This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Annual report of HM Inspector of Prisons
06/10/2004
Good conditions in new houseblocks are making a
remarkable difference to prisoners and prison staff,
according to the annual report of Her Majesty's Chief
Inspector of Prisons published today.
However, Dr McLellan also warned that overcrowding was
making it impossible for prisons to contribute as well as
they might to the reduction of re-offending.
Commenting on the report, covering the period April 1,
2003 - March 31, 2004, he said:
"The most encouraging aspect of the inspection reports
this year has been the clear indications of the difference
which good conditions can make.
"In the last two years new halls have opened at Polmont
and Edinburgh. Prisoner accommodation is being refurbished
at Barlinnie and development plans for Edinburgh,
Glenochil, Perth and Polmont have been approved.
"Some of the large dormitories in Low Moss have been
compartalised allowing greater privacy.
"Together this work represents substantial capital
investment in the prison estate which I very much
welcome.
"The experiences of prisoners living in these new halls
is noticeably better than those in drab and ugly halls.
"They are more positive within the prison, and
about their prospects of staying out of prison after
release.
"These new halls, which are not blighted by
overcrowding, may turn out to be making an important
contribution towards creating a safer Scotland.
"Reducing re-offending is at the centre of the the
Scottish Executive's policy on preventing and tackling
crime, and while what happens in prison can only be one
part of a strategy on that, it is an important one.
"However, even this limited contribution is in danger of
being restricted further by the high levels of overcrowding
and by the requirement for all SPS establishments to make
significant savings.
"Overcrowding prevents a prison from providing proper
access to exercise and recreation, useful work and
education, addiction support, and programmes to reduce
re-offending. It also means cell sharing, often with a
stranger, and it sometimes involves slopping out.
"Therefore, while I welcome the Executive's capital
investment in the prisons estate, there is a price for
this. During the year every SPS prison has been required to
make significant savings - and these savings must be made
against a background of rising prisoner numbers. Sooner or
later this will have an effect on prisoner's conditions and
treatment.
"I welcome the steps taken to help bring an end to
slopping out, including the refurbishment programme in
Barlinnie and the new accommodation at Edinburgh. However,
on the first day of our Polmont inspection 220 young adults
had no access to toilets and of those 112 were on remand.
Forcing unconvicted, young adults to participate in the
humiliation and squalor of slopping out is disgraceful.
"The report which excited most interest in the media
last year was the report on Cornton Vale. I was not
surprised by this as most women who come in to prison are
in a desperate state. Their life stories are considerably
and overwhelmingly sad.
"A prison is not a doctor's surgery, addiction centre,
psychiatric hospital nor counselling centre.
"That is not to ignore how much good is done in prisons
in all these fields, but it is unreasonable to expect that
imprisonment will forever transform the lives of these
women."
Under the terms of Section 7 of the Prisons (Scotland)
Act 1989 it is the duty of the Chief Inspector of Prisons
to inspect or arrange for the inspection of prisons,
legalised police cells and prisoner escort arrangements in
Scotland.
Following each inspection the Chief Inspector reports to
Scottish Ministers on the treatment of prisoners and
conditions in prisons. The Chief Inspector submits an
Annual Report to Scottish Ministers.
The Chief Inspector may also report on any matter
connected with Scottish prisons as directed by Scottish
Ministers.
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.