Sodexo

Coronavirus (Covid-19)

HMP Addiewell – Website Homepage – updated Thursday 22 April

As restrictions continue to ease throughout Scotland, I am delighted to confirm, from Monday 26 April, we are able offer full social visits again for our residents – from all local authority areas throughout the UK. We completely understand how important it is to maintain family ties and we are looking forward to welcoming you back to see your loved ones.

We’ve worked very hard to prepare for the re-introduction of all social visits, ensuring that we have all of the appropriate safeguards and measures in place to keep you, your loved one and our staff safe. However, the threat of coronavirus has not gone away, and so visits cannot simply return to ‘normal’. 

There are some important changes that you need to be aware of – all in place to ensure we comply with the Scottish Government requirements to be able to offer social visits. Please make sure that you read these carefully so that you know what to expect when you come to the prison.

Please note: Any plans may be subject to change, at any time, depending on local or national circumstances.

Guidelines for those visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Visits must be booked by residents using our internal booking procedure – they will be provided with a selection of visit dates and times to choose from.
• We can only allow a maximum of 3 visitors per visit, including children. Furthermore, all visitors must be from the same household.
• When you arrive, all visitors (adults and children) will have their temperature taken using a non-contact thermometer. This is to make sure that we minimise the risk to our residents from anyone potentially coming into the prison with any Covid-19 symptoms.
• You will be required to wear a face mask from the time you arrive at the prison, throughout the duration of the visit and until you exit the building. Face masks will be provided to all visitors. The exception to this is children under the age of five.
• All visitors (aged 12 and over) will need to adhere to the 2 metre physical distancing guidance. This means between you and your loved one and also between you and any other individuals accompanying you but who are not part of your family unit.
• You will not be permitted to have any physical contact with the resident you are visiting – that includes hugging, kissing, shaking hands and so on. The only exception to this rule is for children under 12 – they do not need to physically distance with anyone at the table, including the resident. We know this will be very hard, but we must obey the government guidance to keep both you and your loved ones safe.
• All visitors will need to remain seated during their visit, including children. Please bear this in mind when planning a visit to the prison.
• There is no waiting area available in the visits centre. Please arrive 20 minutes ahead of your scheduled visit.

Full details of what to expect are available on our 'Visiting the prison' page.

We also continue to provide residents with access to virtual visits – these have been a great success and will continue. I would encourage you to make use of the virtual visit technology.

I hope that you understand that all of the measures that remain in place are to keep everyone safe and healthy. Thank you for your support and patience over the past few months – I know it hasn’t been easy. I hope that you are able to see your loved one very soon and that it will provide you with some comfort to see them safe and well.

Fraser Munro
Director