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3. SAFETY
Escapes, Absconds and Physical Security
3.1 Shotts has a double perimeter fence which is protected by alarms and cameras. CCTV is used extensively within the secure perimeter including within some residential units, corridors and the visit room.
3.2 There have been no escapes or absconds since the last full inspection.
Supervision Levels
3.3 A prisoner's supervision status is reviewed within six months of their first formal assessment and, as a minimum, at least annually thereafter in line with SPS policy. Prisoners may also have their status reviewed following any reports of adverse developments. There is a robust system of regular reviews and process audits in Shotts.
3.4 Prisoners are given the opportunity to be present at their review and provide oral representation to the panel in addition to their written submission. The review panel comprises the hall unit manager, first line manager and hall officer.
3.5 In addition to a hall unit manager being responsible for chairing the review panel in their area another unit manager is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the process. A quarterly audit is undertaken and reports submitted to senior managers.
3.6 There is a clear link between the prisoner supervision system and Integrated Case Management.
Escort Handover Procedures
3.7 Regular meetings between the Head of Operations and the escort contractor have helped to ensure that there are no major concerns with the service received. The paperwork observed by inspectors contained relevant and detailed information. Both prison and escort staff were satisfied with the information flow between both organisations.
3.8 All admissions to Shotts are planned and therefore the establishment has some control over the day and time of the escorts. Inspectors were present when a prisoner was returned from a temporary transfer from Aberdeen. The reception staff were courteous and the prisoner was passed through Reception very quickly and returned to the residential unit. The prisoner arrived at 8:00pm and had commenced his journey before the evening meal had been served at Aberdeen with the consequence that he was unable to get a hot meal as the prison had not been informed of this situation. When asked, the prisoner was happy with the treatment he had received from the contractor.
Admission and Induction Procedures
Reception
3.9 The reception area has 14 cubicles, two of which are used as storage. There is a small room at the rear of Reception which is used as a holding room. This room is very sparsely furnished with six plastic chairs, a table and a television. The room is not welcoming for new admissions and there is a lack of written information available. There is a staff office containing a computer and work station and just outside the door of this office is the desk where the prisoner's details are handed over by the escort staff.
3.10 Adjacent to the desk is a row of cubicles with half length doors. Two are used by prisoners to remove their clothing on admission, two are used for showering and one contains a bath. There is a nursing station beside the staff office.
3.11 Reception staff conduct the ACT risk assessment of new admissions at the desk. This does not allow for privacy, particularly if there are a number of other admissions and someone is distressed. If there are other prisoners in the holding room they can see out of the door window. If a prisoner is returning to Shotts the risk assessment is undertaken in the residential unit. ACT2Care and other risk assessments should be carried out in an area where privacy is assured.
3.12 The reception area is unwelcoming. The presence of cubicles adds to this feeling. If there is a need to keep prisoners apart in the reception area then some would have to be held in the cubicles. Removal of the cubicles may allow another communal room to be built. There are no foreign language notices on display. When asked about this staff were able to produce them from a folder held in the office. Information in languages other than English should be posted on Reception notice boards.
3.13 A study of escort paperwork indicated that there was a good exchange of information between the prison and escorting staff.
3.14 The quality of admission clothing and equipment is very good.
3.15 Prisoners' property is held in a secure room, and stored on racking which allows for good use of space. Staff report that they are able to store all prisoners' property comfortably in the room, which was well ordered and smelled fresh and clean. Valuable property is secured in the main administration office.
Induction
3.16 There are three types of induction available at Shotts. For prisoners serving in excess of ten years induction is carried out in the National Induction Centre. Prisoners serving less than ten years are admitted to the mainstream or protection regime.
3.17 The NIC has a programme designed to help prisoners come to terms with very long sentences. As well as the routine induction given to all prisoners to Shotts, progression through the various induction activities in the NIC is taken at a speed suited to the needs of the individual. A needs assessment is carried out by staff and advice given on how to address these needs. NIC staff also deliver the cognitive skills programme in the NIC. Some of the activities available are group discussions, education and PT. The NIC has a dedicated craft workshop. Attendance at work is not compulsory but prisoners must participate in one of the activities available.
