OpenLegislation

The Prison Rules 1999

S.I. 1999/728 · Made 10 March 1999 · Extends to England and Wales

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 2 September 2026.

PRISONS

Made 10th March 1999

Laid before Parliament 11th March 1999

Coming into force 1st April 1999

In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by section 47 of the Prison Act 1952M1, I hereby make the following Rules:

Annotations to the whole text

Marginal citations

M1

1952 c. 52; section 47 was affected by an amendment to section 52(2) of that Act by section 66(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80) and was extended by section 85(2) and (4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53).

Contents

  1. Part I
  2. 1Citation and commencement
  3. 2Interpretation
  4. 2ACoronavirus period – transition period Repealed
  5. Part II: PRISONERS
  6. GENERAL
  7. 3Purpose of prison training and treatment
  8. 4Outside contacts
  9. 5After care
  10. 6Maintenance of order and discipline
  11. 7Classification of prisoners
  12. 8Privileges
  13. 9Temporary release
  14. 9ACoronavirus Restricted Temporary Release Repealed
  15. 10Information to prisoners
  16. 11Requests and complaints
  17. WOMEN PRISONERS
  18. 12Women prisoners
  19. RELIGION
  20. 13Religious denomination
  21. 14Special duties of chaplains and prison ministers
  22. 15Regular visits by ministers of religion
  23. 16Religious services
  24. 17Substitute for chaplain or prison minister
  25. 18Sunday work
  26. 19Religious books
  27. MEDICAL ATTENTION
  28. 20Health services
  29. 21Special illnesses and conditions
  30. 22Notification of illness or death
  31. PHYSICAL WELFARE AND WORK
  32. 23Clothing
  33. 24Food
  34. 25Alcohol and tobacco
  35. 26Sleeping accommodation
  36. 27Beds and bedding
  37. 28Hygiene
  38. 29Physical education
  39. 30Time in the open air
  40. 31Work
  41. 31APrescription of certain matters in respect of prisoners’ earnings
  42. EDUCATION AND LIBRARY
  43. 32Education
  44. 33Library
  45. COMMUNICATIONS
  46. 34Communications generally
  47. 35Personal letters and visits
  48. 35AInterception of communications
  49. 35BPermanent log of communications
  50. 35CDisclosure of material
  51. 35DRetention of material
  52. 36Police interviews
  53. 37Securing release
  54. 38Visits from legal advisers
  55. 39Delivery and receipt of legally privileged material
  56. REMOVAL, SEARCH, RECORD AND PROPERTY
  57. 40Custody outside prison
  58. 41Search
  59. 42Record and photograph
  60. 43Prisoners’ property
  61. 44Money and articles received by post
  62. SPECIAL CONTROL, SUPERVISION AND RESTRAINT AND DRUG TESTING
  63. 45Removal from association
  64. 46Close supervision centres
  65. 46ASeparation centres
  66. 47Use of force
  67. 48Temporary confinement
  68. 49Restraints
  69. 50Compulsory testing for controlled drugs , pharmacy medicines and other substances etc. ...
  70. 50AObservation of prisoners by means of an overt closed circuit television system
  71. 50BCompulsory testing for alcohol
  72. OFFENCES AGAINST DISCIPLINE
  73. 51Offences against discipline
  74. 51AInterpretation of rule 51
  75. 52Defences to rule 51(9)
  76. 52ADefences to rule 51(10) and rule 51(11)
  77. 53Disciplinary charges
  78. 53ADetermination of mode of inquiry
  79. 53BDetermination of mode of inquiry in a coronavirus period
  80. 54Rights of prisoners charged
  81. 55Governor’s punishments
  82. 55AAdjudicator’s punishments
  83. 55ABRequirement to pay for damage to prison property
  84. 55BReview of adjudicator’s punishment
  85. 56Forfeiture of remission to be treated as an award of additional days
  86. 57Offences committed by young persons
  87. 58Cellular confinement
  88. 59Prospective award of additional days
  89. 59ARemoval from a cell or living unit
  90. 60Suspended punishments
  91. 61Remission and mitigation of punishments , variation of compensation requirements and quashing of findings of guilt
  92. 61AEnforcement of compensation requirements
  93. Part III: OFFICERS OR PRISONS
  94. 62General duty of officers
  95. 63Gratuities forbidden
  96. 64Search of officers
  97. 65Transactions with prisoners
  98. 66Contact with former prisoners
  99. 67Communications to the press
  100. 68Code of discipline
  101. 69Emergencies
  102. Part IV: PERSONS HAVING ACCESS TO A PRISON
  103. 70Prohibited articles
  104. 70AList C Articles
  105. 71Control of persons and vehicles
  106. 72Viewing of prisons
  107. 73Visitors
  108. Part V: INDEPENDENT MONITORING BOARD
  109. 74Disqualification for membership
  110. 75Independent monitoring board
  111. 76Proceedings of boards
  112. 77General duties of boards
  113. 78Particular duties
  114. 79Members visiting prisons
  115. 80Annual report
  116. Part VI: SUPPLEMENTAL
  117. 81Delegation by governor
  118. 82Contracted out prisons
  119. 83Contracted out parts of prisons
  120. 84Contracted out functions at directly managed prisons
  121. 85Revocations and savings
  122. Signature
  123. Schedule 1Schedule 1
  124. Schedule 2Definition of specified drug Repealed
  125. Explanatory note