Article 91 Special escorted leave

(1)

In this rule, “special escorted leave” means leave of absence from the prison of a prisoner for the purpose of being escorted to his home or other approved place for a visit not exceeding 2 hours, excluding travelling time.

(2)

On the application of an eligible prisoner, the Governor may grant special escorted leave if he is of the opinion that, having regard to the relevant criteria applicable to the granting of such leave and to any operational requirements, it is appropriate to do so.

(3)

For the purposes of this rule, a prisoner is an eligible prisoner if at the time of his application he–

(a)

is confined in a prison, or a category of prison, or a particular part of a prison, to which this rule applies;

(b)

is a life prisoner or is serving a sentence for a term of more than 1 year;

(c)

is and has been for at least 3 months–

(i)

assigned security category C; or

(ii)

in the case of a prisoner who is serving a sentence or period of detention for an indeterminate period, assigned that category but who is for certain purposes treated as if he were assigned security category D; and

(d)

if serving a sentence for a term of more than 1 year, has served at least one third of the term of imprisonment which he is serving at the time of his application.

(4)

For the purposes of special escorted leave in terms of this rule, the Secretary of State may specify in a direction–

(a)

the prisons, categories of prisons, or parts of prisons to which this rule applies;

(b)

the manner in which the Governor shall consider an application for special escorted leave;

(c)

the criteria about which the Governor must be satisfied before he may grant special escorted leave;

(d)

the conditions which may be imposed in relation to any approval of such an application; and

(e)

the timing and duration of special escorted leave and the frequency with which it may be granted to an eligible prisoner.