1998 No. 472
SECURE TRAINING CENTRES, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Secure Training Centre Rules 1998
Made 27th February 1998
Laid before Parliament 6th March 1998
Coming into force 16th April 1998

The Secretary of State, in pursuance of section 47 of the Prison Act 1952 and section 7 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, hereby makes the following Rules:
1952 c.52; section 47 was amended by section 6 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c.33). There are other amendments which are not relevant to these Rules.
1994 c.33.

1 Citation and commencement
These Rules may be cited as the Secure Training Centre Rules 1998 and shall come into force on 16th April 1998.

2 Interpretation
In these Rules unless the contrary intention appears the expression:
“centre" means a secure training centre;
“compulsory school age" has the meaning assigned to it in section 580 of the Education Act 1996 ;
“governor" includes an officer for the time being in charge of a centre;
“independent person" means a person appointed under rule 44 to visit centres and to whom representations may be made by trainees;
“legal adviser" means, in relation to a trainee, his counsel or solicitor, and includes a clerk acting on behalf of his solicitor;
“officer" means an officer of a centre; and
“trainee" means a person detained in a centre.
1996 c.56.

3 Statement of purpose
1 The aims of a centre shall be—
(a) to accommodate trainees in a safe environment within secure conditions; and
(b) to help trainees prepare for their return to the outside community.
2 The aim mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) above shall be achieved, in particular, by—
(a) providing a positive regime offering high standards of education and training;
(b) establishing a programme designed to tackle the offending behaviour of each trainee and to assist in his development;
(c) fostering links between the trainee and the outside community; and
(d) co-operating with the services responsible for the trainee’s supervision after release.
3 A statement of the aims mentioned in paragraph (1) above and how they are to be achieved shall be prepared and displayed in each centre and shall be made available on request—
(a) to trainees;
(b) to any person visiting the centre; and
(c) to any person inspecting the centre.

4 Classification
Trainees may be classified, in accordance with any direction of the Secretary of State, taking into account their ages, characters and circumstances.

5 Temporary release
1 A trainee may be temporarily released for any period or periods and subject to any conditions.
2 A trainee released under this rule may be recalled at any time whether any conditions of his release have been broken or not.

6 Privileges
1 There shall be established at every centre systems of privileges, incentives and sanctions approved by the Secretary of State and appropriate to the classes of trainees and their ages, characters and circumstances.
2 Records shall be kept in writing of any privileges or incentives earned and sanctions awarded.

7 Information to trainees
1 Every trainee shall be provided, as soon as possible after his reception into the centre and in any case within 24 hours, with information in writing about those provisions of these Rules and other matters which it is necessary that he should know, including privileges, incentives and sanctions, contact with members of his family or independent persons and the proper method of using the grievance procedure.
2 The governor, or an officer deputed by him, shall so explain the information so provided that he can understand his rights and obligations.
3 A copy of these Rules shall be made available to any trainee, or to any parent of a trainee, who requests it.

8 Grievance procedure
1 There shall be established and administered at each centre a comprehensive grievance procedure, approved by the Secretary of State, to which each trainee and his parent shall have access.
2 Every request by a trainee to see the governor or an independent person shall be recorded by the officer to whom it is made and promptly passed on to the governor.
3 On every day, the governor shall hear any requests to see him that are made under paragraph (2) above.
4 Where a trainee has asked to see an independent person, the governor shall ensure that that person is told of the request as soon as possible.
5 A written request or complaint under the grievance procedure established under this rule may be made in confidence.

9 Visits generally
1 There shall be established at every centre arrangements, approved by the Secretary of State, for trainees to receive visits.
2 Arrangements established under paragraph (1) above shall take account of—
(a) the importance of contact by a trainee with his family, and
(b) the need to keep to a minimum any disruption of his education and training.
3 Subject to the provisions of these Rules, the governor may give such directions as he thinks fit for the supervision of visits to trainees, either generally or in a particular case:
Provided that such directions shall be designed to secure that supervision is not unnecessarily intrusive.

