Search Legislation

Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989, Cross Heading: Confinement and treatment of prisoners. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Confinement and treatment of prisonersS

[F110 Place of confinement of prisoners.S

(1)A prisoner may be lawfully confined in any prison.

(2)Prisoners shall be committed to such prisons as the Secretary of State may from time to time direct, and may be moved by the Secretary of State from any prison to any other prison.

(3)The foregoing provisions of this section are without prejudice to section 11 of this Act and section 241 of the [F11975 Act] (transfer of prisoner in connection with hearing of appeal).]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 10 substituted (1.10.1993) by 1993 c. 9, s.22 (with ss. 5(1), 6(1), 10, 27 and 47(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 2, 6 and 7); S.I. 1993/2050, art. 3(4).

By 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 86(2) it is provided (1.4.1996) that for the words “1975 Act” where they occur in 1993 c. 9 there shall be substituted “1995 Act”

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 10 excluded (18.9.1998) by S.I. 1998/2251, art. 16(5)

11 Removal of prisoners for judicial and other purposes.S

(1)Rules under section 39 of this Act may provide in what manner an appellant within the meaning of [F2section 132 of the 1995 Act], when in custody, is to be taken to, kept in custody at, and brought back from, any place at which he is entitled to be present for the purposes of that Act, or any place to which the High Court of Justiciary or any judge thereof, may order him to be taken for the purposes of any proceedings of that court.

(2)The Secretary of State may, if he is satisfied that a person detained in Scotland in a prison requires medical or surgical treatment of any description, direct him to be taken to a hospital or other suitable place for the purpose of the treatment.

(3)Where any person is directed under the last foregoing subsection to be taken to any place he shall, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, be kept in custody while being so taken, while at that place, and while being taken back to the prison in which he is required in accordance with law to be detained.

(4)The governor or any officer of a prison may execute any warrant issued by the High Court of Justiciary for the removal of a prisoner in that prison to any other prison for the purpose of trial before that court.

(5)The Secretary of State may make regulations as to the mode in which and the officers by whom warrants issued under the last foregoing subsection shall be executed.

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 11(1) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 75(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 11(4) modified (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 110(3)(4); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

S. 11(4) modified (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 112(3)(4)(a)(6); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

12 Photographing and measuring of prisoners.S

[F3Rules under section 39 of this Act may provide for] the measuring and photographing of prisoners and F4. . . may prescribe the time or times at which, and the manner and dress in which prisoners shall be measured and photographed, and the number of copies of the measurements and photographs of each prisoner which shall be made and the persons to whom they shall be sent.

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 12 substituted (18.8.1993) by 1993 c. 9, s. 47(1), Sch. 5 para. 6(2)(a) (with s. 47(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 2); S.I. 1993/2050, art. 3(2), Sch.1.

13 Legal custody of prisoner.S

[F5Without prejudice to section 295 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46) (legal custody of persons generally), a prisoner is ] in legal custody—

(a)while he is confined in or being taken to or from any prison in which he may be lawfully confined; or

(b)while he is working or is, for any other reason, outside the prison in the custody or under the control of an officer of the prison [F6 , a constable (“constable” having the same meaning as it has, by virtue of paragraph 17(1) and (2) of Schedule 1 to the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (c. 43), in section 40(1) of this Act) or a police custody and security officer] ; or

(c)while he is being taken to any place to which he is required or authorised by or under this Act to be taken; or

(d)while he is kept in custody in pursuance of such requirement or authorisation.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3S. 13(b) modified (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 110(4); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

S. 13(b) modified (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 112(3)(4)(b)(6); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

14 Legalised police cells.S

(1)The Secretary of State, on the application of [F7the Scottish Police Authority], may from time to time by rules under [F8section 39 of] this Act declare that any police cells or other premises in the possession of the [F9Scottish Police Authority] shall be a legal prison for the detention of prisoners before, during or after trial for any period not exceeding 30 days. Any such police cells or other premises are hereinafter referred to as legalised police cells.

(2)Any person charged with or convicted of any crime or offence committed within [F10the area of a council]who might have been lawfully confined in a prison situated therein may be lawfully confined in any legalised police cells situated in that F11. . . area for such period as aforesaid.

(3)The maintenance of prisoners confined in any legalised police cells shall be deemed to be the maintenance of prisoners under this Act:

Provided that the [F12Scottish Police Authority] shall not be entitled to any payment for the use of the legalised police cells or for services rendered by any of their officers in connection with the detention or removal of the prisoners so confined.

(4)The [F13Scottish Police Authority ], notwithstanding anything in this section, shall at all times have a prior claim to the uninterrupted use of any legalised police cells F14....

(5)For the purposes of this section the [F15Scottish Police Authority] and all persons in their employment shall be subject to the provisions of this Act and any rules made thereunder.

(6)It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to make any arrangements required for the removal of any prisoners confined in legalised police cells in the [F16areas of the councils for Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands].

F17(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)For the purposes of [F18section] 39 of this Act, legalised police cells shall be deemed to be prisons.

[F19(9) In this section, “ council ” means a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. ]

Textual Amendments

F7Words in s. 14(1) substituted (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 7 para. 8(a)(i); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

F8Words in s. 14(1) inserted (18.8.1993) by 1993 c. 9, s. 47(1), Sch. 5 para. 6(3) (with s. 47(2), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 2); S.I. 1993/2050, art. 3(2), Sch. 1.

F9Words in s. 14(1) substituted (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 7 para. 8(a)(ii); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

F10Words in s. 14(2)(5) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 162(1)(3)(a)(i)(b); S.I. 1995/3326, art. 3(a)(b)

F12Words in s. 14(3) substituted (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 7 para. 8(b); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

F13Words in s. 14(4) substituted (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 7 para. 8(c); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

F14Words in s. 14(4) repealed (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

F15Words in s. 14(5) substituted (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 7 para. 8(d); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

F16Words in s. 14(6) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 162(1)(3)(c); S.I. 1995/3326, art. 3(a)(b)

F17S. 14(7) repealed (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)

15 Right of sheriff or justice to visit prison.S

(1)A sheriff [F20, summary sheriff] or justice of the peace may visit any prison within his jurisdiction or in which a prisoner is confined for any offence committed within his jurisdiction, and may examine the condition of the prison and of the prisoners therein and enter in the visitors book to be kept by the governor of the prison any observations on the condition of the prison or on any abuses therein.

(2)Nothing in the foregoing subsection shall authorise a sheriff [F21, summary sheriff] or justice of the peace to communicate with any prisoner except on the subject of his treatment in the prison nor to visit any prisoner under sentence of death.

(3)It shall be the duty of the governor of a prison to draw the attention of [F22an independent prison monitor] to any entry in the visitors book made in pursuance of this section[F23at the next time such a monitor visits the prison].

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources