This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Perth Prison report
19/11/2003
"Perth Prison, like a growing number
of other establishments, has a significant overcrowding
problem", Scotland's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Andrew
McLellan said today on publication of his HMCIP report.
The report on Perth prison, which
describes a follow up inspection in June, draws attention
to real progress in a number of areas including the
provision of programmes for prisoners, Sentence Management,
the reception area and arrangements for visits.
However, conditions in 'C' Hall, where
slopping out exists, are still bad and overcrowding is
placing a strain on the prison.
Dr McLellan said:
"Perth has now joined the growing
number of prisons where every aspect of prison life and
prison management is affected by overcrowding.
In Perth the worst overcrowding is in 'C'
Hall, where the number of prisoners can approach 50% above
the number the hall should hold.
While the prison does try to minimise the
disadvantages to prisoners that overcrowding brings,
conditions in 'C' Hall are bad.
Slopping out still exists and as long as it
is combined with cell sharing it remains a disgrace.
Installation of electrical power in cells in
'C' Hall has however made a difference for the better.
A new building programme is underway for the
whole prison but it means that it may still be some time
before slopping out is ended.
Most of the other accommodation has been
refurbished and is clean and tidy.
"There are limited opportunities for
work, particularly for those prisoners sentenced to less
than six months, the reception area is inadequate, and the
quality of the food is poor at point of serving.
"On the other hand there is evidence
of real progress in the provision of programmes for
prisoners.
Other matters which are assessed very
positively in the report are induction, sentence management
and throughcare.
Arrangements for Healthcare also continue to
be good, although there is a heavy workload imposed by the
need to provide methadone and detoxification drugs.
"There have been no escapes since the
last inspection.
There has been an increase in prisoner on
prisoner violence, particularly among the remand and short
term prisoner groups.
Relationships between staff and prisoners
are very good.
"Despite the problems caused by
overcrowding and the unacceptable practice of slopping out
in 'C' Hall, prison staff have made progress in delivering
a number of improvements since the last inspection and for
that they are to be commended.
It is to be hoped that they will be further
supported in this when the new building programme
begins."
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 Perth was a follow
up inspection with a focus on conditions in which prisoners
live and on the way prisoners are treated.