Decision Report 201202071

Summary

Mr C complained that he was not allowed to purchase a music system with an inbuilt CD player and digital radio through the prison's mail ordering system, as he knew that other prisons allowed this type of item to be purchased.

Our investigation found that Rule 47(3) of the Prison Rules 2011 allows every prison governor the discretion to decide what items to permit in use in their prison. We also found that the prison had acted in accordance with national guidance and that they had followed their local procedure in refusing Mr C the music system. We were satisfied that the Scottish Prison Service recognise there is inconsistency about which electrical items prisoners are allowed to purchase across the prison sector, and that they are working to find a solution.