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3. CUSTODY AND GOOD ORDER
Security and Safety
3.1 There have been no escapes since the last inspection.
3.2 In 2004-05 there were four serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults against a target of nine. There were 48 minor prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in the same period. There had been one serious assault and nine minor assaults in the period April 2005 to the time of inspection. There had been one serious prisoner-on-staff assault against a target of zero and 19 minor assaults in 2004-05. There had been one serious prisoner-on-staff assault and six minor assaults between April 2005 and the time of inspection. There were no incidents of concerted indiscipline.
3.3 The prison has a well developed Anti-Violence Strategy in place, and this has contributed to a reduction in the number of assaults over the past 18 months. The strategy also aims to stop other forms of anti-social behaviour. Edinburgh actively promotes the use of the SPS Anti-Bullying Strategy, evidenced by the posters displayed across the prison.
3.4 There were no suicides in 2004-05 and none between April 2005 and the time of inspection. ACT documents were initiated on 258 occasions in 2004-05 and on 68 occasions from April to mid July 2005. An ACT coordinating group is in place chaired by the Deputy Governor. This Group meets bi-monthly and comprises representatives from Social Work, Psychology, Chaplaincy, Mental Health and Listeners.
3.5 Relationships between staff and prisoners were very good, as reported by groups and in the SPS Prisoner Survey.
Prisoner Complaints Procedure
3.6 The Prisoner Complaints procedure is well managed. The prison takes a slightly different approach from most other prisons and this seems to have had a positive effect on the quality of answers given to prisoners and the number of complaints submitted or taken to the Internal Complaints Committee ( ICC) stage of the process.
3.7 When a prisoner submits a CP1 in Edinburgh, a First Line Manager rather than an officer gives the first response. If it proceeds to the next stage a Unit Manager writes the answer. It then reverts to SPS procedures. The quality of answers is very good.
3.8 In 2003-04 there were 1521 complaints submitted, in 2004-05 this reduced to 1403. Between 1 April and 15 August 2005 only 375 had been submitted. Even more striking has been the reduction in ICC's. There were 377 in 2003-04, 279 in 2004-05. Between 1 April and 15 August 2005 there had only been 61.
Prisoner Disciplinary System
3.9 The Segregation Unit houses the main Orderly Room for the prison. The area is custom designed for this and provides a fairly relaxed setting for disciplinary hearings. Disciplinary hearings are usually held by unit managers, although senior managers also conduct a few. In addition to the hearings held within the main Orderly Room, hearings are also conducted within the accommodation areas.
3.10 Disciplinary proceedings were observed by inspectors and found to comply with SPS procedures. Those prisoners involved were treated in a respectful manner and were well informed of what was going on. They were given opportunities to ask questions and to make statements on their own behalf. The disposals made were appropriate.
3.11 All records from hall-based disciplinary hearings are collated by segregation staff, recorded in the Segregation Unit and then transferred to staff in the Security Unit who are responsible for placing the information on the Prisoner Record System and for storing the paper records.
Segregation Unit
3.12 A new Segregation Unit opened in 2003. It is an excellent facility. There are fourteen "normal" cells with integral sanitation and in cell power. There were 11 prisoners living in the Segregation Unit on the first day of inspection. Prisoners are provided with a hi-fi on request by the staff. They do not have televisions or kettles. Staff provide flasks or cups of hot water as required.
3.13 The unit is divided into two sections of seven cells. There is a "special" cell in each section. These are rarely used and only in specific circumstances, for very short periods of time. All cells have a proper bed.
3.14 Staffing consists of one First Line Manager and three officers. Officers do not wear the normal prison uniform: they dress more casually. The unit is fully staffed from 7.15am to 5.45pm. It is on patrol outside these hours. While this arrangement is becoming more common in Segregation Units, it means that prisoners do not have access to the telephone or other parts of the regime in the evenings.
3.15 The facilities themselves are excellent. There is a multi gym available on a rota basis. This is very popular with prisoners. There are showers in each section and three spacious exercise yards. Visits must be booked, and are restricted to afternoon sessions, including weekends.
3.16 A case conferencing system is used to manage prisoners in the Unit. Links are maintained with the area of the prison (or other prison) where the prisoner came from, and established with the place it is planned for him to go to next.
3.17 The Segregation Unit is a good facility. It is a safe and appropriate place for prisoners who have caused problems or who are experiencing difficulties in coping in normal circulation.
Night Duty
3.18 Edinburgh is patrolled by one manager and 10 staff at nights. This is comparable to other prisons of a similar size and prisoner type. Night duty instructions were available in all areas and were, in the main, up to date and user friendly. The emergency equipment available was excellent. Boxes containing essential equipment are held in a cupboard in the Hub.
3.19 A regular occurrence during the night is a prisoner requiring to be escorted to hospital. It happened twice during inspection. The staff complement during this time has to be reduced by two (20%) to carry out the escort. When the complement is reduced the ability of staff to carry out their full range of duties is compromised. There are fewer patrols, cell alarms are answered more slowly and there are fewer staff to respond to an emergency. This should be addressed.
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