10 Letters generally
1 The Secretary of State may, with a view to securing discipline and good order or the prevention of crime or in the interests of any persons, impose restrictions, either generally or in a particular case, upon the communications to be permitted between a trainee and other persons.
2 Except as provided by statute or these Rules, a trainee shall not be permitted to communicate with any outside person, or that person with him, without the leave of the Secretary of State.
3 Except as provided by these Rules, every letter or communication to or from a trainee may be read or examined by the governor or any officer deputed by him and the governor may, at his discretion, stop any communication on the ground that its contents are objectionable or of inordinate length.

11 Personal letters, telephone calls and visits
1 A trainee shall be entitled—
(a) to send three letters a week, the cost of which shall be met by the centre; and
(b) to receive a visit once a week.
2 Subject to the provisions of these Rules a trainee shall in addition to his entitlement under paragraph (1) above be entitled to send any number of letters at his own expense, to receive any number of letters, to make and receive any number of telephone calls at his own expense and to receive visits.
3 The normal duration of a visit to which a trainee is entitled by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) above shall be one hour.

12 Police interviews
A police officer may, on production of an order issued by or on behalf of a chief officer of police, interview any trainee willing to see him.

13 Legal advisers
1 The legal adviser of a trainee in any legal proceedings, civil or criminal, to which the trainee is a party shall be afforded reasonable facilities for interviewing him in connection with those proceedings and may do so out of hearing of an officer.
2 A trainee’s legal adviser may, with the leave of the Secretary of State, interview the trainee in connection with any other legal business.

14 Correspondence with legal advisers and courts
1 A trainee may correspond with his legal adviser and any court and such correspondence may only be opened, read or stopped by the governor in accordance with the provisions of this rule.
2 Correspondence to which this rule applies may be opened if the governor has reasonable cause to believe that it contains an illicit enclosure and any such enclosure shall be dealt with in accordance with the other provisions of these Rules.
3 Correspondence to which this rule applies may be opened, read and stopped if the governor has reasonable cause to believe its contents endanger security in the centre or the safety of others or are otherwise of a criminal nature.
4 A trainee shall be given the opportunity to be present when any correspondence to which this rule applies is opened and shall be informed if it or any enclosure is to be read or stopped.
5 A trainee shall on request be provided with any writing materials necessary for the purposes of paragraph (1) of this rule.
6 In this rule, “court" includes the European Commission of Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice; and “illicit enclosure" includes any article possession of which has not been authorised in accordance with the other provisions of these Rules and any correspondence to or from a person other than the trainee concerned, his legal adviser or a court.

15 Clothing
1 Subject to the following provisions of this rule, a trainee shall be permitted to wear his own clothes at all times.
2 The governor may refuse permission for a trainee to wear his own clothing if he considers that it is unsuitable but if he does so he shall inform the trainee of the reason for his decision.
3 Suitable clothing shall be provided by the centre which is adequate for warmth and health—
(a) if a trainee is not able, or does not wish, to provide his own clothing;
(b) if the governor has refused permission for a trainee to wear his own clothing under paragraph (2) above; or
(c) for the purposes of participation in an activity for which the clothing provided by the trainee is unsuitable.

16 Food
1 The governor shall ensure that trainees are provided with food, in adequate quantities for their needs, which is properly prepared, wholesome and nutritious.
2 So far as practicable the governor shall ensure that meals are provided three times a day at regular intervals and that at each main meal there is a choice for each course, one of which shall be hot at one of those meals.
3 The governor shall ensure that any special dietary need of a trainee, which is due to his health, religious persuasion, racial origin or cultural background, is met.
4 The medical officer shall regularly inspect the food both before and after it is cooked, and shall report any deficiency or defect to the governor.
5 In this rule, “food" includes drink.

17 Alcohol and tobacco
1 Intoxicating liquor shall not be permitted in any part of the centre or its grounds.
2 No trainee shall be allowed to smoke or to have any tobacco or tobacco products in his possession.
3 Smoking shall not be permitted in any part of the centre or its grounds except in a designated smoking room set aside for use only by officers or other members of staff or visitors to the centre.

18 Accommodation
1 Every trainee shall be provided with his own room.
2 No room shall be used as sleeping accommodation for a trainee unless it has been approved by the Secretary of State as fit for the purpose.
3 Male and female trainees shall be accommodated in separate sleeping accommodation and shall be provided with separate toilet and bathing facilities.

