Money can feel like a small thing to worry about compared to everything else – but it affects everyday comforts inside, so here’s how it works in a Scottish prison.
No cash. You can’t hold cash in a Scottish prison. Instead, everyone has a Prisoner’s Personal Cash (PPC) account, which is used for canteen purchases, phone credit, and things like the weekly TV fee.
Sending money. Families can pay into a PPC account by online bank transfer (the safest and quickest way – you’ll need the prisoner’s number and date of birth to generate a reference), or by post via Royal Mail, sent at the sender’s own risk, so recorded or special delivery is worth the extra cost for peace of mind. There’s a daily limit of £50 per prisoner on transfers; anything sent over that is returned to the sender. HMP Addiewell uses its own online payment system rather than the standard one, so it’s worth checking with that prison specifically.
Weekly spending limits. How much can be spent each week depends on whether someone is convicted or on remand: convicted prisoners can spend £20 a week (on top of anything earned from prison work), while prisoners on remand can spend £40 a week. These figures can change, so it’s worth double-checking with the prison for the current amounts.
What it’s used for. Canteen purchases typically include toiletries, stamps, snacks and phone credit, though exactly what’s on offer varies a bit from prison to prison.