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HM INSPECTORATE OF PRISONS
HMP LOW MOSS
INSPECTION: 31 MARCH TO 1 APRIL 2004

LAST FULL INSPECTION 8-16 FEBRUARY 1998

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CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
2. PREAMBLE
3. ASSESSMENT

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The visit to HMP Low Moss was made as part of a programme to visit every prison each year in which a full inspection is not being made. In the course of such visits the purpose is to follow up points of note from previous inspections, to examine any significant changes, and to explore issues arising from the establishment's own assessment of itself. It should not be seen as an attempt to inspect the whole life of the establishment.

1.2 The Inspection Team comprised:

Andrew McLellan HMCIP
Rod MacCowan HMDCIP
David McAllister HMACIP
David Abernethy HMIP

ANDREW R C McLELLAN
HM CHIEF INSPECTOR OF PRISONS
April 2004

2. PREAMBLE

2.1 Dormitory living conditions in which up to twenty-seven short-term prisoners live together in one large room, sleeping in bunks, have made Low Moss different from all other Scottish prisons. Prisoners in them have no opportunity for privacy, and it cannot always be easy to feel safe in such surroundings. Last year's report, however, drew attention to the conversion of one dormitory into cell accommodation, with two people in each cell: "the improvements in atmosphere, decency, privacy, cleanliness and safety are immediately obvious". This report takes account of changes since last year: five more dormitories have been converted, leaving only five in the old style.

2.2 "A phenomenal difference", was the assessment from a prison healthcare staff member of the impact of the new "compartmentalised" accommodation; "night and day" was the assessment of a representative of the Prison Officers' Association; the Visiting Committee noted the improvements in "safety and morale and dignity" as a result of the refurbishment; and the prison's own assessment tells of "the positive effect on the establishment". Perhaps the most telling evidence of improvement was that provided by groups of prisoners interviewed during the inspection. Two of the three groups were positive about their experience of Low Moss, and several individuals were able to speak about the improvement in their experience of the prison. The third group was much more angry and uncomfortable: and it was the group from the "open" dormitories. Of course there may be other factors: but it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the experience of imprisonment for prisoners in cellular accommodation was much better than that of those in dormitories.

2.3 The report indicates evidence that the improvement brought about by refurbishment is not superficial. There has been a real reduction in violence in Low Moss, a prison which has traditionally had to deal with a considerable amount of prisoner on prisoner violence and of concerted indiscipline. Healthcare staff are clear that there has been a significant drop in levels of anxiety and depression. In various parts of the report there are indications of a welcome and admirable determination among prison staff to make the best of Low Moss despite the constant and imminent prospect of closure. In words which were echoed several times throughout the inspection it was suggested by a member of staff that in Low Moss "everything is coming together just when we are about to close".

3. ASSESSMENT

Accommodation

3.1 There were 288 prisoners living in Low Moss on the first day of inspection. Five dormitories have been compartmentalised since the last inspection. This is in addition to the 55 places in Davidson House and the 24 places in dormitory 5 which were in place last year. 70% of prisoners were now living in dormitories with rooms. In contrast, the other 30% live in bad conditions, and the contrast between the cellular dormitories and the others is now very striking. Where refurbishment work had been undertaken standards of cleanliness had been kept up. There were no signs of graffiti on the walls and carpets and linoleum areas were clean and tidy.

3.2 Prisoners have good access to showers and toilets. Recreation consists of pool, play stations and television. Prisoners in the cellular dorms can watch television in their rooms; those in the open dormitories watch with everyone else. Satellite channels are available in all dormitories, and staff control the channel watched from a central point.

3.3 Staff can work in a different dormitory every day and it was very apparent that prisoners and staff did not know one another. A new staff attendance pattern due to start in May should address this. No paperwork relating to prisoners is maintained in the dormitories. When the new attendance pattern starts this should also have been addressed.

Assaults, Violence and Anti Bullying

3.4 The prison has made significant progress in tackling levels of violence. In 2002-03 there were 12 serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults. There was only one in 2003-04. The total number of assaults also fell from 27 to 16. Reasons given for this were better staff-prisoner relationships, better intelligence gathering, changes in how prisoners are moved in large groups, and most significantly the compartmentalising of the accommodation. Staff also spoke at length about how the attitude of prisoners had been transformed by the change to their dormitories in terms of reduced tension and opportunity for confrontation.