19 Beds and bedding
Every trainee shall be provided with a separate bed and with separate bedding adequate for warmth and health.

20 Hygiene
1 Every trainee shall be provided with toilet articles necessary for his health and cleanliness, which shall be replaced as necessary.
2 Every trainee shall be entitled to have a hot bath or shower once a day.
3 A trainee’s hair shall not be cut without his consent except where the medical officer directs that it is necessary for health or cleanliness.

21 Library books
A library shall be provided in every centre and, subject to any directions of the Secretary of State, every trainee shall be allowed to have library books appropriate to his age and to exchange them.

22 Medical attendance
1 The medical officer of a centre shall have the care of the health, mental and physical, of the trainees in that centre.
2 Every request by a trainee to see the medical officer or other member of the healthcare staff shall be recorded by the officer to whom it is made and promptly passed on to the medical officer or, as the case may be, other member of healthcare staff.
3 The medical officer may call another medical practitioner in consultation at his discretion and shall do so if time permits before performing any serious operation.
4 Subject to directions given in any particular case by the Secretary of State, a registered medical practitioner selected by or on behalf of a trainee who is a party to any legal proceedings shall be afforded reasonable facilities for examining him in connection with the proceedings and may do so out of hearing but in the sight of an officer of the same sex as the trainee.

23 Self-harm and suicide assessment
1 Every trainee shall, as soon as possible after his reception into the centre and in any case within 24 hours, be interviewed by a social worker and by a member of the healthcare staff with a view to assessing whether and, if so, the extent to which he has suicidal intentions or a propensity to harm himself.
2 A written assessment of the trainee shall be prepared as soon as practicable after such an interview has concluded.
3 The assessment prepared under paragraph (2) above shall be reviewed at regular intervals throughout the period of the trainee’s detention in the centre and each trainee shall be monitored by a social worker or member of healthcare staff for that purpose.

24 Special illnesses and conditions
1 The medical officer shall report to the governor on the case of any trainee whose health is likely to be injuriously affected by continued detention or any conditions of detention. The governor shall send the report to the Secretary of State without delay together with his own recommendations.
2 The medical officer shall pay special attention to any trainee whose mental condition appears to require it, and make any special arrangements which appear necessary for his supervision or care.
3 The medical officer shall inform the governor immediately if he suspects any trainee of having suicidal intentions or a propensity to harm himself, and the trainee shall be placed under special observation.

25 Notification of illness or death
1 If a trainee dies or becomes seriously ill, sustains any serious injury or is removed to hospital on account of mental disorder, the governor shall at once inform the trainee’s parent or guardian, and also any person who the trainee may reasonably have asked should be informed.
2 If a trainee dies, the governor shall give notice immediately to the coroner having jurisdiction, to the Secretary of State and to the person authorised under rule 43(1) to inspect the centre.

26 Religious observance
The governor shall ensure that each trainee is enabled to receive instruction in, and observe any requirement (whether as to dress, diet or otherwise) of, the religious denomination stated in the record made in pursuance of section 10(5) of the Prison Act 1952.

27 Regime activities
1 A trainee shall be occupied in education, training, physical education and programmes designed to tackle offending behaviour provided in accordance with rule 3 of these Rules.
2 For the purpose of determining the appropriate activities under this rule for individual trainees, each trainee shall be assessed as soon as practicable after the date of his reception into the centre and, within 2 weeks of that date, a training plan shall be prepared.
3 The training plan for each trainee shall be reviewed—
(a) in the case of a trainee who is ordered to be detained for a period of 6 months or less, every two months; and
(b) in the case of a trainee who is ordered to be detained for a period of more than 6 months, every three months.
4 The preparation and reviewing of a trainee’s training plan shall be undertaken in consultation with—
(a) the services responsible for the trainee’s supervision after release; and
(b) the trainee’s parent or guardian.
5 An officer of the centre shall be nominated by the governor for the purposes of preparing, supervising and reviewing the training plan of each trainee and carrying out the consultation referred to in paragraph (4) above.
6 The medical officer or a member of the healthcare staff may excuse a trainee from any activity on medical grounds; and no trainee shall be set to participate in any activity for which he is considered by the medical officer or, as the case may be, member of healthcare staff, to be unfit.

