATION
As at Monday 16/05/2022 there are currently 131 individuals who are self-isolating across 8 establishments. A significant number of individuals are self isolating due to potential contact with a confirmed case.
There are 58 confirmed cases of COVID amongst those in our care.
We continue to work closely with Public Health colleagues in the relevant health boards in managing these cases.
UPDATES TO VISITING
GUIDANCE
10 May 2022
We do strongly recommend that
you perform a lateral flow test before a visit.
It’s quick and easy to do and you can
order test kits online at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.
Please note, test kits are no longer available to collect from prison visitor centres.
All
visitors on entry to the prison must complete a COVID triage questionnaire. If visitors
answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions, they will not be permitted to attend the
visit. The questionnaire asks:
· Do you or any
member of your household/family have a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19?
· Are you or any
member of your household/family waiting for a COVID-19 test result?
· Have you travelled
internationally to any country which isn’t exempt from self-isolation rules in
the last 10 days?
· Have you had
contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19?
· Have you tested
positive for COVID in the last 10 days?
· Do you have any of
the following symptoms?
o high temperature or
fever
o new, continuous
cough
o loss or alteration
to taste or smell
Visiting
Times
Visiting
times remain altered to reflect staffing arrangements and the impact of
Coronavirus in each establishment. Consequently, visiting times may differ
between establishments. Information regarding local visiting times and
arrangements can be found here.
Face
Masks/Coverings
All visitors over
the age of 12 years of age, and unless exempt, must wear a face mask on
entering the prison, and until seated in the visit area; although not
mandatory, wearing masks throughout the visits is strongly advised.
Visitors
who advise that they are exempt from wearing a face mask will not be required
to wear one. However, visitors who are exempt must advise the
prison when booking the visit or prior to the
visit taking place that they are exempt, to allow the prison to put in place
any necessary arrangements required to safely facilitate the visit.
Hygiene
Rules
around hand washing and use of hand sanitiser should continue to be observed by
all visitors. Hand sanitisers will be available both at the entrance to the prison
and within the visit area. Where possible hand sanitiser will be available at
the table, but where this is not possible, hand sanitiser dispensers will be in
place within the visit area. Visitors will not be permitted to wear disposable
gloves during their visit.
Social
Distancing
Visitors will be
required to maintain a minimum of 1-metre distance from those not in their
group within the establishment and whilst being escorted to and from the
entrance to the visit area.
Visiting
Group Size
Local
risk assessments have been carried out in each establishment to determine the
group size permitted to attend each visiting session. This may vary between
each establishment; further details are available here.
Physical
Contact
People
in custody may make physical contact with their visitors, such as a hug or
handshake, when they first greet at the beginning of the visit and when saying
goodbye at the end of the visit. Both the person in custody and the
visitor must be wearing a face mask where there is any physical contact.
Visitors
under the age of 12 may have physical contact throughout the visit.
Anyone
who is exempt from wearing a face mask/face covering must not make physical
contact during the visit unless they are willing to wear a face covering for
the duration of any physical contact.
Out-with
the brief physical contact, all visitors should maintain a minimum of 2-metres
distance between them and the person in our care.
Refreshments
Visitors and people
in custody are permitted to eat or drink while seated during the visit.
Visitors should make
only one trip to the coffee/tea bar or vending machine during the visit. Antibacterial/antiviral
wipes will be made available beside the vending machines to allow cleaning by
the visitor between uses.
Refreshment
facilities may vary between establishments; more information can be found here.
Paying
in Money
Please
note we remain unable to accept cash payments made in person.
The
preferred, easiest and quickest means for paying in money to people in custody
in SPS establishments remains through online bank transfer with use of
the Online Bank
Transfer Reference Generator. Money is transferred from your own
personal banking app and not via a Government or SPS website. Instructions on
how to do so are available here. International
money cannot be transferred using this service and can only be sent in the
mail.
Cash
sent via Royal Mail is also accepted. If you intend to send cash in the mail,
please refer to Royal Mail for guidance, and note that this may take slightly
longer to process. However, the most secure method of paying in money remains
through online bank transfer.
Property
Property
will only be accepted when received through postal mail and can no longer be
handed in to establishments directly.
Establishment Family Contact Support Details
Visitor Centre Contact Information
Visiting Guidance by Establishment - January 2022
Virtual Visits Mythbusters
Online Bank Transfers
PUBLICATION OF SPS' COVID 19 ROUTE MAP
The SPS is pleased to publish our COVID 19 Route Map which is guided by the Scottish Government's own plan. This plan represents a series of connected, and carefully controlled steps which will be taken to ensure that SPS can move forward, whilst acknowledging the measures we will have to continue to take, such as physical distancing and handwashing to help prevent the spread of the virus or further outbreaks occurring. The SPS will continue to be subject to scrutiny by the independent Inspectorate of Prisons in Scotland and to be accountable to Parliament.
The plan, and underpinning Physical Distancing guidance, focus on the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2 and from Phase 2 to Phase 3.
Our organisational progress and establishment regime development is premised on:
a) having the appropriate level of staff resource available to safely make these changes for all who live, work and visit our prison estate; and
b) having a full suite of health and safety assessments which underpin safe working.
Based on this approach, it may be the case that the SPS will have to move at a different pace from wider society. We will provide more detailed guidance around key dates and what they mean in due course. Please note that the Route Map is a dynamic document subject to flex dependent upon changes in guidance and advice.
SPS COVID 19 ROUTE MAP
SPS COVID ROUTE MAP EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PHYSICAL DISTANCING GUIDANCE