HMP Castle Huntly

Agents visits can be arranged on 01382 319316 

All agents are required to give 24hrs notice of any visits or amendments to visit bookings. You are required to carry your Law Society of Scotland ID card. Evening sessions are available on the day for professional agents that have been unable to attend the day time session.

To gain access to the prison for the purpose of a visit, you must have two forms of identification, one of which must be photographic ID.

Entry to the prison will not be permitted without acceptable identification.

The following examples shall be accepted as suitable for photographic ID purposes:

• Valid Passport
• Photographic Driving Licence
• Citizen/Validate UK Card
• Senior Citizens Bus Pass
• Workplace photo ID card
• Photographic Bank Card
• Other official photo ID i.e. membership card

The following examples shall be accepted as suitable for proof of address provided it is less than 3 months old:

• Utility bill
• Council tax bill
• Bank statement
• Other letter from official source

Official visitors require Identification cards. Agents are required to carry their Law Society of Scotland ID Cards.

On arrival at the barrier you should press the intercom and advise the staff member you are there for a visit. Once through, bear to the left and park in the visitor spaces, 10 yards from the barrier. On your right hand side you will see the Link Centre – this is where the visits take place.

Everyone attending the prison for a visit must book in at the Links Centre, at least 10 minutes before the visit session starts. This is to allow sufficient time to process your details prior to the visit. The centre staff will log you in on the system and it’s important this is done first; you can then use the facilities and relax until your visit session starts. If you are early please go into the Link Centre where there are facilities to wait in comfort.

You will require your identification at this stage. You will be allowed to take in a purse or wallet. If you have a baby with you, you can take essentials such as a change of nappy, baby wipes and baby bottle with milk – baby food is permitted. The baby items must be left on the links centre desk in the visit room, but you can access them when you need to.

On entering the main door of the Link Centre, there is a front desk with prison officers staffing it. You will be required to present your identification to the staff.  The staff will then advise you were you can wait for the visit to commence. There will be staff in this area to help and offer guidance.  From November 2014 we aim to have a Family Contact Officer (FCO) available for advice and support also.

In the waiting area you can deposit money for offenders PPC; at the desk the officers will give you a receipt for this.

Visitors may be subject to a rub down search.  At times, there may be the SPS Dog Unit operating at the visits – it’s nothing to worry about and you will be given instructions by the staff. If you have any concerns at all – please talk to a member of staff. Visitors can choose where they would like to sit, and will be made aware 5 minutes prior to the end of the session. 

Whilst at the open estate, individuals who are on full community access and have been resident for 12 months or over, have the opportunity to apply for inclusion on the Enhanced Regime Process.

The benefit of the Enhanced Regime is to allow any prisoner who meets the Enhanced Regime criteria, to take two of the following options per month over and above their standard community access plan:

• Weekend visit, between the hours of 10:30 & 15:30 staying within a 20 mile radius of the establishment with immediate family, partner, home leave addressee or friend. 
• And/Or week day 12hr unescorted day release (UDR) to a specified address, between the hours of 08:00 & 20:00 staying within a 50 mile radius of the agreed address.
• And/Or an extended licence whilst on placement, between the hours of 16:00 & 20:00 staying within a 20 mile radius of the establishment with immediate family, partner, home leave addressee or friend.

There will be an FCO available (from November 2014) for anyone wishing to speak to them throughout the evening visits. 

The Barista will be open during visits where tea coffee and refreshments are available for purchase. There is also a vending machine available to purchase snacks.

There are toilet facilities, including disabled toilets and baby changing facilities available. There is also a children's play area.  Please note that children must be supervised by their parent/carer at all times.

Prisoners will complete the relevant form with the date and time property will be handed in. It is the individual's responsibility to inform their visitors what they can hand in and when. Visitors handing in property require photographic identification and evidence of their home address, as described for visiting identification. Staff will issue a receipt for the property.

You can post in property for prisoners, but the individual must have completed the pro-forma prior to the items arriving.  Mark the parcel for the prisoner's attention.  To ensure the parcel arrives safely, you can send it recorded delivery (cost incurred at the post office).  

You may deposit money for a prisoner before a visit at the desk. You must provide the prisoner's full name and prison number. A receipt will be issued to you.  (If you are unsure, please ask a member of staff)

Cheques will be accepted with the appropriate bank card, made out to the SPS (will take 5 working days to clear).

Other timings available for depositing PPC are:

• Monday -Friday
  • 9:00-noon
  • 13:00-16:00
  • 19:00-20:00
• Saturday and Sunday
  • 13:00-15:00

You can post money in to a prisoner for their PPC, (however we would strongly recommend using the online banking service) or recorded/special delivery (costs incurred at the post office) when posting cash, or you can post a cheque or postal order (again there is a cost incurred at the post office for the order) in. Both of these should be made payable to the Scottish Prison Service, but please note the person's details on the back of the order or cheque.