Items prisoners can buy in prison: national product list
Prisoners can buy non-essential items using their earnings or private cash. Prisons choose which items to stock from the national product list.
Applies to England and Wales
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While in prison, prisoners can buy items like snacks, toiletries, and stationery.
They place orders on a form often called the ‘canteen form’. This can be in a paper or digital format.
Each prison selects what it will stock from a national product list, which includes up to 1,000 items. They choose products based on security guidelines and what works best for their establishment and environment.
The national product list is updated 4 times a year, based on:
- requests from prisoners and staff
- popular items/shopping trends
- selling prices
- compliance with prison rules
Prices are set centrally, so all prisons charge the same for an item.
Products are sold at the recommended retail price (RRP) or less where possible.
We regularly compare our prices with local convenience stores to make sure they are fair and consistent with the wider community.