You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the visit session starts.

This is to allow sufficient time to process your details and allow you to go through the security procedures. On entering the main door of the prison go to the desk on the right, as you walk in. You will be greeted by staff who will ask for the information of the prisoner you are visiting. At this point you will be required to present your identification to the staff and then you will be allocated your table number for the visit.

You will not be allowed to take in any mobile phones, cameras, purses or wallets (however you are allowed to take up to £10 in cash into the visit for the use at the café). There are lockers for any belongings you are not permitted to take into the establishment. You will need a £1 coin to operate the locker which is refundable. If you have a baby with you, you can take essentials such as a change of nappy, baby wipes and plastic baby bottle with milk – baby food is not permitted.

Please also note that no outdoor or hooded tops are permitted in the visit room.

All visitors will be asked to walk through a metal detector and given a rub down search by a member of staff. Your belongings will be put through an x-ray machine. 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.

After a short time in the waiting area, you will be taken to the visits room. You will be asked to take a seat at the table you have been allocated, and the offenders will then be brought in. Five minutes before the end of the session, you will be made aware, At the end of the session prisoners will leave first and then visitors will be asked to exit.

There is always a Family Contact Officer (FCO) available for anyone wishing to speak to them throughout the visits. We provide a small café during all sessions, with limited stock, selling tea, coffee, soup, crisps and sweets. There are toilet facilities, including disabled toilets and baby changing facilities available as well as a children’s play area, which is unsupervised therefore supervision is the responsibility of parents. Greenock can facilitate those who may require wheelchair access or who have mobility difficulties. If you require additional assistance please do not hesitate to contact us prior to attending.

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.