{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/prisons-and-young-offenders-institutions-scotland-rules-1994/article-86",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/prisons-and-young-offenders-institutions-scotland-rules-1994/article-86.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1994/1931",
  "legislation_title": "The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 1994",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/prisons-and-young-offenders-institutions-scotland-rules-1994",
  "path": "article/86",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "86",
  "heading": "Control of admission of visitors",
  "text": "(1) An officer may, prior to admitting any visitor to the prison, ask the visitor–\n(a) to state his name and address and the purpose of his visit; and\n(b) to deposit for the duration of the visit any article in his possession which the officer considers may be prejudicial to security, good order or safety.\n(2) An officer may, where he suspects that the visitor may have concealed anything which may be prejudicial to security, good order or safety, ask the visitor to consent to a search of–\n(a) his person and any of his personal possessions; and\n(b) his open mouth by visual examination of it without the use of force or any instrument.\n(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), a search shall not be construed as involving removal of any of the visitor’s clothing other than an outer coat, jacket, headgear and gloves.\n(4) Without prejudice to section 41(3) of the Act, an officer may, in the event that a visitor refuses to comply with paragraph (1) or give consent for the purposes of paragraph (2), refuse to admit the visitor.\n(5) Where a visitor consents to a search in terms of paragraph (2)(a)–\n(a) the officer carrying out the search shall be of the same sex as the visitor;\n(b) the search shall be carried out outwith the sight of any prisoner or other visitors, or of officers who are not of the same sex as the visitor; and\n(c) the search shall be carried out as expeditiously and decently as possible.\n(6) Without prejudice to rule 63(1), any officer may terminate a visit and remove the visitor from the prison where–\n(a) the officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the visitor is bringing in or taking out, or attempting to bring in or take out, anything which may be prejudicial to security, good order or safety; or\n(b) the visitor’s conduct is prejudicial to good order or discipline.\n(7) Where an officer refuses admission to a visitor or terminates a visit in terms of this rule, he shall record particulars of the matter, including his reasons.\n(8) The Governor shall ensure that a notice explaining the effect of the provisions of this rule and of any directions regarding introduction or prohibited articles shall be displayed prominently in the visitors' area of the prison.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994/1931/article/86",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T13:28:57.887435+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}