Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Rules may be cited as the Prison (Governor’s and Adjudicators’ Punishments) (Amendment) Rules 2026 and come into force on 2nd September 2026.

(2) These Rules extend to England and Wales.

Amendment of the Prison Rules 1999

2. The Prison Rules 1999(2) are amended in accordance with rules 3 to 7.

Amendment to rule 35

3. In rule 35 (personal letters and visits), paragraph (2)(b), at the beginning, insert “except where a prisoner is subject to a punishment listed in rule 55(1)(j) or (k),”.

Amendments to rule 55

4. In rule 55 (governor’s punishments)—

(a)in paragraph (1)—

(i)in the opening words, after “(2)”, insert “, (2A)”;

(ii)in sub-paragraph (b), for “42” substitute “84”;

(iii)at the end of sub-paragraph (i), before the full stop, insert—

“(j)in the case of a convicted prisoner, forfeiture of social visits for a period not exceeding 27 days;

(k)in the case of a convicted prisoner, restriction of social visits to once in every period of 28 days for a period not exceeding 84 days”;

(b)after paragraph (2), insert—

“(2A)A punishment listed in rule 55(1)(j) or (k) does not apply in relation to social visits from a child of the prisoner and any adult who is appropriately accompanying that child.

(2B)In paragraphs (1) and (2A)—

“child of the prisoner” means a person under the age of 18 in respect of whom the prisoner—

“social visit” means an in-person visit to a prisoner, but does not include visits from a person acting in a professional or official capacity.”.

Amendments to rule 55A

5. In rule 55A (adjudicator’s punishments)—

(a)in paragraph (1)—

(i)at the end of sub-paragraph (a), for “55(1)(h)” substitute “(h), (j) and (k)”;

(ii)in sub-paragraph (b), for “42” substitute “84”;

(b)in paragraph (3), for “42” substitute “84”.

Amendments to rule 57

6. In rule 57 (offences committed by young persons)—

(a)in paragraph (1)—

(i)for “section 13(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1982” substitute “section 329 of the Sentencing Code”;

(ii)at the end of sub-paragraph (d), before the full stop, insert—

“(e)a punishment relating to social visits listed in rule 55(1)(j) or (k) must not be imposed;

(f)the maximum period for an award of additional days is 42 days”;

(b)in paragraph (2)—

(i)omit “section 99 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 or”;

(ii)after “section 276”, insert “or 329”.

Amendment to rule 59

7. In rule 59 (prospective award of additional days), paragraph (2) for “section 240” substitute “section 240ZA(4)”.

Transitional provision

8. The amendments made by rules 3 to 6 apply only in relation to an offence against discipline listed in rule 51 of the Prison Rules 1999 committed on or after the day on which these Rules comes into force.