Number
Prison Service Instruction
40/2005
Hoisting flags on Prison Service buildings
0400 – Corporate Issues: Flags
Immediate
11 March 2006
CONTAINS MANDATORY INSTRUCTIONS
For Action
Monitored by
Area Managers, Governors and Directors of all self-audit
Prison Service establishments. Heads of Prison
Service colleges and senior managers in charge
of headquarters buildings
For Information
All Prison Staff
On authority of
Prison Service Management Board
Contact Point
Corporate Security Unit,
Tel. 020 7217 6307
Other Processes Affected
None
NOTES
Replaces PSI 15/2004.
Issued 26/09/05
PSI 40/2005
Page 1
Hoisting flags on Prison Service buildings
Purpose
1.
This PSI details the days that the Union flags may be hoisted in all Prison Service
establishments and headquarters buildings where a flagstaff is installed. It replaces PSI
15/2004.
Output
2.
Governors and Directors of all Prison Service establishments. Heads of Prison Service
colleges and senior managers in charge of headquarters buildings should make themselves
aware of when the Union flag should be hoisted.
Mandatory action
3.
When an establishment or HQ building has two flagstaffs the Prison Service flag may fly
alongside the Union Flag, but not in a superior position to it. Except that on St George’s
Day (in England), St David’s day (in Wales) and Europe Day the appropriate national or
European Flag must be flown in preference to the Prison Service Flag (see para. 9).
4.
The hoisting of the Union Flag on Government buildings is authorised by regulations issued
under Her Majesty’s Command, it must be flown with the broad diagonal stripe at the top
left hand side of the flag nearest the flagstaff.
5. The Union Flag may only be flown on the dates or under the circumstances given in
paragraph 6 and on other occasions where Her Majesty has given a special command; this
will be relayed to establishments and HQ buildings by the Corporate Security Unit.
6.
The Union Flag must be hoisted on the following days from 0800 hours until sunset:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
(xi)
(xii)
(xiii)
(xiv)
(xv)
(xvi)
(xvii)
(xviii)
7.
20 January
Birthday of the Countess of Wessex
6 February
Her Majesty’s Accession
19 February
Birthday of the Duke of York
1 March
St David’s Day (establishments in Wales only see para. 8.3)
10 March
Birthday of the Earl of Wessex
14 March
Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March)
21 April
Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen
23 April
St George’s Day (establishments in England only see para. 8.2)
9 May
Europe Day (see para. 10)
2 June
Coronation Day
10 June
Birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh
11 June
Official Celebration of Her Majesty’s birthday
17 July
Birthday of the Duchess of Cornwall
15 August
Birthday of the Princess Royal
13 November
Remembrance Day (second Sunday in November)
14 November
Birthday of the Prince of Wales
20 November
Her Majesty’s Wedding Day
The day of the opening of a Session of the Houses of Parliament by Her Majesty
and the day of the prorogation of a session of the Houses of Parliament by Her
Majesty. Flags should be flown on this day even if Her Majesty does not perform
the ceremony in person. Flags should be flown in the Greater London Area only.
This PSI is not subject to any formal monitoring. However, given the high public profile of
many of the Service’s Flagstaff, public attention may well be drawn to non-appearance or
incorrect appearance of the Union Flag at the times specified in this instruction.
Order Ref. 0400
Issue date 26/09/05
PSI 40/2005
Page 2
Advice and information
8.
The following flags are authorised to be hoisted on the days specified in this instruction:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
The Union Flag
The flag of St George (establishments and HQ buildings in England only)
The Welsh National Flag (establishments and HQ buildings in Wales only)
The European Flag
9.
Where a building has two or more flagstaffs, the appropriate National Flag may be flown in
addition to the Union Flag but not in a superior position.
10.
The Union Flag must fly alongside the European Flag. Establishments and buildings with
only one flagstaff must fly the union Flag.
11.
Flags must be flown right up all day.
Occasions on which flags must be flown at half-mast
12.
The Union Flag must be flown at half-mast on the following occasions (see para. 14):
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
13.
From the announcement of the death of The Sovereign, except on
Proclamation Day, when they are flown at full mast from 8am to sunset;
The funerals of members of the Royal Family, subject to special commands
from Her Majesty in each case;
The funerals of foreign Rulers, subject to special commands from Her
Majesty in each case;
The funerals of prime Ministers and Ex-Prime Ministers of the United
Kingdom subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case.
Half-mast means the flag is flown two-thirds up between the top and bottom of the flagstaff.
The Prison Service Flag
14.
The Prison Service Flag may be flown at the discretion of the Governor or Director of the
establishment. It may be flown at half-mast to mark the death of a member of staff. The
Union Flag must never be used for such a purpose.
Company Flags
15.
Directors of contracted establishments may fly their company flag in place of the Prison
Service Flag should they wish. Company flags are subject to the same arrangements as
the Prison Service Flag.
16.
Advice and further information can be obtained from:
Corporate Security Unit.
Tel:020 7217 6307
(signed)
Peter Atherton
Deputy Director General.
Order Ref. 0400
Issue date 26/09/05