Peterhead

Visiting

VISIT ENTITLEMENT
At present a convicted prisoner is entitled to not less than 2 hours in any period of 28 consecutive days. A maximum of 3 adult visitors are allowed. There are no restrictions on children under the age of 16.

The visits are booked by prisoners and passes are sent to visitors by post. Please note that there is no admission to the prison prior to 1.30 pm at the weekends. Visitors should also ensure that they use the visit pass on the day it is valid for. A Family Contact Development Officer is available at the prison and visitors requiring help or advice should phone the prison or ask if he/she is available. The current FCDO is Mr Andrew Wylie.

In the event of an emergency relatives can telephone the prison at any time day or night, and a message will be passed to the prisoner. Tel: 01779 479 101.

Visiting times
Wednesday: 14.00 - 16.00; 18.45 - 20.45; Friday: 18.45 - 20.45; Saturday & Sunday: 14.00 - 16.00.

WHERE IS PETERHEAD PRISON?

Peterhead Prison is located on the north-east coast of Scotland on the south side of the town of Peterhead. It currently houses around 295 long term adult prisoners.

Peterhead itself is situated 32 miles north of Aberdeen and is easily accessible by car and bus.

From Aberdeen take the A92 road then follow the A592 to Peterhead. On approaching Peterhead, at the roundabout, leave by the third exit to the left and take the first turning on the left. The prison is less than half a mile along this road. For car parking, drive past the prison and take the second turnoff on the right. The car park is situated on the left. Disabled parking is at the main gate.

The nearest railway station is Aberdeen which has a rail link from Glasgow (178 miles), Edinburgh (160 miles) and Inverness (110 miles).

A regular bus service runs to and from Aberdeen. The bus station is opposite Aberdeen Railway Station. The journey to the prison takes approximately one hour and the bus stops at the main gate.

In addition, SACRO operates a bus service on the first and third Sunday of every month. Further information regarding this service may be obtained by contacting SACRO - 0141 248 1763; OR SACRO Lothian 0131 622 7500.

PROCEDURES AT VISITS
On entering the prison, visitors will find themselves in a small vestibule with a table. This is manned by a member of staff at weekends. To the right is the visitors' waiting area which is no smoking. There are toilets and a coin operated telephone. Visitors must have their visits pass with them. The pass should be given to a member of staff who will process it and issue the visitor with a token for a locker if required. No bags, food, mobile telephones, cameras or tape recorders may be taken into the visit area. These should be placed in the locker. If visiting during the week, the visits pass should be presented to the gate staff at the glass panel on the left.

SEARCHING
Prior to going to the visit, visitors are asked to go through metal detection equipment similar to that used in airports. They will be asked to display any metal objects detected by the equipment. Under current regulations, visitors may also be asked to undergo a rub down search of their person, and any items being carried will also be checked. These searches will be carried out by prison staff.

SMOKING
From January 1999, HMP Peterhead has operated a smoking policy in line with current Government health advice. All visit rooms and visitors waiting areas are no smoking. Visitors' co-operation in this matter is appreciated.

VISIT AREAS
Currently at Peterhead there are 2 visit areas; during the week only the top visit area is in use. Visitors are escorted to the visit room by a Prison Officer. The visit room is equipped with disabled toilets, baby changing equipment and vending machines which dispense a variety of drinks and confectionery. Items purchased at these machines can be given to the person being visited, and they must be consumed at the visit. Visitors may leave £2.00 for prisoners to purchase confectionery in the prison canteen. This money should be given to the Officer on duty in the visit room.

At the weekend the bottom visit room is in operation. It is similarly equipped to the other visit room. In the place of vending machines there is a tea bar run by the WRVS or staff, where visitors can purchase drinks and confectionery. Visitors may purchase confectionery from the tea bar to the value of £2.00 that the prisoner will receive on their return to the hall. Prisoners are not allowed to purchase items from the tea bar.

SUPERVISION
All visits are supervised by Prison Officers and are monitored by closed circuit television cameras linked to video recording equipment. Visitors involved in passing prohibited articles during a visit will be handed over to the police. Any prisoner found passing or receiving prohibited articles will be reported to the Governor and subsequently placed on closed visits.

TELEPHONES
In addition to visits, prisoners are allowed access to telephones at certain times throughout the day. These telephones can only be used to make outgoing calls. The telephones operate with specially supplied SPS phonecards which are purchased at the prison canteen.