28 Education and training
1 Arrangements shall be made at a centre for the education and training of each trainee according to his age and his personal needs as assessed and recorded in his training plan under rule 27 of these Rules.
2 Those arrangements shall be such as to ensure the participation of each trainee in education or training courses for at least 25 hours a week.
3 The activities provided under this rule shall, so far as practicable, be such as will foster personal responsibility and a trainee’s interests and skills and help him to prepare for his return to the community.
4 In the case of a trainee who is of compulsory school age, the curriculum shall be appropriate to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have, and shall as far as possible reflect the requirements of the National Curriculum within the meaning of the Education Act 1996.

29 Outside contacts
1 The governor shall encourage links between the centre and the community by taking steps to establish and maintain relations with suitable persons and agencies outside the centre.
2 The governor shall ensure that special attention is paid to the maintenance of such relations between a trainee and his family as seem desirable in the best interests of the trainee.
3 Where any restriction on contact of any kind between a trainee and his family is deemed necessary by the governor, it shall be imposed in consultation with the trainee, his family and the services responsible for his supervision after release.
4 In any case where for any reason contact is not maintained between a trainee and his family, the governor shall appoint an independent person to visit and befriend the trainee.

30 After care
1 From the beginning of his period of detention, consideration shall be given, in consultation with the appropriate supervising service, to a trainee’s future and the help to be given to him in preparation for and after his return to the community.
2 Every trainee shall be given a careful explanation of his liability to supervision after release and the requirements to which he will be subject while under supervision.
3 The training plan prepared for a trainee under rule 27 of these Rules shall have regard to the need to help the trainee in preparation for and after his return to the community and, in the case of a trainee who will be of compulsory school age at the date of that return, to education in the community.

31 Maintenance of order and discipline
1 Order and discipline shall be maintained in a centre, but with no more restriction than is required in the interests of security and well-ordered community life.
2 In the control of trainees, officers shall seek to influence them through their own example and leadership, and to enlist their willing co-operation.

32 Custody outside a centre
1 A trainee being taken to or from a centre in custody shall be exposed as little as possible to public observation and proper care shall be taken to protect him from curiosity and insult.
2 A trainee required to be taken in custody anywhere outside a centre shall be kept in the custody of a custody officer or of a police officer.

33 Search
1 Every trainee shall be searched on his reception into a centre and subsequently as the governor thinks necessary.
2 A trainee shall be searched in as seemly a manner as is consistent with discovering anything concealed.
3 No trainee shall be stripped and searched—
(a) without the authority of the governor;
(b) in the presence of more than two officers; and
(c) in the sight of another trainee or in the sight or presence of an officer not of the same sex.
4 A written record shall be kept of any search to which paragraph (3) above applies which shall specify—
(a) the name of the trainee;
(b) the reason for the search;
(c) when the search was carried out;
(d) who authorised the search and who carried it out; and
(e) what, if anything, was found as a result of the search.

34 Record and photograph
1 A personal record of each trainee shall be prepared, maintained and preserved in such manner and for such period as the Secretary of State may direct, but no part of the record shall be disclosed to any person not authorised to receive it.
2 Every trainee may be photographed on reception and subsequently, but no copy of the photograph shall be given to any person not authorised to receive it.

35 Trainees’ property
1 Anything, other than cash, which a trainee has at a centre and which he is not allowed to retain for his own use shall be taken into the governor’s custody and shall be listed in an inventory.
2 Any cash which a trainee has at a centre shall be paid into an account under the control of the governor and the trainee shall be credited with the amount in the books of the centre.
3 The governor may confiscate any unauthorised article found in the possession of a trainee after his reception into a centre, or concealed or deposited within a centre.

