VICIn ForceAct
Serious Offenders Act 2018
201Certain letters may be inspected
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 201
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Serious Offenders Act 2018.
201 Certain letters may be inspected
(1) If the Commissioner reasonably believes that a letter to or from an offender, including a letter to or from a person referred to in section 200(1)(e), contains any article or substance that poses a risk to the safety of any person, the Commissioner may open and inspect the letter—
(a) in the presence of the offender and the correspondent or a representative of the correspondent; or
(b) in accordance with any alternative arrangement agreed with the correspondent.
(2) In opening or inspecting a letter under this section, the Commissioner—
(a) may inspect the envelope, and any associated packet, parcel, container or wrapper; but
(b) must not read or censor the letter.
(3) This section does not affect section 224(3).