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Report on prisoners under escort
06/09/2007
The overwhelming majority of prisoner escorts to and from courts are managed without incident but delays are endemic and the conditions in which prisoners are held in court cells are very variable, with some being extremely poor, according to a report published today.
The report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons is based on a comprehensive inspection of the conditions and treatment of prisoners under escort, between June and October last year.
It highlights:
- The logistics of escorting prisoners around Scotland is complex, and has grown considerably since the Reliance Custodial Service contract commenced. The overwhelming majority of escorts are managed without incident or difficulty of any kind
- The relationship between RCS staff and prisoners and the general approach of RCS staff is positive and constructive
- Prisoners feel safe from staff and other prisoners in vans
The report also notes:
- At a small number of courts, it appears difficult, with the current layout and operational arrangements, to guarantee the safety of prisoners and staff when moving into and through the court building
- The lack of risk assessment and other documentation at some courts means that staff who are unused to that particular court cannot immediately access information they may require
- The information contained in prisoners' Personal Escort Records is inconsistent and inadequate to facilitate the management of prisoners with additional needs, or who pose risks to themselves or others
- The conditions under which prisoners are kept in court cells are very variable, with some being extremely poor
- The management of new prisoners is not consistent, and does little to identify any needs they may have, or any risks they may pose
- Delays in the escorting process appear endemic and have wide ranging consequences
- Some children are being delivered to prison late at night when it is difficult for staff to adequately address their needs. Some who are destined for social work facilities are being required to spend a night in prison because they cannot reach their intended destination
In the interests of the administration of justice and the maintenance of security in institutions where persons are lawfully detained, individual courts and other locations have not been identified in this report. However, where concerns exist, the relevant courts and locations have been informed and action taken to address these concerns will be monitored by the Inspectorate.
Deputy Chief Inspector of Prisons John McCaig said:
"The conditions and treatment of prisoners under escort have been inspected from time to time in the course of the inspection of a prison.
"This report is the result of the first systematic inspection of the subject across Scotland. The inspection covers the conditions and treatment of prisoners as they are taken to and from court, and when they are held in court.
"The number of escorts undertaken by Reliance Custodial Services has risen sharply over the course of the contract with an average of more than 15,000 per month overall undertaken. The scale and complexity of the escort service cannot be overemphasised and RCS deserve credit for the professional way in which it is carried out.
"The overwhelming majority of escorts to and from courts are managed without incident and prisoners feel safe from staff and other prisoners in vehicles. The general approach of RCS staff is positive and constructive.
"However delays in the process appear endemic and have a damaging impact on prisoners attending court. In some cases, a court appearance of no more than five minutes may involve the prisoner being absent from the prison for up to 12 hours.
"These delays have a number of impacts. These include prisoners at many courts being held in what are often cramped, dirty and bleak environments, with little to relieve boredom. At some locations, prisoners may also be held in vehicles for very long periods.
"Many aspects of prison regimes are also disrupted, and some prisons, particularly, Barlinnie, Cornton Vale and Polmont, face practical difficulties in assessing the immediate risks and needs of what may be large numbers of prisoners arriving late in the evening.
"Various factors have been identified as causing these delays including the weather and traffic; the time court business is scheduled; and the preference of RCS for operating vehicles which are as full as possible.
"There is a wide variation in the nature of courts across Scotland in terms of layout, logistics, conditions and facilities. Some courts give rise to serious concerns about aspects of prisoners' safety and dignity.
"The key concerns arise in locations where it is very difficult for RCS to protect adequately prisoners (or themselves) from attack by a member of the public, or where it is difficult to guarantee that a member of public would not be able to pass an item to a prisoner.
"The layout of some courts, as well as some of the arrangements in place, expose prisoners to unnecessary public scrutiny. Basically, physical security of some court buildings is poor.
"The standard of cleanliness in many court custody areas is also poor. Many toilets do not afford an acceptable level of decency for male prisoners, and in some cases, for female prisoners. Most cells or holding areas have no facilities of any kind. In some courts, cell overcrowding is an issue, and in relation to new prisoners, risk and needs assessments are superficial."
The report covers the conditions and treatment of prisoners as they are taken to and from court, and when they are held in court. It is not an inspection of Reliance Custodial Services, the escort services contractor, nor of SPS, the escort services contract holder. Neither is it an inspection of the Scottish Courts Service or the local authorities who run the District Courts.