This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Aberdeen Prison Report
17/11/2004
Overcrowding is the most damaging issue facing Aberdeen
Prison, according to the latest report from the Chief
Inspector of Prisons.
Dr Andrew McLellan describes a full inspection in June
and praises the prison for:
- Improved safety, reduced levels of violence and
good staff-prisoner relationships
- Establishing a links centre
- Improving access to education and visits
- Developing a new chaplaincy team
- Improving the quality of the food
However, the report also raises concerns that:
- Overcrowding, which has now reached 50 per cent, is
putting a strain on facilities, accommodation and the
ability of staff to deal with prisoners' individual
needs
- The inadequate health centre, visits room and
reception
- High levels of drug use
- That the needs of women prisoners, prisoners on
remand and protection prisoners were not met
adequately
Dr McLellan said:
"In some ways this is a good report, which draws
attention to real progress. Not long ago this prison was
described in an HMCIP report as 'unsafe'.
"During this most recent inspection the prison felt
safe, with a relaxed atmosphere and good staff-prisoner
relationships.
"The statistics for violence were much better than they
had been, every prisoner spoken to said they felt safe, and
there had been no escapes.
"The quality of the food had improved significantly,
progress had been made in establishing a links centre,
access to physical education had been improved, and a new
chaplaincy team had been established. All of this
represents real achievement.
"However, this progress must be put in the context of
high overcrowding and poor facilities.
"The prison is designed to hold 154 offenders but in the
current reporting year has reached a peak of 251.
"This means that prisoners have to share cells, with
scarcely enough room to move around.
"It also means that staff cannot always deal with
individual prisoners' needs or carry out safety assessments
on new prisoners. There are also difficulties in providing
useful work, programmes to tackle reoffending and education
to meet the needs of these high prisoner numbers.
"Even if the prison was not overcrowded, some of its
facilities would be inadequate. The report identifies three
in particular: the health centre, the visits room, and the
reception area, which are among the most important areas in
any prison.
"These obvious weaknesses prevent the prison - however
much it tries - from making a good response to critical
areas of prisoner need.
"Those on remand live in worse accommodation than
convicted prisoners. They have very little access to
facilities or activities, and spend a great deal of time
locked in their cells.
"This is even more true of protection prisoners, who
often only spend one or two hours out of their cells during
an entire day.
"The accommodation for women is now quite shabby and
although they are not locked up for very long periods, they
have a very empty day. The only work provided is tedious,
and is completed in a short time each day. The needs of
these vulnerable prisoners - women, those on remand, and
those on protection -must be addressed.