This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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HMCIP report on Inverness prison
06/11/2003
Scotland's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Andrew McLellan,
today published his report on Inverness prison.
Commenting on the report, Dr McLellan said that the
prison continues to cope despite overcrowding and staff
shortages.
The report on Inverness prison, which describes a
follow up inspection in July, draws attention to new work
which is commended. This includes the induction and
pre-release programme, the application of the personal
officer scheme to all short term prisoners, and work done
in prison education. Some matters of concern raised in the
last report have also been addressed including the
production of a drugs strategy document and resolving the
difficulties which were identified about the circumstances
of women prisoners.
The visits room and reception area are not up to an
acceptable standard and there is still a gap in Healthcare
caused by the closure of the day care centre.
Dr McLellan said:
"Despite the determination evident in Inverness to make
the best of circumstances, the problems created by
overcrowding are very great. They have significant effects
on the opportunities available to prisoners and on the
conditions in which prisoners live and prison staff work.
Since the inspection of a year ago which spoke of 'often
serious overcrowding' the average daily population has
risen by five, and figures of 40% overcrowding are now
regular. No more staff are in place to manage these high
numbers and the difficulties associated with providing
escorts over such a huge area as is served by Inverness
Prison mean that high demands are made on staff.
"Given the problems it is extremely encouraging to see
the progress which has been made in the areas of inductions
and pre release, work with short term prisoners and work in
education. A drug strategy has been produced and the
circumstances of women prisoners have been addressed.
"There had been no escapes since the last inspection and
Inverness continues to present as a very safe prison for
prisoners and staff. Relationships between staff and
prisoners were very good. Although ever increasing
prisoner numbers were placing more and more pressure on the
existing accommodation, the standard of the accommodation
itself is good. The quality and quantity of the food is
good.
"While much has been achieved the visits room and
reception area are poor and nothing appears to have been
done to fill the gap in healthcare left by the closure of
the day care centre.
"Fears expressed in the last Inspectorate report in 2002
of 'worrying indications that what was previously a most
positive regime could start to falter' have not
materialised and the efforts of staff and management should
be recognised."
Scotland's prisons are subject to regular inspection. A
full inspection normally takes place every three years and
examines all aspects of the establishment. Follow up
inspections are carried out in years where a full
inspection does not take place and these examine points of
note raised in previous inspections, examine significant
changes since then, and explore issues arising from the
establishment'' own assessment of itself.
The inspection of Inverness was a follow up inspection
with a focus on conditions in which prisoners live and on
the way prisoners are treated.
The report is available on the HMIP website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/hmip