36 Removal from association
1 Where it appears to be necessary in the interests of preventing him from causing significant harm to himself or to any other person or significant damage to property that a trainee should not associate with other trainees, either generally or for particular purposes, the governor may arrange for the trainee’s removal from association accordingly.
2 A trainee shall not be removed under this rule unless all other appropriate methods of control have been applied without success.
3 A trainee who is placed in his own room during normal waking hours in accordance with arrangements made under this rule shall—
(a) be observed at least once in every period of 15 minutes;
(b) not be left unaccompanied during normal waking hours for a continuous period of more than 3 hours nor for periods which total in aggregate more than 3 hours in any period of 24 hours;
(c) be released from the room as soon as it is no longer necessary for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (1) above that he be removed from association; and
(d) be informed both orally and in writing of the reasons for such placement.
4 A record shall be kept of each occasion on which a trainee is removed from association under this rule which shall specify—
(a) the name of the trainee;
(b) the date and time removal commenced and finished;
(c) who authorised it;
(d) the reasons for it and that the trainee was informed in accordance with paragraph (3)(d) above; and
(e) any observations made in accordance with paragraph (3)(a) above;
and the record kept in accordance with this paragraph shall be made available, upon request, to the person authorised under rule 43(1) of these Rules to inspect the centre.

37 Use of force
1 An officer in dealing with a trainee shall not use force unnecessarily and, when the application of force to a trainee is necessary, no more force than is necessary shall be used.
2 No officer shall act deliberately in a manner calculated to provoke a trainee.

38 Physical restraint
1 No trainee shall be physically restrained save where necessary for the purpose of preventing him from—
(a) escaping from custody;
(b) injuring himself or others;
(c) damaging property; or
(d) inciting another trainee to do anything specified in paragraph (b) or (c) above,
and then only where no alternative method of preventing the event specified in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) above is available.
2 No trainee shall be physically restrained under this rule except in accordance with methods approved by the Secretary of State and by an officer who has undergone a course of training which is so approved.
3 Particulars of every occasion on which a trainee is physically restrained under this rule shall be recorded within 12 hours of its occurrence.

39 Officers of secure training centres
1 It shall be the duty of every officer to conform to these Rules and the rules and regulations of the centre, to assist and support the governor in their maintenance and to obey his lawful instructions.
2 An officer shall inform the governor promptly of any abuse or impropriety which comes to his knowledge.
3 No officer shall receive any unauthorised fee, gratuity or other consideration in connection with his office.
4 An officer shall submit himself to be searched in a centre if the governor so directs.
5 No officer shall take part in any business or pecuniary transaction with or on behalf of a trainee without the leave of the Secretary of State.
6 No officer shall, without authority, bring in or take out, or attempt to bring in or take out, or knowingly allow to be taken in or brought out, to or for a trainee, or deposit in any place with intent that it shall come into the possession of a trainee, any article whatsoever.
7 No officer shall, without the knowledge of the governor, communicate with any person who he knows to be a former trainee or a relative or friend of a trainee or former trainee.
8 No officer shall make, directly or indirectly, any unauthorised communication to a representative of the press or any other person concerning matters which have become known to him in the course of his duty.
9 No officer shall, without authority, publish any matter or make any public pronouncement relating to the administration of any centre or to any of its trainees.

40 Prohibited articles
1 No person shall, without authority, convey into or throw into or deposit in a centre, or convey to a trainee, or deposit in any place with intent that it shall come into the possession of a trainee, any article whatsoever.
2 Anything so conveyed, thrown or deposited may be confiscated by the governor.

41 Control of persons and vehicles
1 Any person or vehicle entering or leaving a centre may be stopped, examined and searched.
2 The governor may direct the removal from a centre of any person who does not leave on being required to do so.

42 Viewing of secure training centres
1 No outside person shall be permitted to view a centre unless authorised by statute or the Secretary of State.
2 No person viewing a centre shall be permitted to take a photograph, make a sketch or communicate with a trainee unless authorised by statute or the Secretary of State.

43 Inspection of centres
1 The Secretary of State may cause any centre to be inspected by persons who are for the time being authorised to conduct inspections under section 80 of the Children Act 1989 .
1989 c.41.
2 A person conducting an inspection under this rule may be accompanied by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons or a person designated by him and by one or more of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools in England.
3 Any person conducting an inspection under this rule or accompanying him in accordance with paragraph (2) above may for that purpose—
(a) enter any part of the premises of the centre;
(b) conduct an interview with any officer or trainee; and
(c) examine any records relating to the centre.
4 A person who has conducted an inspection under this rule shall report in writing to the Secretary of State and the report shall be published in such manner as the Secretary of State may direct.

