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The Prison (Governor’s and Adjudicators’ Punishments) (Amendment) Rules 2026

S.I. 2026/664 · Made 17 June 2026

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PRISONS, ENGLAND AND WALES

Made 17th June 2026

Laid before Parliament 22nd June 2026

Coming into force 2nd September 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by section 47(1) of the Prison Act 1952f1.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1952 c. 52. Section 47(1) was amended by section 6(2) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33) and paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 9 to the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2).

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Amendment of the Prison Rules 1999
  3. 3Amendment to rule 35
  4. 4Amendments to rule 55
  5. 5Amendments to rule 55A
  6. 6Amendments to rule 57
  7. 7Amendment to rule 59
  8. 8Transitional provision
  9. Signature
  10. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(1)

These Rules may be cited as the Prison (Governor’s and Adjudicators’ Punishments) (Amendment) Rules 2026 and come into force on 2nd September 2026.

(2)

These Rules extend to England and Wales.

2Amendment of the Prison Rules 1999

The Prison Rules 1999f1 are amended in accordance with rules 3 to 7.

3Amendment to rule 35

In rule 35 (personal letters and visits), paragraph (2)(b), at the beginning, insert “except where a prisoner is subject to a punishment listed in rule 55(1)(j) or (k),”.

4Amendments to rule 55

In rule 55 (governor’s punishments)—

(a)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

in the opening words, after “(2)”, insert “, (2A)”;

(ii)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “42” substitute “84”;

(iii)

at the end of sub-paragraph (i), before the full stop, insert—

“(j)

in the case of a convicted prisoner, forfeiture of social visits for a period not exceeding 27 days;

(k)

in the case of a convicted prisoner, restriction of social visits to once in every period of 28 days for a period not exceeding 84 days”;

(b)

after paragraph (2), insert—

“(2A)

A punishment listed in rule 55(1)(j) or (k) does not apply in relation to social visits from a child of the prisoner and any adult who is appropriately accompanying that child.

(2B)

In paragraphs (1) and (2A)—

  • “child of the prisoner” means a person under the age of 18 in respect of whom the prisoner—

    1. (a)

      is a parent, or

    2. (b)

      has parental responsibility within the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 1989f1;

  • “social visit” means an in-person visit to a prisoner, but does not include visits from a person acting in a professional or official capacity.”.

5Amendments to rule 55A

In rule 55A (adjudicator’s punishments)—

(a)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

at the end of sub-paragraph (a), for “55(1)(h)” substitute “(h), (j) and (k)”;

(ii)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “42” substitute “84”;

(b)

in paragraph (3), for “42” substitute “84”.

6Amendments to rule 57

In rule 57 (offences committed by young persons)—

(a)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

for “section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1982” substitute “section 329 of the Sentencing Code”;

(ii)

at the end of sub-paragraph (d), before the full stop, insert—

“(e)

a punishment relating to social visits listed in rule 55(1)(j) or (k) must not be imposed;

(f)

the maximum period for an award of additional days is 42 days”;

(b)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

omit “section 99 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 or”;

(ii)

after “section 276”, insert “or 329”.

7Amendment to rule 59

In rule 59 (prospective award of additional days), paragraph (2) for “section 240” substitute “section 240ZAf1”.

8Transitional provision

The amendments made by rules 3 to 6 apply only in relation to an offence against discipline listed in rule 51 of the Prison Rules 1999 committed on or after the day on which these Rules comes into force.

Signature

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Justice

Timpson

Minister of State

Ministry of Justice

17th June 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Prison Rules 1999 (S.I. 1999/728) by extending the punishments available to a governor and to an adjudicator following a finding of guilt for an offence against discipline listed in Prison Rule 51.

Rule 4 increases the maximum number of days for forfeiture of privileges from 42 days to 84 days and adds two new punishments restricting social visits. The new social visits punishments apply only to convicted prisoners and do not apply to visits from prisoners’ children and any appropriately accompanying adult.

Rule 5 increases the maximum number of added days that can be imposed by an adjudicator for an offence against discipline from 42 days to 84 days.

Rule 3 makes consequential amendments to Prison Rule 35 (personal letters and visits) and rule 6 makes consequential amendments to, and updates legislative references in, Prison Rule 57 (offences committed by young persons).

Rule 7 amends Prison Rule 59 (prospective award of additional days) to update a legislative reference.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.