You are required to arrive at the establishment a minimum of 30 minutes before the commencement of your visit, this will allow you to enjoy the full visit time.  If you arrive after this time, you may be refused entry or a reduced visit period. Currently there is no facility to move to a later session. If you are unable to attend on time, please call 01779 485600 and ask for the FCO who will advise on options.

As you enter the prison you will be greeted by staff at the vestibule. You will be asked for your name and who you are visiting. Staff will direct you to place the items that are not permitted within the prison, into the lockers provided. From there you will be asked to walk through a metal detector, whilst any items that you are carrying are passed through a scanning device. Please note, No Mobile Phones, Wireless Devices, Smart Watches or Fitness Bands are allowed.

If the metal detector indicates positively, staff will guide you through the necessary process, which may entail a search with a hand held metal detector and a rub down search. You will then be escorted to the Search Area where a Rub Down Search, similar to that in an Airport will take place.

You will then be asked to take a seat in the visit room, where vending machine facilities are available. You may take in up to £10 in loose coins and a contactless Bank Card. Sharing of food and drinks is prohibited.

For those visiting with babies and toddlers, only bottles and bibs are permitted to be taken into the visit room.

The SPS Dog Unit operate within the establishment. The dogs are highly trained and well behaved, but if their presence causes you alarm, please discuss this with the Family Contact Officer Staff will be as unobtrusive as possible within the visit area; they will however remain vigilant at all times and be supported by CCTV within the area.

We have a team of family contact officers; one of them will be available to you at all visit sessions.

For virtual visits register your account on the email a prisoner website. 48 hours’ notice is required for virtual visits.

• You must be over 16 years old to register.
• You must be on the Prisoners approved visit list with the correct address and identification.
• On completion you will receive a confirmation message including your name, date and time of the virtual visit. Please confirm at earliest opportunity as this visit may be reallocated if not confirmed.
• Before your virtual visit starts you will be instructed to read and agree to the Terms and Conditions and click ‘join’ to access the virtual visit, which will then start automatically at the scheduled time.
• If you do not accept the Terms and Conditions of use, the virtual visit will not take place

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.