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Guidance

Prison retail service policy framework

Rules and guidance for prison staff on retail, canteen and special orders for prisoners.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Prison retail policy framework

Details

This policy framework sets out mandatory duties and rules for staff on the provision and management of retail services in prisons and young offender institutions.

It explains how prisons must provide access to permitted non-essential goods through retail; canteen l and special orders. It includes requirements on ordering, delivery, pricing, refunds, complaints, equality and accessibility, product governance, security, local assurance and contingency arrangements.

The policy framework is for HMPPS HQ, governors, public sector prisons, relevant contracted prisons, heads of group and under-18 young offender institutions. In this document, ‘governor’ also applies to directors of privately managed prisons.

Updates to this page

Published 30 July 2026

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