44 Appointment of independent persons
1 The Secretary of State may appoint independent persons to visit a centre.
2 Any trainee may make representations to a person appointed under this rule; and for that purpose the governor shall make arrangements for such a person to interview the trainee and to receive representations from him.
3 A person appointed under this rule shall be entitled to have access to any records relating to the centre except that the medical records relating to any trainee or the personal records of any officer shall not be made available to him without the consent of the trainee or, as the case may be, officer concerned.
4 A person appointed under this rule shall draw to the attention of the Secretary of State any matter which is of concern to him.

45 Delegation by governor
The governor of a centre may, with the leave of the Secretary of State, delegate any of his powers and duties under these Rules to another officer of the centre.

46 Contracted-out secure training centres
1 In their application to a centre which is a contracted-out secure training centre these Rules shall have effect with the following modifications.
2 For any reference to the governor there shall be substituted a reference to the director.
3 For any reference to an officer there shall be substituted a reference to a custody officer.
4 In rule 6(2), at the end there shall be added the words “ and the monitor shall be entitled to have access to such records ”.
5 In rule 8, at the end there shall be added the following paragraph:

“6 Where a person is dissatisfied with the outcome of any request or complaint made by him under the grievance procedure established under this rule he may appeal to the monitor, who shall thereupon consider the request or complaint, and any such appeal may be made in confidence.”

.
6 In rule 10, at the end there shall be added the following paragraph:

“4 No letter or communication shall be read or examined, and no communication shall be stopped, under paragraph (3) above without the approval of the monitor.”

.
7 In rule 15(2), at the end there shall be added the words “ and the trainee may appeal from that refusal to the monitor ”.
8 In rule 24, at the end there shall be added the following paragraph:

“4 The monitor shall be informed as soon as practicable and in any event within 12 hours of any trainee having been placed under special observation under paragraph (3) above.”

.
9 In rule 25—
(a) in paragraph (1) after the word “inform" there shall be inserted the words “ the monitor, ”; and
(b) at the end there shall be added the following paragraph:

“3 If a trainee in respect of whom notification is given under paragraph (1) above has suffered serious harm, or it is alleged that he has been the subject of any form of abuse, notification shall also be given to a constable and, if in the opinion of the director such harm or abuse is caused by the conduct of any custody officer or other member of the staff of the centre, the monitor.”

.
10 In the rule 29(3), at the end there shall be added the words “ and subject to the approval of the monitor ”.
11 In rule 33, at the end there shall be added the following paragraph:

“5 The monitor shall be informed within 24 hours of any search to which paragraph (3) above applies and he shall be provided with a copy of the record kept under paragraph (4) above of that search.”

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12 In rule 36, at the end there shall be added the following paragraph:

“5 The monitor shall be informed within 24 hours of the commencement of any removal from association under this rule and he shall be provided with a copy of the record kept under paragraph (4) above in relation to that removal.”

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13 In rule 38(3), after the word “recorded" there shall be inserted the words “ and notified to the monitor ”.
14 After rule 45 there shall be inserted the following rule:

“45A
1 The monitor appointed by the Secretary of State in relation to a contracted-out centre shall have the functions specified in respect of him in the foregoing provisions of these Rules as they have effect in accordance with rule 46 of these Rules.
2 The director appointed by the contractor in relation to a contracted-out centre shall have—
(a) the functions specified in respect of him in the foregoing provisions of these Rules as they have effect in accordance with rule 46 of these Rules; and
(b) the following additional functions, namely—
(i) to promote and safeguard the welfare of the trainees detained in that centre;
(ii) to co-operate with the monotor appointed in relation to that centre and to facilitate the discharge by him of his duties and functions; and
(iii) to issue a notice to each trainee prior to his release from the centre which specifies the requirements with which he must comply following his release.”

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Jack Straw One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State Home Office 27th February 1998

(This note is not part of the Rules)
These Rules, which come into force on 16th April 1998, make provision for the regulation and management of secure training centres and for the classification, treatment, discipline and control of persons detained in them. They also provide for the inspection of secure training centres and the appointment of independent persons to visit them.
By virtue of rule 46, these Rules apply to contracted-out secure training centres with the modifications set out in that rule.