PART 8

COMMUNICATIONS

PRISONERS' CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

Confidential correspondence which cannot be clearly identified
57
1
This rule applies to a letter or package which—
a
cannot be clearly identified from the outer face of the envelope or packaging as containing or comprising confidential correspondence;
b
an officer or employee has opened, and removed the contents thereof, under rule 55(2);
c
the officer or employee proposes to read in accordance with rule 55(4); and
d
the officer or employee subsequently identifies as containing or comprising confidential correspondence.
2
From the moment that an officer or employee identifies a letter or package to which this rule applies as containing or comprising confidential correspondence, that letter or package must be treated in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4).
3
The contents of a letter or package to which this rule applies must not be read by an officer or employee unless that officer or employee has—
a
been authorised by the Governor to do so under paragraph (4); and
b
informed the prisoner who wishes to send the letter or package or to whom the letter or package is addressed of the reason for reading the contents of the letter or package.
4
The Governor may authorise an officer or employee to read the contents of a letter or package to which this rule applies where the Governor has reasonable cause to believe that the contents of the letter or package may—
a
endanger the security of the prison;
b
endanger the safety of any person; or
c
relate to a criminal activity.
5
In this rule “confidential correspondence” has the meaning given by rule 56(7).
Rules 55-57 substituted for rules 55-59 (24.3.2016) by The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/131), rules 1, 2(9)