Interviews with prisoners
It is always advisable to contact Programme Legal Advice and the relevant World Service region when proposing to work overseas because of the different legal systems that apply in different countries.
Prior to visiting a UK prison and conducting an interview with a prisoner for broadcast we should normally ask permission from the UK prison authorities. Any proposal to enter a UK prison without permission must be referred to Controller Editorial Policy.
Prior to visiting an overseas prison and conducting an interview with a prisoner for broadcast we should normally ask permission from the prison authorities. Any proposal to enter an overseas prison without permission must be referred to a senior editorial figure or for Independents to the commissioning editor who may consult Controller Editorial Policy. If approved the relevant World Service Head of Region and Head of Newsgathering should be informed.
Prisoners may have access to public telephones and mobile phones, though their use may be restricted by prison rules. The following proposals for phone interviews must be referred to a senior editorial figure or for Independents to the commissioning editor who may consult Controller Editorial Policy:
- inviting a prisoner to initiate a call for broadcast purposes from a public or mobile telephone in prison.
- broadcasting an unsolicited call from a prisoner which was not referred before it was recorded.
- broadcasting live an unsolicited call from a prisoner.