3.5 Staff and prisoners also reported that incidents of bullying are significantly lower than before. In the 2003 SPS Survey only 3% of prisoners said they had been bullied in the last month. This is much lower than the 10% for the SPS generally and the 8% figure for Low Moss in 2002. CCTV in the dormitories had helped this but again the new cellular dormitories had contributed. Low Moss has been very active in promoting its anti-bullying strategy. A poster campaign as well as a locally created booklet and leaflets for prisoners and visitors has generated a lot of information relating to bullying. This has had the effect of improving the approach of staff and reducing the number of times victims have had to be returned to Barlinnie for protection.

Estate Development

3.6 There was an escape in September 2003. Low Moss has some limitations in physical security, and without significant investment that will not change. The most important security measure for Low Moss is that it is sent only those prisoners who are suitable for these facilities. It is therefore essential that assessment systems in Barlinnie, Greenock, Edinburgh, Dumfries and Kilmarnock are robust.

3.7 In two of the four cells in the segregation unit beds were fitted during the week of inspection. This is overdue work to make conditions in the cells more suitable.

3.8 Despite the threat of closure, Low Moss has plans for developing the site and improving conditions for staff and prisoners. These include creating an industrial cleaning work area, creating a staff training area and an area for staff and visitor searches.

3.9 Other significant work undertaken since the last inspection has been the fencing of land adjacent to the prison. This has helped to discourage the practice of items being thrown into the prison from outside, although this is still a major problem.

Addictions

3.10 There are now 50 staff trained in the MDT testing process. This, linked to changes in staff rostering, have allowed random tests to be increased and improvements to be made since the last inspection. The Low Moss KPI target for negative MDT tests is 70% and the average to date is 68%. Prisoners admitted to Low Moss who declare addiction problems are assessed on the day of admission by a nurse. Those who are taking methadone have their methadone prescription verified by telephone and a urine dip test is carried out to assess whether or not individuals are using additional substances. Prisoners are placed either on a methadone programme or a detoxification programme. At the time of the last report those who were placed on detoxification remained in their dormitory during the period of the detoxification and as such they were unable to access work or other regime operation. There have been improvements here and prisoners now have the opportunity to access some support or counselling. The addictions nurse means that there is some opportunity for individuals to be supported.

3.11 The prison has moved from a policy of automatically removing those who test positive for substances other than methadone from the methadone maintenance programme, to assessing each case on an individual basis.

3.12 There does not appear to be a clear management structure for addictions. The Links Centre, the Health Centre, Cranstoun and the Addictions Worker all have some responsibility but no one has a lead in managing the response. Neither is there a multi-disciplinary case-working approach in place. There is increased provision however, in terms of one-to-one counselling and the involvement of Narcotics Anonymous.

Induction

3.13 At the time of the last report, it was noted that there was little in the way of structured induction. The process was described as "relatively disjointed". The system has improved. The SPS Short Term Offender Needs Assessment (STONA) and Community Integration Plan (CIP) approach has been implemented, although this is still in its early stages. On admission, prisoners are interviewed and in many (though not yet all) cases the STONA is used. From the STONA a local referral form has been developed which identifies the individual prisoner's needs and the appropriate agency to whom that individual should be referred. The form is then used in the new Links Centre (previously the Assessment Centre) to alert agencies to these needs. Additionally, individuals receive a one-to-one interview on admission although this sometimes covers only immediate needs and ACT. Most prisoners go to the Links Centre within 24 hours where a Labour Allocation Board occurs. The Social Work Unit, Cranstoun Drug Services and the Chaplains have access to the individuals there. Other agencies also have access at this stage or can make appointments for future meetings. The situation is improved from that which was in place at the time of the previous inspection.