Phone times
Monday to Friday: 07.25 - 08.10; 12.00 - 13.30; 18.30 - 21.10; Weekend: 07.30 - 12.00; 13.40 - 17.00

MONEY
Visitors are permitted to hand in or post in money to prisoners. This can be in the form of cash or postal orders. If it is less than £3.00, it can be accepted without a pro-form. Money or postal orders in excess of £3.00 must be accompanied by a pro-form. During weekday visits, money should be given to the staff at the main gate who will issue you with a receipt. At weekends, money will be collected by the staff on duty in the visits room who will also issue visitors with a receipt.

SOCIAL WORK UNIT
The prison has a full time social work unit which operates Monday to Friday between 09.00 and 17.00. The Senior Social Worker is Mrs. Anne Shirran. Social work staff will be pleased to assist visitors with any problems or information of a social work nature.


	Address: HMP Peterhead Aberdeenshire AB24 2YY		Tel:(01779) 479101 Fax:(01779) 470529

	Intro Peterhead Prison, sited 32 miles north of Aberdeen, can accommodate up to 295 prisoners including A category. It is a national resource for convicted, long term sex offenders offering a range of programmes designed to challenge offending behaviour in order to reduce the risk of reoffending on return to the community.
	Visiting VISIT ENTITLEMENT At present a convicted prisoner is entitled to not less than 2 hours in any period of 28 consecutive days. A maximum of 3 adult visitors are allowed. There are no restrictions on children under the age of 16. The visits are booked by prisoners and passes are sent to visitors by post. Please note that there is no admission to the prison prior to 1.30 pm at the weekends. Visitors should also ensure that they use the visit pass on the day it is valid for. A Family Contact Development Officer is available at the prison and visitors requiring help or advice should phone the prison or ask if he/she is available. The current FCDO is Mr Andrew Wylie. In the event of an emergency relatives can telephone the prison at any time day or night, and a message will be passed to the prisoner. Tel: 01779 479 101. Visiting times Wednesday: 14.00 - 16.00; 18.45 - 20.45; Friday: 18.45 - 20.45; Saturday & Sunday: 14.00 - 16.00. WHERE IS PETERHEAD PRISON? Peterhead Prison is located on the north-east coast of Scotland on the south side of the town of Peterhead. It currently houses around 295 long term adult prisoners. Peterhead itself is situated 32 miles north of Aberdeen and is easily accessible by car and bus. From Aberdeen take the A92 road then follow the A592 to Peterhead. On approaching Peterhead, at the roundabout, leave by the third exit to the left and take the first turning on the left. The prison is less than half a mile along this road. For car parking, drive past the prison and take the second turnoff on the right. The car park is situated on the left. Disabled parking is at the main gate. The nearest railway station is Aberdeen which has a rail link from Glasgow (178 miles), Edinburgh (160 miles) and Inverness (110 miles). A regular bus service runs to and from Aberdeen. The bus station is opposite Aberdeen Railway Station. The journey to the prison takes approximately one hour and the bus stops at the main gate. In addition, SACRO operates a bus service on the first and third Sunday of every month. Further information regarding this service may be obtained by contacting SACRO - 0141 248 1763; OR SACRO Lothian 0131 622 7500. PROCEDURES AT VISITS On entering the prison, visitors will find themselves in a small vestibule with a table. This is manned by a member of staff at weekends. To the right is the visitors' waiting area which is no smoking. There are toilets and a coin operated telephone. Visitors must have their visits pass with them. The pass should be given to a member of staff who will process it and issue the visitor with a token for a locker if required. No bags, food, mobile telephones, cameras or tape recorders may be taken into the visit area. These should be placed in the locker. If visiting during the week, the visits pass should be presented to the gate staff at the glass panel on the left. SEARCHING Prior to going to the visit, visitors are asked to go through metal detection equipment similar to that used in airports. They will be asked to display any metal objects detected by the equipment. Under current regulations, visitors may also be asked to undergo a rub down search of their person, and any items being carried will also be checked. These searches will be carried out by prison staff. SMOKING From January 1999, HMP Peterhead has operated a smoking policy in line with current Government health advice. All visit rooms and visitors waiting areas are no smoking. Visitors' co-operation in this matter is appreciated. VISIT AREAS Currently at Peterhead there are 2 visit areas; during the week only the top visit area is in use. Visitors are escorted to the visit room by a Prison Officer. The visit room is equipped with disabled toilets, baby changing equipment and vending machines which dispense a variety of drinks and