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2. POPULATION, ACCOMMODATION AND REGIMES
Introduction
2.1 HMP Edinburgh has made enormous progress in improving the fabric of the prison. Eighty five years of slopping out ended on 2 June 2005. Forth Hall, 'A' Hall and Pentland Hall have closed in the past year and new fit for purpose accommodation - Ingliston House - opened. Parts of Pentland Hall and Forth Hall were being converted for use as temporary workshops. At the time of inspection 'A' Hall had been demolished and work had started on the construction of new catering and reception facilities.
2.2 The agreed capacity for the prison is now 756 although it can hold up to 816 if required. On the first day of inspection there were 765 prisoners unlocked, and numbers went above 800 during the week for the first time.
2.3 Edinburgh now has three accommodation blocks described below.
Glenesk House
2.4 Glenesk House opened in 1998. It holds male adult remand prisoners. It also holds male prisoners under the age of 21 who are on remand, convicted awaiting sentence and newly convicted awaiting transfer to HMYOI Polmont. Adult and young prisoners are held separately with levels one and three holding adults and level two under 21s.
2.5 Glenesk has a design capacity of 125 with a capacity of 184. On the first day of inspection there were 168 prisoners living there, 46 of whom were aged under 21.
2.6 The hall is divided into three floors with two sections on each floor. Grille gates separate each section although they were not closed over at any time during inspection and there was no evidence that the gates were used to manage prisoners. The atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.
2.7 The cells with two beds are the same size as those with one bed. The beds are not bunk beds so they take up a great deal of floor space leaving nowhere to sit, eat or read. Each cell has integral sanitation, in cell power, a kettle and a television. Terrestrial TV channels are available.
2.8 Although the hall was re-decorated in November 2004 the cells were shabby and dirty. Staff put this down to the transient nature of the prisoner population. The communal areas looked better.
2.9 Many of the prisoners themselves were dishevelled and untidy. Their prison clothes were often torn or washed out. The bedding was also very shabby. This is in stark contrast to the brand new clothing and bedding issued to prisoners in Ingliston. It is recommended that remand prisoners should have access to the same quality of clothes and bedding as convicted prisoners.
2.10 There are three telephones on each floor, and showers and recreation equipment in each section. Recreation consists of pool tables and table tennis. Prisoners have access to recreation every afternoon and evening. There is also a multi gym on the top floor, which prisoners can access on a rota basis. In the central area on each floor there is a well equipped pantry. All of the pantries were clean.
2.11 Outside exercise is available every morning. There are two sessions, one for under-21's and one for adults. The system works well.
2.12 A very good initiative is a 'legal hot line'. Lawyers can contact their client directly using a line available in the middle floor staff workstation. The service was well used. This is an area of good practice.
Hermiston House
2.13 Hermiston House opened in 2003. It holds all convicted long and short-term adult admissions for assessment and induction. Levels one and two are classified as the Progression Unit; Level three is the Admissions and Induction Unit; and Level four is an Enhanced Unit.
2.14 Hermiston has 226 cells with a capacity of 283. On the first day of inspection there were 274 prisoners unlocked.
2.15 Hermiston is built to an 'L' shape, with four storeys on one side and three on the other. Levels one and two are run as one Unit with an open gallery design; prisoners move here from the Admission Unit before moving to other parts of the prison. Level three is the Admissions and Induction Unit, Level four houses the Enhanced Unit, which gives prisoners access to slightly wider regime opportunities.
2.16 The building is well maintained, the cells are generally clean and tidy with communal areas maintained to a good standard. All cells have in-cell sanitation in separate cubicles; in cell power; and TVs. There are three telephones per section, which can be accessed when prisoners are unlocked. Recreation facilities are television, pool and table tennis. There is an exercise yard adjacent to the hall, as well as two astro-turf football pitches available on a rota basis. Each section has its own food servery and prisoners can choose to eat at the fixed tables in each section (with the exception of prisoners in the Admissions and Induction Unit) or eat in their cells. Additionally, there are microwaves where goods bought in the canteen can be heated. Each section has four showers. Hermiston House continues to provide a clean and well-maintained living environment.
Ingliston House
2.17 Ingliston House opened on 2 June 2005. This ended 85 years of slopping out in HMP Edinburgh. It holds convicted adult long-term and protection prisoners. Level one holds up to 85 prisoners in need of protection. Level two is the former Pentland Hall and is a National 'Top End' for 88 long-term prisoners at the pre-release stage of their sentence. Level three provides an enhanced regime for 87 prisoners. Level four provides a 'progression' regime for 88 prisoners.
2.18 Ingliston has 284 cells with a capacity of 348. On the first day of inspection there were 312 prisoners unlocked.
2.19 Ingliston is similar in design to Hermiston (described above). The sections sit at right angles to each other in an 'L' shape.
2.20 Each level has 16 "double-cells". There are also two four-person "buddy cells" on level one, although these are only used under specific circumstances and are therefore not included in the capacity number.
2.21 When the hall is at its capacity of 348 there are 128 prisoners sharing cells. This means that long-term prisoners in Edinburgh are routinely sharing cells for the first time, recognising that these cells are designed for two. Having said that, facilities are excellent. There is integral sanitation in every cell as well as in cell power, a kettle and a television. Each level has its own showers, recreation facilities, pantry areas and interview facilities. There is a limited amount of office space for staff.
2.22 Outside exercise is available daily on the astro-turf pitches adjacent to the hall. They are also used in the evenings and at the weekends.
2.23 The prisoners have all been issued with new clothing to match their new surroundings. The laundry system in place also ensures that they are able to keep their clothes clean.
2.24 Despite the hall having only been open for a few weeks prior to inspection the impact on those who had been transferred in from the old Forth Hall, 'A' Hall and Pentland Hall was very evident.
2.25 The former Pentland Hall prisoners were taking some time to adjust because of the relative freedom they had experienced in Pentland. They are now located on one floor of this large hall. It has not been possible to replicate some parts of the regime from Pentland, such as the opportunity to walk in the open air in the evenings. Prisoners were also taking time to settle into being in larger sections in a very large hall covered by CCTV. The prisoners can still have their cell doors unlocked if they wish and as they settle into their new environment other opportunities to develop the regime may be identified.
2.26 Edinburgh now holds significantly more long-term prisoners than previously and most of these prisoners are in Ingliston. Many said that they felt like they were being treated like short-term prisoners and this was a frustration to them. The prison should make sure that it has a regime in place suited to the needs of long-term prisoners. The prison should also monitor the impact of long-term prisoners routinely sharing cells.
Summary
2.27 The opening of Ingliston House, combined with the high numbers of long-term prisoners required the creation of a suitable regime of internal progression. This has, in the short term, meant:
- Long-term prisoners who previously had cells of their own now share a two-person cell.
- Higher numbers of long-term prisoners located in a large single residential houseblock.
- Perceptions on the part of Pentland Hall staff and prisoners that their regime has been curtailed and that they have been moved to "normal" conditions brought about by living in accommodation similar to that of prisoners starting their sentences. These feelings have been influenced by the existence of CCTV and reduced access to unsupervised outside recreation due to the need to maintain security barriers for non Pentland prisoners located elsewhere in Ingliston House.
- A significant increase in prisoner numbers combined with a need to reduce numbers attending daily work activities whilst training/work parties transfer to new temporary accommodation, has resulted in greater numbers of prisoners than would be normal, staying in the hall during weekdays.
- An increased requirement for Sentence Management due to the increased long-term prisoner population.
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