GOOD
PRACTICE IN OFFICIAL PRISON VISITING.
The Ministry of Justice has
requested that examples of "Good Practice in Official Prison
Visiting" should be published on our website. This is, of course, not as
easy as it seems as all establishments are different and OPVs are required to
follow local rules. However there are some areas where standardisation can be
used and what follows is a good example.
The documents outlined below have been
successfully piloted in several Northern area prisons, but only the titles of
the different sections are listed here as the Regional Secretaries'
Co-ordinator is continually updating the information they contain. Branch
Chairmen, Branch Secretaries or Liaison Officers can obtain the latest version
by contacting their Regional Secretary who will forward their request to the
Co-ordinator.
The Pack is divided into sections. Briefly, it
comprises:
Section 1 - Advice
to OPV Liaison Officer on OPV audit and suggested form(s) for smooth-running of
the OPV team; relative information from PSO 4410.
Section 2 - What is
an Official Prison Visitor? Information i) for the prison; ii) for the Official
Prison Visitor; iii) for those interested in prison visiting.
Section 3 -
Posters,referral leaflets; recruitment leaflet; suggested letter to prisoners
who have requested an OPV but are on a waiting-list.
Section 4 -
Ministry of Justice and HMPS Information (including Handbook, PSO 4410 and
information to supplement PSO 4410).
Section 5 -
Information about the NAOPV - i) its history; ii) why NAOPV? Why Branches? Why
subscriptions? Advantages of membership.
Section 6 - Service
Level Agreements and Official Prison Visitors.
Section 7 - Courses
for OPVs - mandatory courses as set out in PSO 4410 - and advice re: other
courses available from HMPS.
Section 8 - Advantages
of wing-visiting.