Throughcare

3.14 The local referral sheets activate agencies and responses within the prison. This includes access to programmes and to the range of external agencies who come into the prison. It was disappointing that while the STONA is started, it does not appear yet to be used as the principal means of referral. Nor is the Community Integration Plan well understood or completed. During the week of the inspection the Assessment Centre had been re-designated a Links Centre and the variety of services which currently exist, often in apparent isolation, are now starting to come together. It was encouraging to note that most of the appropriate elements of throughcare and pre-release were available, if not co-ordinated.

Pre-release

3.15 There is no formal pre-release programme although work is carried out in respect of housing benefits and addressing other needs. As with other areas, the new Links Centre should start to address this in a more focused way.

Programmes

3.16 The organisation and delivery of programmes is provided by residential staff. Demands for escorts and high levels of sickness have meant that courses have not run consistently. Despite this Low Moss has exceeded its targets. It runs 'Cognitive Skills', '21 Hour Drug Awareness' and 'Alcohol Awareness' courses. A proposed staffing reorganisation in May means that there should be two full time programmes staff and plans are in place to deliver last year's programmes and also additional ones ('Parenting' and 'Anxiety and Sleep'). At the time of the last report, the appropriateness of the Cognitive Skills course was queried and it was suggested that "provision of courses should be driven by prisoner need". It is good to note that the use of the STONA and the local referral forms is addressing both of these issues. Courses are currently over-subscribed.

Physical Education

3.17 During the last inspection, prisoners had access to two areas for PE: a gym and a weights room. Both are converted dormitories, and the limitations were apparent. Two new PE areas are now in place: a grassed area outside Davidson House and a five-a-side football pitch in the industries yard. Both are welcome.

3.18 The staffing arrangements are as before, with three full time PEIs and six Sports and Games officers. The PEIs manage activity midweek with one Sports and Games Officer managing a session each day at the weekend. There are five sessions each weekday, two in the morning, two in the afternoon and one in the evening. Occasionally more sessions are fitted in if staffing levels permit. The weekend sessions happen much more often now than previously because the Sports and Games staff are available more often.

3.19 Any prisoner who wishes to can access a sporting activity at least twice a week. Some prisoners use the facilities every day. Although the facilities are limited, PE is well managed and is well liked by prisoners.

Visits

3.20 The quality of visits is good at Low Moss. The visits room and waiting room are clean, bright and well maintained. The prisoners' holding room has been modified and is now fit for purpose.

3.21 The role of the Family Contact Development Officer has been reinvigorated since the last inspection. There are nine FCDOs in total, and their office is now used more frequently. There is a direct contact number for the FCDOs, but no answering machine. The possibility of providing an answering machine should be examined.

3.22 The Rapiscan machine was in use in the visits room. However, there was still no canteen available in the visits room and no opportunity for visitors to purchase a hot drink.

3.23 Supervision in the visits area did not appear to be overly excessive with staff keeping their distance. More was available by way of information for visitors than during the last inspection.

Food

3.24 The quality and quantity of the food served continues to be very good. Prisoners eat in a large dining room and are called up in groups to be served. While everyone gets first choice at least once a week, consideration should still be given to introducing an advance menu system.

3.25 Proposed changes to the staff roster system should allow meals to be served at appropriate times (breakfast 07.30, lunch 12.00-12.15, tea 17.00). During inspection lunch was served at 13.30 and on some days finished as late as 14.45 with tea beginning at 17.00.

Clothing and Laundry

3.26 Prisoners still have no opportunity to wear their own clothes, or have personalised prison issue. They still have to pick underwear from a generic pile after it has been returned from the laundry. Often there is not enough to go around, and people have to wash their underwear in the sinks in the dormitories. The Inspectorate was informed that shortages arose as a result of items not being returned from HMP Shotts and prisoners "stock-piling" in their rooms.

3.27 Large items of clothing and bedding are laundered at HMP Shotts, with smaller items, including underwear now being laundered in Low Moss. The Low Moss 'laundry' however is one domestic washing machine and one domestic drier. To allow prisoners individualised clothes, additional machines should be purchased. The additional machines would enable prisoners to put their clothes in a sealed bag which would then be returned to them. Greater effort should also be made by staff to ensure prisoners do not "stock pile" underwear in their dormitories or rooms. It is encouraging that the prison now provides polo shirts to wear at visits and recreation.