This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Shotts Prison inspection report
22/04/2004
Shotts Prison has moved on and left
behind the serious disturbances of a year ago, Scotland's
Chief Inspector of Prisons Dr Andrew McLellan said today in
his inspection report.
The report, which follows a full
inspection in November 2003, praises Shotts for:
The substantial reduction in
the number of prisoners testing positive for
illegal drugs
The level of health care and
education provided for prisoners
Its good relationships
between prisoners and staff
However, it also suggests areas for
further improvement, including:
The provision of better
quality food
Implementation of a formal
pre-release initiative for prisoners who are to be
liberated from Shotts
Upgrading of the reception
area, medical conulting rooms and recreation
facilities
Dr McLellan said:
"The Governor and staff have made real
efforts to move on from the incidents in the prison in
January 2003 and these efforts have been successful.
"It is significant that 'A' hall - a difficult
place with a culture of low expectations - has been
closed.
"A new, "transitional" accommodation
block has been established for prisoners expected to move
to less secure conditions. This offers a new opportunity
for prisoners requiring lower levels of supervision.
"The standard of accommodation for prisoners and
arrangements and facilities for visitors are very good. The
level of health care provided is high and the health centre
is an excellent facility. There has been a substantial
reduction in the number of prisoners testing positive for
illegal drugs, down from 33 per cent to 20 per cent.
"New policies are also being
introduced in prisoner employment, induction, throughcare,
addictions and chaplaincy. Relationships between prisoners
and staff are also good.
"However, the food served in Shotts is
not popular with prisoners. Parts of the prison are drab
and unappealing - in particular the recreation facilities,
medical consulting rooms in the halls and the reception
area. And the routine use of reception cubicles should be
discontinued.
"Recent changes in sentencing procedures and prison
rules mean that some prisoners know from the start
that they are going to spend over twenty years in prison,
and that nearly all of that will be in Shotts. This is
already creating difficulties in relation to motivating and
progressing these prisoners. There is also no formal
pre-release programme to help reintegrate prisoners who
will be liberated from Shotts.
"Overall however, the report
highlights that good progress is being made at Shotts and
this is an encouraging report."