Home Office Approved Visitors Scheme

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.032854

I note you seek access to the following information:

Documented guidance on the procedure for police verification of an individual requiring clearance for the Home Office Approved Visitors Scheme to visit a Category A prisoner.

What does the police visit to verify the applicant entail?
What powers do the police have during the process for example what can they ask or talk about?
What is the criteria/ guidance given to police officers to complete the process and do they have the power to decide the applicant's suitability to for being approved for prison visits?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement

Reason for decision

Please note, there is no one specific policy or guidance document held in relation to this. There are, however, guidelines on the form that must be completed by the visiting officer. This is essentially a list of questions that must be asked to ensure the appropriate checks can be carried out in order to advise the prison so they can make the ultimate decision as to who is allowed access.

Disclosing this document would reveal the information that the officer is expected to gather in order to carry out the necessary checks to ensure the appropriate security measures are in place. Disclosing information that could be used to hinder the ability to gather this intelligence would be likely to have a negative impact upon our ability to prevent and detect crime, and apprehend and prosecute those responsible. Therefore, Section 31(1)(a)(b) of the Act is engaged.

Section 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement - relates to information that, if disclosed, would or would be likely to impact upon our ability to prevent and detect crime, or apprehend or prosecute those responsible.

The requested information, if disclosed, could be used to hinder the processes which have been established to ascertain the suitability of visitors to the most serious inmates. If people were aware of exactly what was collated and deemed of interest, steps could be taken to mislead or hide information which we consider of significance. This would be likely to damage the integrity of the checks, thus potentially causing issues within the prison system and potentially even allowing further crime to be committed. Therefore, Section 31 is engaged.

This system was designed in order to ensure the integrity of the prison system with regards to visitors. Category A prisoners are those that have committed the most serious offences, and those that would pose the most threat to the public, the police or national security should they escape. Security conditions in category A prisons are therefore designed to make escape impossible for these prisoners. It is therefore imperative that any access to the outside is monitored and restricted when necessary. These checks are necessary to ensure that those allowed access to category A prisoners are suitably vetted.

Disclosing the list of questions we ask and what information we may consider to be of importance to note would allow those being visited the foresight to enable them to make changes or mislead the officer in order to gain access to these prisoners. This would be likely to lead to inappropriate individuals having access to these secure people and sites, thus weakening the integrity of the system and potentially causing security breaches or allowing a flow of information in or out which would not otherwise be possible.

Disclosing the information in question would be likely to be used to gain access to high risk prisoners whereby it may have otherwise been prevented. This may have ongoing security implications for the prison and safety implications for the visitor, staff and others.

It can be argued that the public interest has been satisfied by the disclosure made today, which explains the basic process, the main information we record, and who is ultimately responsible for making the decisions about who has access to Cat A prisoners and sites.

Disclosing information that would potentially allow access to the most serious of offenders cannot be seen to be in the wider public interest, or of benefit to the greater good.

Disclosure

The following information about the process and procedures can today be provided:

What is the Category A Prisoner Visiting System

This scheme was introduced in 2003 and serves to ensure adequate security measures are taken to screen visitors to CAT A inmates.

HMPPS are the lead decision makers on whether to allow or refuse admission to the prison.

System

The prisoner supplies the prison with the name and address of the applicant he wishes to visit. The prison sends out the application to the visitor who completes the form and returns it to the Prison together with a photograph. The prison request police to conduct a Visitor check.

Visit

Police attend the visitors address to confirm identity, place of residence and any security risks – the results are communicated to the prison.

Outcome

The prison review all information and decide if this person is suitable to visit.

Police Powers

This is a voluntary process on the part of the visitor. Police do not use any ‘powers’ to conduct the home visit; any failure to co-operate would be communicated to HMPPS to assist their decision making.