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2. POPULATION, ACCOMMODATION AND ROUTINES

Population

2.1 Glenochil currently holds adult male prisoners serving more than four years. It can house up to 42 protection prisoners on one floor in 'D' Hall. It can also house a small number of short-term prisoners following discussions with their local prison.

2.2 During the inspection there were 443 prisoners living in Glenochil: 120 in 'D' Hall, 313 in Harviestoun Hall and 10 in the Segregation Unit.

Accommodation and Routines

2.3 Glenochil has two main accommodation areas: 'D' Hall, which is the last remaining hall from the "old" prison, and Harviestoun Hall which is the first of two new 'super-halls' which will form the 'new' Glenochil. The Segregation Unit (Devon Hall) is described in Chapter 3.

'D Hall

2.4 'D' Hall has the capacity to hold 124 prisoners, including 42 protection prisoners. All prisoners have access to night sanitation.

2.5 On the first day of the inspection 35 prisoners out of 120 went to work, leaving most in their cells. This would appear to be the norm. No easy access to sanitation was available for these prisoners in their cells during the day: if the prisoner required to use the toilet he had to knock on his door and ask a member of staff.

2.6 The facilities and decoration, including the cells and toilets are tired and grubby. Each floor has a laundry room which holds a washing machine and dryer. Prisoners within 'D' Hall do not have access to the main prison laundry. In some areas there were shoe laces tied together to make a drying line. A recent development has been the introduction of a microwave and toaster within a kitchen area on each floor. These kitchens are clean and prisoners were positive about them. Due to loss or damage not all prisoners have access to a lockable cabinet in their cells. This should be addressed.

2.7 The outside area of the hall, although it is cleaned every morning, was still subject to rubbish being thrown from the windows, although the throwing of human waste seemed less prevalent than previously reported. Staff said that alterations to the night sanitation facility introduced a year ago were responsible for this. Prisoners now have unlimited access to sanitation during the night.

2.8 All prisoners have their own cutlery and dishes. Meals are served from the servery within an area at the entrance to the hall. Prisoners collect their food and make their way back to their cells. Protection prisoners are always served last. On the day of inspection, fruit was served as a choice.

2.9 Prisoners, except protection prisoners, have access to recreation on the ground floor. A maximum of 40 prisoners are allowed at any time, but the reality is that this facility is not taken up by many of the 'D' Hall prisoners.

2.10 Prisoners who require to make a complaint through the complaints procedure have to ask staff for a form as they are kept within cabinets within the staff offices. Forms should be readily accessible.

2.11 Access to physical education and to telephones was good. Both staff and prisoners felt that relationships were good but the lack of things to do was a problem.

2.12 It seemed that 'D' Hall was almost forgotten about. It was full of prisoners who had been removed from Harviestoun or who refused to share a cell. There was little or nothing happening and numbers leaving the hall for any activity was low. Protection prisoners seemed to be in a 'silo' of their own, again with little or nothing happening. The hall seemed to be waiting for the eventual opening of the new houseblock.

Harviestoun Hall

2.13 Harviestoun is an indication of what the future holds for Glenochil. It is a very large hall which opened in 2005. It has 244 standard cells on four floors, with two sections separated by grille gates on each floor. The floors are L-shaped so prisoners from one section cannot see into the other section. There are eight special cells spread throughout the hall and cell sharing takes place in eight larger cells in each section making the total design capacity of the hall 316. On the first day of inspection there were 313 prisoners living in Harviestoun.

2.14 Harviestoun has integral sanitation throughout, and the cells are large, spacious and bright. All standard single and double cells have electrical power in cell, a kettle and a television. There are some cells on each floor which are used specifically for disabled prisoners, prisoners at risk of self-harm or prisoners who are under supervision because they are suspected of having swallowed an illicit item at a visit. These cells are only used in very specific circumstances and are not counted as part of the normal hall capacity.

2.15 Staff tend to locate themselves at their workstation in the centre of each floor. This allows a good view into each section. However, the sheer size of the sections makes it difficult to see everything, and communicating from the centre of the floor to the sections during recreation periods is very difficult because of echoes and noise. It is also difficult for staff to avoid shouting.

