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Inter-prison transfers

Inter-prison transfer (IPT) process (Back to top)

This service element will continue to be a core overall service delivery requirement in order to assist HMPPS Population Management Unit (PMU) to manage the overall estate capacity in the most effective manner.

It is most important that this is understood, and establishments should not seek to make IPT arrangements directly with the suppliers.

Suppliers shall provide Inter-Prison Transfers to escort prisoners (whether held on remand or convicted) from one prison to another to smooth population pressures, to escort prisoners to prisons closer to the courts where their cases are being heard, or to facilitate management of individual prisoners.

IPT services notified by PMU may be IPT allocations (multiple prisoners), Singleton Transfers or Short Notice Extra Transfers (SNETS).

PMU shall notify the supplier of details of any IPT allocations no later than 48 hours before the required escort. Most IPTs shall be carried out through this process.

The supplier shall provide confirmation of IPT allocations to PMU and the sending and receiving prisons within 24 hours of notification by PMU.

For all forms of IPT the supplier shall advise the prison of their planned times for collection and delivery of each prisoner.

This detail shall be planned by the supplier during the night prior to when the transfer is scheduled to take place, and shall confirm the arrangements by electronic means utilising the BaSM platform.

The supplier will inform prisons of any changes to such arrangements as soon as possible, through electronic means and exceptionally via telephone and must ensure an auditable trail of communication is retained.

Inter-Prison Transfers shall predominantly take place Monday to Friday and occasionally (by exception) on a Saturday. For Inter-Prison Transfers requested on Friday the supplier shall confirm the movement with PMU by 14:00 of the same day.

Prisons are responsible for ensuring prisoners are ready for collection at the advised time.

It is critical that the prison defaults to the electronic means, via the BaSM platform, to clarify the arrival times of the vehicles and utilise those times to commence internal procedures so that when the supplier arrives, the handover of the prisoner is seamless.

If after 45 minutes of the vehicle arrival, recorded from the arrival of the vehicle at the gate, the supplier is advised the prisoner is still not available, then the supplier shall (depending on the nature of the delay) inform either the PECS CDM (for operational issues) or PMU (for logistical issues), who may instruct the supplier to depart without any still to be loaded prisoner(s).

Prisons are encouraged to regularly reflect on their discharge performance utilising the PECS Executive Director Performance Report.

Where performance is assessed as an issue or raised by the supplier or PECS CDM, the prison should utilise the dissected intelligence to evaluate where in the process delays occur, taking decisive action to deliver improvement.

Escorts cancelled after 15:00 hours on the day prior to them taking place, commit supplier resources and reduce efficiency and will still be charged for by suppliers.

Moves can be reduced or cancelled prior to 15:00 the day before but this should be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary.

Cancellations or reductions can only be authorised by PMU (for logistical reasons) or CDMs (for operational issues) and any such cancellations or reductions made by the supplier shall be reinstated within 24 hours unless otherwise agreed by PMU.

PMU rely on co-operation and goodwill from establishments in achieving transfers across the estate. In cases of transfer disputes, they should be resolved locally or at regional level.

This document provides full guidance for users on managing inter-prison transfers

Short notice extra transfers (SNETs) (Back to top)

PMU shall notify the supplier of details of any SNET by 13:00 hours on the day before the SNET is required. The supplier shall provide confirmation of the SNET to PMU by 14:00 hours on the day before the SNET is required.

Singleton moves (Back to top)

PMU shall notify the supplier of details of any Singleton Transfers no later than 48 hours before the required escort. The supplier shall provide confirmation of Singleton Transfers to PMU and the relevant prisons not later than 14:00 hours the day following notification by PMU.

Overnight lodging (Back to top)

Overnight lodging should be an exceptional event and only requested from PMU when the transfer distance exceeds 150 miles (single journey) or 6 hours journey time (return journey), whichever is longer.

No more than 6 prisoners will be lodged in any individual prison at one time and authority for a lodge is always required from PMU.

Property limits (Back to top)

PECS suppliers transport prisoners’ property in adherence to the HMPPS Prisoner Property Policy Framework. The limits set out apply to prisoners once processed through reception and are not applicable for those received from the police or off bail.

  • 3 bags of property weighing no more than 15kg each & a bag of valuables
  • 1 bag of consumable property weighing no more than 7.5kg
  • Additional permitted items outside of volumetric control would be items such as but not limited to duvets, musical instruments, and legal documentation

The limits described are per prisoner and cannot be exceeded in any circumstances.

Once the limit of items allowed in possession has been reached then responsibility for transfer of any remaining items remains with the sending prison. 

Non-aligned court moves (Back to top)

PECS suppliers have based their service model on prisoners attending court being discharged from the aligned Calendar prison. 

There will be instances where prisoners with outstanding court cases are located in non-aligned local prisons or may have progressed to the training estate. Where possible, these prisoners should be transferred to the Calendar prison aligned to the court at which they are due to appear, at least 24 hours in advance of their hearing. 

This ensures that supplier’s resource is preserved, which ensures that other business such as Inter-Prison Transfers (IPTs) are not impacted. 

Where establishments are aware of a prisoner’s requirement to attend court, they should contact Population Management Unit (PMU) at the earliest opportunity. PMU will then arrange an IPT to ensure the prisoner is moved to the correct local prison prior to the court hearing.