This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Polmont Young Offenders Institution
05/08/2004
Polmont is now the national centre for young offenders
and has coped well with a 50 per cent increase in its
population, according to the latest report from the Chief
Inspector of Prisons published today.
However, Dr Andrew McLellan's report also describes the
challenges posed by the wide range of prisoners, with
varying needs and problems, who are housed in very
different standards of accommodation.
The report, which follows a full inspection in March
2004, and highlights
that:
* The prison population has increased by 50 per cent.
This is not the result of increasing numbers of young
offenders but is due to young offenders from Dumfries and
Glenochil, and under-21 remand prisoners from Barlinnie
being moved there.
* The accommodation in Iona Hall is excellent but
conditions in two of the halls - where slopping out still
takes place - is very bad.
* Last year, 15 children under the age of 16 were
detained in Polmont.
* Many young adults spend a great deal of time locked up
in cells.
* The prison's youth centre makes a good contribution to
developing young adults' personal and life skills.
* There are a number of good initiatives in place to
ensure that family contact is maintained.
Dr McLellan said:
"The range of needs and problems of young adults in
Polmont is great. It holds convicted and unconvicted
prisoners, including sex offenders, with convicted
prisoners serving sentences ranging from a few days to
life. The prisoners also show differing levels of maturity,
with Polmont sometimes housing children under 16.
"Conditions in Argyll and Spey Halls - where slopping
out still takes place
- are very bad. Prisoners under 21 - many of whom are on
remand - have no access to toilets during the night and
often during the day, when they can be locked up for
considerable periods. However Iona Hall, which opened in
2003, provides excellent accommodation. The cells are
large, bright and airy, and have a separate toilet. Even
after a year, the hall remains really clean and where the
accommodation is good, prisoners' attitudes are much more
positive.
"There are two cultures in Polmont. It is a place where
young offenders are called 'young adults' and where their
adolescence is recognised. Some staff wear the traditional
uniform while others wear informal sweat shirt uniforms.
While relationships with staff are generally good, it is a
place where, in front of the inspectors, some staff shouted
and swore at young adults and called them by their last
names.
"For years Polmont has struggled to find enough
worthwhile activity for prisoners and the rise in its
population last year, due to transfers from other prisons,
has not helped. Many young adults spend a great deal of
time locked up in their cells and Polmont must not allow
this to become the normal way of life. Children under 16
are among affected by this. It is not possible for Polmont
to provide anything like suitable circumstances, conditions
and activity for them. Children are only held in prison
when there is no other place available for them, but that
does not make it right.
"Almost every source agreed about one matter. There is
not enough food for young men."
"A number of very good initiatives are in place in
Polmont. There is a "care orderly room" which avoids the
need for disciplinary action following a first drugs
failure, good pre-release arrangements are in place and a
family awareness induction evening helps alleviate their
fears and encourages them to adopt a supportive and active
role in the care of the young adults. Therapeutic focus
groups in the health centre offer high level support to
change an individual's lifestyle and there is a dedicated
mental health team. Excellent work is also being carried
out by the youth centre, especially on personal and social
education."
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's own
assessment of itself.
The inspection of Polmont was a full inspection with a
focus on conditions in which prisoners live and on the way
prisoners are treated.
Copies of Reports will be available on the
Inspectorate's website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/hmip.