2.16 Inspectors walked around the hall during the day and in the evenings. Although the atmosphere was relaxed there was not much evidence of staff regularly walking around. The size of the sections, the location of staff telephones and other communication aids as well as the amount of paperwork staff have to undertake makes it difficult for them to spend much time with prisoners. Nevertheless, staff and prisoners agreed that relationships were good. However, in the most recent Prisoner Survey, 83% of prisoners in Glenochil said the atmosphere in their hall was okay, good or very good. The overall SPS rating was 86%.

2.17 The most unpopular part of being in Harviestoun is that some prisoners have to share a cell. When prisoners were asked why sharing was so much worse for Glenochil prisoners than for prisoners in local prisons or in the Open Estate, the following responses summed up the feeling:

• In local prisons it [cell sharing] is normal practice and has been for years, and you know as an LTP you won't be there for very long.
• In Castle Huntly, if you have to share you can go for a walk if you need to, you have the key to the door so you can get away from your cell mate if you need a break from each other.
• In Glenochil you could be sharing for months and you can't go for a walk.

2.18 Staff and managers spoke of the problems they encounter trying to persuade prisoners to move into a double cell. Some prisoners prefer to stay in the old cells in 'D' Hall rather than face the prospect of having to share in Harviestoun, especially when this is as a result of progression, and even though the process of allocating prisoners to double cells is done fairly and consistently. It is recommended that the prison should review the need for long-term prisoners to share cells.

2.19 The communal areas on each floor are well lit and attractively decorated. Each floor is well served with interview rooms and there is a well-appointed multi gym which prisoners can use during recreation periods.

2.20 'Harviestoun 4' (H4) is Glenochil's 'local top end'. It has a slightly more enhanced regime, although the enhancements are quite limited. H4 prisoners can move between sections during recreation periods when the section gates are locked to restrict movement on the other three floors. H4 prisoners are prioritised for onward movement although prisoners from other parts of the prison can also progress to a national top end or to open conditions in exceptional circumstances.

2.21 Harviestoun has two astro turf pitches in a yard adjacent to the hall. The gym staff use these for outside sports activities, mainly five-a-side football. The hall also has an outside exercise yard. The yard is spacious and well maintained.

2.22 Meals are served from serveries located in each section. Tables and chairs are located in the sections and prisoners have the choice of taking their food back to their cells to eat or eating in the communal areas.

2.23 There are three telephones in each section. The canopies fitted do not provide much soundproofing and prisoners said that it is difficult to have a conversation on the telephone during recreation. The prison should look at the possibility of fitting telephone boxes.

2.24 Recreation takes place in the sections. There is pool, snooker and table tennis. It is very noisy during recreation and many prisoners said that they could not get any peace and quiet in the evenings or at weekends. They feel trapped by the restriction in movement and this, coupled with the noise and no means of avoiding it other than locking your door occasionally led to frustration and anger. It is recommended that noise levels and restrictions in movement during recreation are addressed.

2.25 Another contributory factor to prisoners' frustration is the heat in the hall, particularly during the summer. Staff and prisoners said that the heat was sometimes "unbearable". The windows in the cells are large and let in lots of natural light but they are fitted with restrictors so they will only open a few centimetres. This means that fresh air in the cells is restricted. The prison hired large electric fans for each section during the summer and prisoners have been allowed to have smaller fans sent in for their cells. It is however unfortunate that a new building would appear to have such problems with temperature. It is recommended that the temperature in Harviestoun Hall is kept at a level which is comfortable for prisoners and staff.

2.26 In more general terms staff and prisoners spoke positively about how much better many things were now that they were in Harviestoun as opposed to where they had previously lived or worked. The Prisoner Survey reported the following as being okay, good or very good: -

2.27 Access to cleaning materials, clean underwear and a clean towel have also improved since the last Survey.

2.28 In summary, prisoners in Harviestoun consistently criticised three things; having to share cells; a lack of peace and quiet during the evenings and at weekends; and the temperature in the hall. In each case staff understood and empathised with these views. The prison needs to address these issues.

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