The Prison (Amendment) Rules 1990

Made: 27th August 1990

Laid before Parliament: 4th September 1990

Coming into force: 25th September 1990

In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by section 47 of the Prison Act 1952[^f00001], I hereby make the following Rules:

1

These Rules may be cited as the Prison (Amendment) Rules 1990 and shall come into force on 25th September 1990.

2

The Prison Rules 1964[^f00002] shall be amended as follows:

• (a) in rule 7(1) (information to inmates), the words “and of petitioning the Secretary of State” shall be omitted;

• (b) for rule 8 there shall be substituted–

(8) (1) A request or complaint to the governor or Board of Visitors relating to a prisoner’s imprisonment shall be made orally or in writing by that prisoner. (2) On every day the governor shall hear any requests and complaints that are made to him under paragraph (1) above. (3) A written request or complaint under paragraph (1) above may be made in confidence.

Signed

David Waddington — One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State — 27th August 1990

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Prison Rules 1964, as amended, in two respects.

Rule 2(a) removes the reference to the method of petitioning the Secretary of State in the rule regarding the provision of information to prisoners, consequent upon the introduction of a new requests and complaints procedure.

Rule 2(b) makes new provision for prisoners' requests and complaints regarding their imprisonment. It requires the governor to hear on every day any oral requests and complaints that are made to him and establishes the right to make a request or complaint to the governor or Board of Visitors in writing in confidence.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1952 c. 52; section 47 was affected by an amendment to section 52(2) of that Act by section 66(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80).

[^f00002]: S.I. 1964/388; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1971/2019 and 1983/568.