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HM INSPECTORATE OF PRISONS: Report on HM Prison Peterhead

2. ACCOMMODATION AND POPULATION

Background

2.1 HMP Peterhead is situated some 35 miles north of Aberdeen and approximately 145 from the central belt. It was built in 1888 near deep granite quarries from which its convicts laboured to extract rock for the construction of the nearby breakwater. Many of the original granite and concrete prison blocks are still standing and with the exception of a 10 cell unit formerly known as the Peterhead Unit there has been no significant capital investment throughout the estate. As one of the country's most northerly prisons, situated on the shore of the North Sea, it is exposed fully to the elements and subject to some extreme weather conditions.

The Estate

2.2 The March 2002 intermediate inspection of Peterhead included an assessment of the condition of the estate. It highlighted that the size of each cell was smaller than the current standard design and that a number of items did not comply with current accepted standards. These included the inadequacy of in-cell sanitation, electrical supply to cells, facilities for disabled prisoners, cell call systems, heating and cell windows. It concluded that:

• the prison had not been updated to keep abreast of legislation or living standards;
• the public utility services were overloaded and in need of strengthening; and
• the site has ample space to make redevelopment an easier matter.

2.3 The position remains the same. Following the publication of the Estates Review and subsequent Consultation, the decision was taken that Peterhead would remain open and investment would include installing EPIC in each cell. We recommend that Electric Power in Cells is installed as a matter of urgency.

2.4 The more recent development of doubling up approximately 30 prisoners in cells suitable for one prisoner had compounded some of these problems. When a bunk bed and furniture has been installed the remaining floor space accounts for approximately 3.5 square metres. This is to allow two chairs, one or two porta potties and sufficient room for prisoners to circulate. Panes of glass had been removed from the cell windows in order to allow sufficient ventilation. Blocks of wood or locally improvised draught excluders were used to fill the gaps left by the missing windowpanes in order to reduce the impact of the elements particularly during the winter.

2.5 The budget for capital expenditure for 2002-03 is £40,000.

2.6 It was difficult to identify parts of the estate that could be described as 'high standard' and of the quality found elsewhere in the wider SPS Estate. Office accommodation; worksheds; the condition of the football pitch; and staff facilities were all of a poor standard. Despite this, it was encouraging to note that the establishment was extremely clean and tidy.

Accommodation

2.7 There were four traditional style accommodation blocks ('A', 'B', 'C', and 'D' Halls) and a former segregation unit that is now the progression Hall within the prison. What was formerly the Peterhead Unit was out of commission as a residential facility and was at time of inspection being considered for a number of options ranging from an enhanced facility for sex offenders to a national segregation facility.

2.8 A proposal to initiate a change to the night shift to allow access to sanitation during hours of lock-up had also been presented to the SPS and forms part of the prison's Business Improvement Plan. The plan was based on single cell occupancy. Doubling up has meant the postponement of this initiative for further Risk Assessment. If the arrangements are ready to put in place, there is no reason to delay implementation in 'A', 'C', 'D' and 'E' Halls which are single cell accommodation while the Risk Assessment of 'B' Hall is carried out.

2.9 Access to telephones was a problem within the Halls. There were only three telephones in 'B' Hall and the adjacent areas were noisy and lacked privacy. Doubling up of prisoners there has increased the number of prisoners who need to use these telephones.

2.10 The main area of concern was the conditions in 'B' Hall and 'B Annex'. Conditions here are unacceptable, with the situation being made worse by the doubling up of some prisoners. We recommend that the conditions in 'B' Hall and 'B Annex' are improved immediately through access to night sanitation and single cell accommodation for all prisoners. We also recommend that arrangements for access to proper sanitation are put in place throughout the prison.

CELL: B HALL ANNEX

Population

2.11 The design capacity of Peterhead Prison is 306. (This includes the 10-cell unit, which was temporarily out of use). Until recently there had also been a special holding facility for one life sentence prisoner. This has been discontinued and the prisoner is now integrated into the mainstream prison population. During the course of inspection, the population remained stable at 321 (8% overcrowding on the available accommodation). All prisoners are serving a sentence of 4 years or more. A breakdown of the sentences being served and the percentage of the overall population are as follows: -

A breakdown of the supervision levels across the population was as follows:

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