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WHAT VISITORS SHOULD EXPECT
All visitors to HMP Altcourse should expect to be treated courteously
and politely. Visitors will be directed, on arrival at the prison,
to report to the Visitors' Centre for initial registration. Visitors
are encouraged to arrive at least twenty minutes prior to the starting
time of the visit, to ensure that the entry searching process does
not delay the start of the visit.
In the Visitors' Centre, visitors will register their arrival, producing
their Visiting Order (VO) and acceptable form of identification (adults
only). Adult visitors will also be enrolled within the Visitor Registration
Scheme (VRS), and receive a bar-coded or similar data-specific identification
tag or non-removable bracelet. Facilities will be available to hand
in permitted items of property and money for prisoner use. A receipt
will be provided for these items. Hand baggage will be deposited in
lockers provided, to which the visitor will retain the key during
the visit.
Visitors will be made aware of the facilities available in the Visitors'
Centre for refreshment, depositing hand baggage and baby changing
facilities. They will also be informed of the maximum amount of money
that they may take into the prison for the purpose of purchasing light
refreshments during the visit.
Once registered, visitors will be called forward to the Entry Building
Visitors' Entrance for searching. Their identification will be rechecked
and they will be directed across to the Visits Hall. At the same time,
within the prison, the prisoner being visited will move to the Visits
building to await the arrival of his visitors.
Volunteer counselling and welfare advice services are also available
within the Visitors Centre.
Searching
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All visitors
to HMP Altcourse will be searched on entry, to the standards set out
in the Searching Strategy
policy document. Consent to being searched is a precondition of entry
into any Global Solutions prison, and notices to this effect can be seen displayed
in the Visitors' Centre and in the entrances to the prison. Exit searching
will also take place following every visiting session.
Searching will be carried out with due regard for the dignity of the
individual and his/her possessions. Manual searching by staff will
be supplemented by the use of x-ray and metal detection equipment,
drug detection dogs and equipment, and CCTV surveillance.
Drug and explosive detection equipment will be deployed in the Visitor
Entrance Search Area, supplemented by periodic use of passive drug
detection ('sniffer') dogs. |
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Drugs
'sniffer' dog and handler carrying out
routine
searches. |
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Visitors will be required to provide an acceptable form of proof of
identity. Once identified, each adult visitor will be entered individually
into the Visitor Recognition System (VRS) that will provide a unique
identifier for entry into, and exit from the prison. Ultraviolet hand
stamping of all adult male visitors will provide an additional verification
of status on entry and exit from the Visits Hall. |
Visitor identification
All visitors to closed prisons over the age of 18, whether visiting
for social or official purposes must be required to prove their identity
at reception. Acceptable forms of identification are:
- Driving licence
- Benefits book
- Employers or Students ID Card (must include clear name, photograph
and signature)
- EC Identity Card
- Senior Citizen's public transport pass issued by the local authority
For other forms of ID that may be accepted please contact the prison.
No visitor will be refused entry without reference to the Senior Manager
on duty. The Director has the discretion to accept any form of identification
that clearly identifies the visitor in a satisfactory way.
Facilities for children
If the visitor's babies/children require a pram/stroller the prison
will supply them and all visitors will use these. The visitor's pram/stroller
will be placed into the storage area until after the visit. Once searching
has been completed, adult visitors will be UV hand stamped, and all
visitors will then move to the Visits Hall. The VO will be handed
to the Visits Supervisor, and the visitors will be directed to a pre-selected
and numbered table. The visit will take place under general CCTV surveillance.
Children frequently find difficulty in coping with prison visiting,
play facilities are therefore provided in HMP for children both in
the Visitors' Centre and within the Visits Hall. Short videos and
toys provided within the children's play area to help keep the children
entertained. Children who behave in a disruptive manner can ruin other
prisoner and family visiting time and we encourage parents to take
responsibility for their children's behaviour.
Conduct of visits
Seating arrangements will be so designed as to place prisoners in
specific seats that are visually identifiable. Explicit sexual, indecent
or other antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated; prisoners will
not be allowed to sit on seats other than those provided for their
use. The same applies also to visitors. Contravention of these rules
may result in early termination of the visit, and/or in disciplinary
action against offending prisoners.
At the conclusion of the visiting session, prisoners will remain in
the Visits Hall until all their visitors have been accounted for and
have left the building. UV verification will ensure that only visitors
leave the Visits building, and VRS verification will ensure that only
visitors leave the Gate/Entry Building. Prisoners will be accounted
for also, prior to the Visits Hall being vacated.
Visiting allowances
On each visit, a maximum of three adults are allowed, plus children.
Statutory VO's are issued on the first and third week only.
Assisted prison visits
If you have a Wife, Husband, Mother, Father, Brother, Sister or a
partner of the same sex who lives with you when they are not in prison,
you may qualify for support. If you are on income support or family
credit this will demonstrate you have a low income. Alternatively,
you may be able to get certificates from the Health Benefits Unit.
If you qualify for assistance, you will get help with travelling expenses
for two visits every four weeks. You may also get help with meals
and other expenses. You can obtain the claim form F2022 from visits
staff who will be happy to give information and guidance. The expenses
must be paid first, and then claimed back from the Assisted Prison
Visits Unit.
The form tells you more about the rules of the scheme. Completed forms
should then be sent to the address shown on the form.
Smoking
The Visits Hall is designated a non-smoking area in the interests
of public health. Signs to this effect will be prominently displayed.
No tobacco products will be carried into visits by prisoners or visitors. |
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