The information provided to visitors should be in language they can understand. In the absence of a Visitors' Centre, women prisoners' visitors often arrive at the Gate tired and beset by fractious children who need rest after a long journey. These are not the best circumstances under which to start a visit. Stress for them may be increased by first impressions. The attitude of staff at the Gate and later in the Visits area is a major factor in the experience of visiting at a prison.
Some staff are very good indeed but at times there is an absence of a professional approach.
Prisoners' visitors are members of the public and deserve to be treated as such. Protocols for dealing with visitors at prisons holding women should be developed with particular reference to behaviour as seen through the eyes of small children. 8.17 We are very impressed with the appointment of Family Contact Development Officers in Scottish prisons and particularly by the arrangements at HM Prison Shotts. The policy sets out to look after the needs of families in a proactive way. Visits rooms 8.18 Visits rooms at prisons holding women range from light and colourful to dim and depressing.