confectionery. Items purchased at these machines can be given to the person being visited, and they must be consumed at the visit. Visitors may leave £2.00 for prisoners to purchase confectionery in the prison canteen. This money should be given to the Officer on duty in the visit room. At the weekend the bottom visit room is in operation. It is similarly equipped to the other visit room. In the place of vending machines there is a tea bar run by the WRVS or staff, where visitors can purchase drinks and confectionery. Visitors may purchase confectionery from the tea bar to the value of £2.00 that the prisoner will receive on their return to the hall. Prisoners are not allowed to purchase items from the tea bar. SUPERVISION All visits are supervised by Prison Officers and are monitored by closed circuit television cameras linked to video recording equipment. Visitors involved in passing prohibited articles during a visit will be handed over to the police. Any prisoner found passing or receiving prohibited articles will be reported to the Governor and subsequently placed on closed visits. TELEPHONES In addition to visits, prisoners are allowed access to telephones at certain times throughout the day. These telephones can only be used to make outgoing calls. The telephones operate with specially supplied SPS phonecards which are purchased at the prison canteen. Phone times Monday to Friday: 07.25 - 08.10; 12.00 - 13.30; 18.30 - 21.10; Weekend: 07.30 - 12.00; 13.40 - 17.00 MONEY Visitors are permitted to hand in or post in money to prisoners. This can be in the form of cash or postal orders. If it is less than £3.00, it can be accepted without a pro-form. Money or postal orders in excess of £3.00 must be accompanied by a pro-form. During weekday visits, money should be given to the staff at the main gate who will issue you with a receipt. At weekends, money will be collected by the staff on duty in the visits room who will also issue visitors with a receipt. SOCIAL WORK UNIT The prison has a full time social work unit which operates Monday to Friday between 09.00 and 17.00. The Senior Social Worker is Mrs. Anne Shirran. Social work staff will be pleased to assist visitors with any problems or information of a social work nature.
	Further Information Contribution to SPS Aims and KPI's The staff of HMP Peterhead has served the SPS well. During the 1960's, 1970's, and worst of all the 1980's they dealt with a prisoner group where violence and aggression were never far below the surface. The establishment was under threat of closure in the late 80's but in the early 90's the prison began to re-invent itself and has emerged as a leading centre for the management and 'treatment' of sex offenders. This required significant cultural change supported by intensive training and willingness to work with what are considered the most socially unacceptable of our offenders. Their willingness to change and adapt was evident when A Hall was opened as the Sex Offender National Induction Centre; the population increased by 50% and complements reduced in other residential halls to provide the necessary staff. The staff then set about a comprehensive training programme in risk/need assessment, sentence management, case conferences, and motivational interviewing. HMP Peterhead is now a unique prison in the SPS with a contribution to Agency targets disproportionate to its prisoner population yet achieved with a cost per prisoner place less than the Agency target. The staff of HMP Peterhead have demonstrated their commitment and willingness to adapt and change, and continue to do so. Regime Development Objectives. Within the Scottish Prison Service, Peterhead now provides a dedicated facility for the location and treatment of men convicted of sexual offences who are sentenced to 4 years or more. The prison holds 300 prisoners all of whom are long term sexual offenders. Prisoners are received from their local prison as soon as possible after sentence and are admitted into the Sex Offender National Induction Centre at Peterhead. Their personal officers during induction and assessment are all specially trained in Risk Needs Assessment and Motivational Interviewing. This is the start of a process of structuring expectations towards engaging in offence specific work. The environment created facilitates the personal change process in an atmosphere which is fundamentally important in supporting our work without the inhibitions of alternative protection strategies as are necessary in mainstream prisons. The regime is structured to ensure that location in the prison and offence related work are complimentary. Importantly, HMP Peterhead is meeting regime development objectives in that two Accredited Programmes and one programme due for accreditation this year are currently being delivered. Moreover, a range of Approved Activities, which will in the future be submitted for accreditation, are being delivered. HMP Peterhead has been assessed as an Accredited Site. At HMP Peterhead the consequence of this approach is a dedicated facility and total culture harnessed towards victim reduction.