The Visitor Centre at Edinburgh is open 7 days a week, from Mon to Fri 09:00 – 21:00, Sat 09:00 – 16:00 & Sun 12:00 – 16:00. It is a purpose built building managed by Barnardo’s in conjunction with the SPS and the Onward Trust. It provides support for families affected by imprisonment visiting a friend or relative. The centre offers a welcoming and supportive environment especially for first time visitors who are unsure of prison procedures.

The visitors centre has a café, which sells hot food and drinks; there is an outside and inside play area for children (parent’s responsibility to supervise) and lockers for any belongings not permitted in the establishment. You will need a £1 coin to operate the locker which is refundable. Toilet facilities are available in the centre.

Everyone attending the prison for a visit must book in at the visitor centre, at least 30 minutes before the visit session starts. This is to allow sufficient time to process your details and walk the short distance to the visits room. 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 is called.

If you have a baby with you, you can take essentials such as a change of nappy, baby wipes and baby bottle with milk – no baby food is permitted. The baby items must be left on the FCO’s desk in the visit room, but you can access them when you need to.

On entering the prison through the main door you will be required to present your identification to staff. You will then walk through a metal turn-style into a secure waiting area. There will be staff in this area to help and offer guidance.

All visitors will be asked to walk through a metal detector and given a rub down search by a member of staff. 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.

You will be taken down a short corridor to the visits room where you will be met by the FCO and they will allocate you a seat. Once visitors are seated the prisoners will then be brought in. You will be made aware 5 minutes prior to the end of the session. At the end of the session prisoners will leave first and then visitors will be asked to exit.

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.