3.18 In the mainstream halls, the first night check list should be conducted by the gallery officer and covers safety issues to help the prisoner through to the following morning. There is then a first morning check list and information booklet covering such things as hall routines, complaints etc. An 'Alerting Tool' to test literacy is administered by hall staff and passed to the Learning Centre staff for assessment. Once per month mainstream admission prisoners are invited to the Links Centre to receive information on a range of issues, and have a discussion with a member of the management team. There is also input from chaplaincy and others.
3.19 Prisoners admitted to the 'D' Hall protection unit have the same first night and first morning induction and alerting tool as mainstream prisoners. 'D' Hall prisoners do not get the opportunity to attend the Links Centre and that part of the induction is delivered in the hall.
3.20 Many of the admissions to Shotts are returns from a top end or an open prison, and the need for in depth induction is less acute than if they were entering Shotts for the first time. When listening to hall staff their knowledge of the induction procedures for their area was variable as was the prisoners experience of how helpful and detailed their induction programme was. A monitoring system should be put in place to ensure that all prisoners receive a standard induction which addresses their needs.
Suicide Risk Management
3.21 In the year 2005-06 there were no suicides. In the same period there were 26 new ACT cases, six self-harm episodes and one non-fatal overdose. In the period 1 April 2006 to the month of the inspection there were no suicides. There were 12 new ACT cases, three self-harm episodes and no non-fatal overdoses. Although this is quite low and reducing further this year from last, the number of call outs to the Listeners is high, with an average of 22 each month. Six Listeners are supported by a Listeners Coordinator and the Samaritans: this group meets every two weeks.
3.22 No one is driving the Suicide Risk Management Policy and no ACT meetings had taken place in the year prior to the inspection. No formal audit of processes or paperwork had been undertaken and paperwork was not always completed correctly or fully. Additionally, the number and grading of attendees at case conferences does not comply with the ACT policy, and the outcome of the case conference should not be overruled by Senior Management (which has happened on one occasion). No protocol detailing the time within which call buttons in cells should be answered was in place. It is recommended that suicide risk management processes and procedures are improved immediately.
Violence
3.23 The number of serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults has increased slightly since 2004-05. In 2004-05 there were four serious assaults, and in 2005-06 there were five. In 2006-07 to the time of the inspection there were eight. There have been no serious assaults on staff in the same period.
3.24 All incidents of violence are investigated in detail using a "Violent Incident Investigation Report" pro forma. This is supported by an Intelligence Management Framework and a daily intelligence briefing.
3.25 In 2006 there were 38 cases of prisoner removals using Control and Restraint techniques. This compares with 68 recorded cases the previous year. Planned removals are not videoed. Inspectors checked a sample of paperwork which is completed following such incidents and found the quality to be mixed. Some of the paperwork was not fully completed and in some cases there was no evidence that a medical practitioner had seen the prisoner following the removal. It is recommended that prisoners are medically examined following Control and Restraint removals and that this is recorded on the post incident form.
Night Duty
3.26 One Manager and nine Officers cover patrol periods. All Managers and Officers who cover night duty are specifically identified to carry out that task. Manager's work Wednesday to Wednesday and Officers Monday to Monday. This ensures consistency.
3.27 An Inspector spent some time in the prison during the night. All Officers were well informed of what they needed to do in an emergency. The night shift orders issued to staff were reviewed and found to be of good quality. The equipment provided to staff on night duty was appropriate and comprehensive.
3.28 Practice has changed in one particular way from what is set out in the night shift instructions. Night shift staff in the halls check that doors are secure when taking up duty but do not make a visual check of each prisoner. Neither do they carry out a numbers check. The welfare of each prisoner and the numbers handed over from the late shift going off duty are accepted as correct.
3.29 Prisoners' cell buzzers are not attached to a timer so there is no means of recording how long it takes for staff to respond to them. This should be addressed.
3.30 On the rare occasion that advice is needed from a doctor during the night, this appeared to be handled appropriately. There are some first aid trained staff amongst those in the night shift group. However, they are not rostered in a way that guarantees at least one will be on duty every night. Given that there is no nurse in the prison during the night this should be addressed.
3.31 There is a good system in place for procedural review. Duty Managers visit regularly during the night, and as well as making general comments on all aspects of patrol duties they are required to audit one particular aspect. This is an area of good practice.
3.32 Keeping staff training up-to-date can be a problem for staff on night shift. Shotts has come up with a good solution to this. They roster a couple of extra people on nights occasionally and do the training during the night using the extra people on duty to relieve those being trained for the time needed. This is an area of good practice.
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