On arrival at the barrier you should press the intercom and advise the staff member you are there for a visit. Once through, bear to the left and park in the visitor spaces, 10 yards from the barrier. On your right hand side you will see the Link Centre – this is where the visits take place.

Everyone attending the prison for a visit must book in at the Links Centre, at least 10 minutes before the visit session starts. This is to allow sufficient time to process your details prior to the visit. The centre staff will log you in on the system and it’s important this is done first; you can then use the facilities and relax until your visit session starts. If you are early please go into the Link Centre where there are facilities to wait in comfort.

You will require your identification at this stage. You will be allowed to take in a purse or wallet. If you have a baby with you, you can take essentials such as a change of nappy, baby wipes and baby bottle with milk – baby food is permitted. The baby items must be left on the links centre desk in the visit room, but you can access them when you need to.

On entering the main door of the Link Centre, there is a front desk with prison officers staffing it. You will be required to present your identification to the staff. The staff will then advise you were you can wait for the visit to commence. There will be staff in this area to help and offer guidance. From November 2014 we aim to have a Family Contact Officer (FCO) available for advice and support also.

In the waiting area you can deposit money for offenders PPC; at the desk the officers will give you a receipt for this.

Visitors may be subject to a rub down search. At times, there may be the SPS Dog Unit operating at the visits – it’s nothing to worry about and you will be given instructions by the staff. If you have any concerns at all – please talk to a member of staff. Visitors can choose where they would like to sit, and will be made aware 5 minutes prior to the end of the session.

To gain access to the establishment for the purpose of visiting, you must have two forms of identification, one of which must be photographic ID, the other being proof of address.

Entry to the establishment will not be permitted without acceptable identification.

The following examples shall be accepted as suitable for photographic ID purposes:

• Valid Passport
• Photographic Driving Licence
• Citizen/Validate UK Card
• Senior Citizens Bus Pass
• Workplace photo ID card
• Photographic Bank Card
• other official photo ID i.e. membership card

The following examples shall be accepted as suitable for proof of address, provided it is less than 3 months old:

• Utility bill
• Council tax bill
• Benefit book
• other letter from official source

Official visitors require Identification cards.

Agents are required to carry their Law Society of Scotland ID Cards.

A Photographic Driving Licence can be used as an acceptable form of ID for both photographic ID and proof of address.

Child-specific visits are available throughout the SPS estate and are provided in addition to a person in custody statutory visiting rights.

They provide an opportunity for parents to interact with their child/children and spend time together in a relaxed environment.  These are applied for by the person in custody.

The factors detailed below are intended as a guide and each application should be considered on its own merits:

• The child or children must be under the age of 17.
• The person in custody requesting the visits must be the parent, stepparent, kinship carer of the child or have, or have had, the responsibility for the care and custody of the child. Applications may be considered where such a relationship has not been established however there should be compelling grounds for accessing these visits. Any exceptions to the normal criteria should be considered by a Head of Operations on an individual basis.
• Confirmation must be made there are no child protection/welfare concerns or issues; and
• Any parent who is allowed to have access to their child/children will normally be able to apply for children’s visits

Conditions of Children’s Visits:

• • The child must be accompanied to the visit by one approved responsible adult and this person will be aged 18 or over.
  • A person aged 16 or over may accompany a child with the prior approval of the head of operations at establishment.
  • The accompanying adult will be responsible for the care of the child during the visits.