Prison service instructions (PSIs)
Policy and guidance for prison and probation professionals in England and Wales.
Applies to England and Wales
Index and notes
This page lists all current prison service instructions (PSIs). Since 2019, all new prison operational policies are published as policy frameworks.
If the PSI you want is not listed here, check the PSI index. This document lists every PSI issued and includes details of those which have been cancelled, updated or replaced by a policy framework. The index also includes the most up-to-date contact details for the owner of each PSI.
A PSI remains in force until it is formally cancelled, even if the document has passed its expiry date.
Some PSIs are not published here because they are restricted or sensitive. HR and other staff-related PSIs are not published here but are available on your departmental intranet.
If you have any questions about the contents on this page or would like an electronic copy of a cancelled policy, please , email ops3@justice.gov.uk.
Related content
2018 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 05/2018 | Prison adjudications policy |
2017 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 07/2017 | Regime management planning |
| 05/2017 | Separating prisoners from the general population |
| 04/2017 | Use of body cameras |
2016 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 18/2016 | Public protection manual |
| 16/2016 | Information sharing agreements |
| 15/2016 | Sharing sensitive information with the Parole Board |
| 14/2016 | Handling prisoner applications to marry or form a civil partnership |
| 11/2016 | (MS Word) |
| 10/2016 | Consulting on occupational health, safety and fire issues |
| 09/2016 | Procedures for searching cells, areas and vehicles |
| 08/2016 | Dealing with evidence |
| 07/2016 | Procedures for searching people |
| 06/2016 | Information risk management |
| 05/2016 | Faith and pastoral care for prisoners |
| 04/2016 | Monitoring and managing prisoner communications |
| 03/2016 | Adult social care |
| 02/2016 | Managing accidents and injuries in prison |
2015 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 38/2015 | (PDF) |
| 37/2015 | (PDF) |
| 36/2015 | (PDF) |
| 30/2015 | Amendments to the use of force policy |
| 27/2015 | (PDF) |
| 23/2015 | (PDF) |
| 20/2015 | Cell sharing risk assessments |
| 18/2015 | (PDF) |
| 17/2015 | Prisoners assisting other prisoners |
| 16/2015 | Keeping adult prisoners safe |
| 14/2015 | Disposing of unauthorised property |
| 11/2015 | Fire safety in prisons |
| 09/2015 | Identifying potential high security prisoners |
| 08/2015 | People under supervision leaving England and Wales |
| 07/2015 | Early days in custody |
| 06/2015 | Managing health and safety |
| 05/2015 | Reconsideration of NOMS central vetting decisions by exception |
| 04/2015 | Prisoner rehabilitation services |
| 02/2015 | Prison service library |
| 01/2015 | Placing prisoners who may be deported |
2014 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 49/2014 | Mother and baby units |
| 46/2014 | (PDF) |
| 42/2014 | Exclusion of personnel for misconduct |
| 41/2014 | Referring probation cases for risk review |
| 37/2014 | Open prison and temporary release for prisoners who may be deported |
| 32/2014 | (PDF) |
| 25/2014 | IT Security Policy |
| 23/2014 | (PDF) |
| 22/2014 | Research applications |
| 21/2014 | (PDF) |
| 19/2014 | Sentence planning |
| 15/2014 | Investigating incidents of serious self-harm or assault |
| 14/2014 | Case allocation |
| 07/2014 | Security vetting |
| 05/2014 | Checking the barred status of prisoners |
2013 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 23/2013 | Prisoner retail |
| 08/2013 | Reviewing the categorisation of high security prisoners |
| 04/2013 | Early removal of foreign national prisoners |
| 03/2013 | Medical emergency response codes |
2012 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 44/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 42/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 32/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 29/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 17/2012 | Certifying prisoner accommodation |
| 14/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 09/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 08/2012 | Caring for young people in custody |
| 07/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 06/2012 | Work and learning opportunities for prisoners |
| 04/2012 | (MS Word) |
| 03/2012 | Allocating prisoners to activities |
| 01/2012 | Managing prisoners’ money |
2011 instructions
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 76/2011 | Deducting money from prisoner wages |
| 75/2011 | Residential services |
| 72/2011 | Prison discharge policy |
| 69/2011 | Install, maintain and use prison radio equipment |
| 64/2011 | Managing prisoner safety in custody |
| 63/2011 | Managing the local security strategy |
| 62/2011 | (MS Word) |
| 58/2011 | Physical education for prisoners |
| 49/2011 | Prisoner communications policy |
| 47/2011 | Prison adjudications policy (cases before Feb 2019) |
| 44/2011 | Providing prisoners with ID for bank applications |
| 41/2011 | Categorising young adult male prisoners |
| 40/2011 | Categorising adult male prisoners |
| 39/2011 | Categorising women prisoners |
| 36/2011 | (MS Word) |
| 32/2011 | Ensuring equality |
| 30/2011 | Handling mobile phones and SIM cards found in prison |
| 23/2011 | Playing films, television and music in prison |
| 22/2011 | |
| 19/2011 | Searching stored property |
| 16/2011 | Managing prison visits |
| 15/2011 | Visits security |
| 12/2011 | Managing prisoner property |
2010 instructions and earlier
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 58/2010 | The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman |
| 44/2010 | Prisoner meals |
| 38/2010 | Activities in prison |
| 37/2010 | Prisoners’ access to the media |
| 28/2010 | (MS Word) |
| 16/2010 | Confiscation orders |
| 14/2010 | (MS Word) |
| 31/2009 | (MS Word) |
| 19/2009 | (MS Word) |
| 07/2009 | (MS Word) |
| 25/2008 | (MS Word) |
| 06/2008 | (MS Word) |
| 39/2007 | Ensuring the safety of radiation equipment when transferring healthcare |
| 34/2007 | Reintroduction of disinfecting tablets |
| 25/2007 | Releasing prisoners with travel restriction orders |
| 09/2006 | (PDF) |
| 47/2005 | (PDF) |
| 46/2005 | (PDF) |
| 14/2005 | (PDF) |
| 04/2005 | (MS Word) |
| 10/2004 | (MS Word) |
| 47/2003 | (MS Word) |
| 46/2003 | (MS Word) |
| 28/2003 | (MS Word) |
| 38/2002 | (MS Word) |
| 25/2002 | (MS Word) |
| 24/2002 | (MS Word) |
| 40/2001 | (MS Word) |
| 48/2000 | (PDF) |
| 29/1998 | (PDF) |
| 44/1997 | (PDF) |
Some older prison service instructions have been archived by The National Archives and are made available here through the .
Updates to this page
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Index updated: removed Repatriation and removal of foreign nationals: PSI 52/2011 as this has been replaced by new guidance.
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Index updated.
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Index updated.
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PSI Index updated.
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Prison service instructions index updated.
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Prison service instructions index updated.
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Index updated.
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Removed PSI 10/2004 - this is now obsolete.
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Index updated.
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Prison service instructions index updated.
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Prison service instructions index updated.
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Prison service instructions index updated.
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Prison service instructions index updated
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Changes to the PPM mean that the tackling witness intimidation PSI (46/2011) can now be cancelled
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Prison service instructions index updated
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Prison service instructions index updated
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Prison service instructions index updated
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Index updated.
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Prison service instructions index updated.
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Added PSIs 25/2007, 34/2007 and 39/2007 to the section 2010 instructions and earlier.
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First published.