This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Greenock Prison
11/05/2006
Greenock Prison provides prisoners with opportunities to develop skills and make healthy choices, according to the latest report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons published today.
However, it also finds that these efforts are undermined by the continued problem of overcrowding.
Dr Andrew McLellan's report, based on a full inspection of HMP Greenock in December 2005, highlights the following:
- Community placements, an important part of preparation for release for long-term prisoners, work well
- Learning, skills and employability provision is good
- There is good access to physical education
- The food and the canteen are excellent
The report also notes that these opportunities are counteracted by:
- Overcrowding in Ailsa Hall
- Unsatisfactory healthcare provision
- Unsatisfactory toilet arrangements in cells in Ailsa and Darroch Halls.
Dr McLellan said:
"A particular strength of Greenock is the outside work placements available to life sentence prisoners near the end of their sentences. Placements of this kind have a valuable part to play in reducing re-offending, and they should be supported. Without them the risks to the public may well be higher.
"Learning, skills and employability provision is good. There is also very good access for prisoners to PE, and prisoners were enthusiastic about the opportunities provided. In addition food is among the most highly rated across the prison estate. It is good that all prisoners have a menu choice each day. This includes remand prisoners who are often excluded from such provision. In two halls fresh fruit and cereal are always available on a "help yourself" basis. This is quite exceptional. The canteen arrangements are also particularly good.
"Relationships between staff and prisoners are very good. Prisoner groups and individual prisoners regularly described the relationships as the best they had known in a Scottish prison.
"However, some things must be improved. The toilet arrangements in Ailsa and Darroch Halls are poor. Most prisoners are sharing cells in which the toilet is shielded by a small "vanity screen" - offering little privacy. In a few cells the toilet is completely unscreened. SPS has attempted to hold remand prisoners in the best conditions, and this attempt deserves credit. But the condition of the cells in which they are held in Greenock is shabby. Decent living conditions are essential to developing the levels of esteem and dignity required to foster citizenship and turn criminal lives around.
"Concerns about the provision of healthcare were raised during the inspection. In particular, there was uncertainty about the number of hours which the doctor was supposed to be in the prison. Health centre staff lacked motivation and three-monthly reviews of medication prescriptions were not carried out.
"Finally, overcrowding continues to be a problem. Greenock is a "local prison", so it takes local prisoners in different categories. Every local prison in Scotland suffers badly from overcrowding. In Greenock the effects are concentrated in Ailsa Hall. Ailsa Hall was designed to accommodate 131 prisoners. On the first day of inspection the number being held was 187. Prisons are damaged by such overcrowding - living conditions for prisoners are damaged, working conditions for prison staff are damaged and, most importantly, the potential for helping to reduce reoffending is lessened."