FUNCTION
THE DUTIES OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF PRISONS
Following a recommendation contained in the May Report of 1979, a new Crown appointment of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland was created and the first incumbent took up post on 1 January 1981. The May Report also recommended that its proposed "distanced" inspectorate should be headed either by a person who was entirely independent of the civil service or by a former senior prison governor. The Secretary of State for Scotland and more recently the Scottish Ministers have always taken the first of these options, with one exception when a retired senior civil servant was appointed. These "lay" appointments, as they are sometimes described, are generally seen to have been helpful in establishing the independence of the Chief Inspector.
The role of the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) was placed on a statutory basis by the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989. Section 7 of the Act states:
7. (1) Her Majesty may appoint a person to be Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Chief Inspector.
[(a)] to inspect or arrange for the inspection of prisons in Scotland and to report to the Secretary of State on them [; and
(b) to inspect the conditions in which prisoners are transported or held in pursuance of prisoner escort arrangements (within the meaning of section 102 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) and to report to the Secretary of State on them.]
(3) The Chief Inspector shall in particular report to the Secretary of State on the treatment of prisoners and conditions in prisons.
(4) The Secretary of State may refer specific matters connected with prisons in Scotland and prisoners in them to the Chief Inspector and direct him to report on them.
(5) The Chief Inspector shall in each year submit to the Secretary of State a report in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, and the Secretary of State shall lay a copy of that report before Parliament.
(6) The Chief Inspector shall be paid such salary and allowances as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury determine.
(7) In this section, references to prisons include legalised police cells within the meaning of section 14(1) of this Act.
Within the Scottish Prison Service there are 15 individual prison establishments and it is the aim of the Inspectorate to carry out a full inspection of each of these establishments once every three years. Each full inspection normally lasts one week. Following each inspection a report is prepared, which is submitted to the Scottish Ministers and published. In addition to the programme of full inspections, follow up inspections, and focused inspections - which normally last one or two days - are undertaken.
Since 1985 HMCIP has also carried out a number of cross-cutting inspections on themes or areas of concern which are common to several prisons.
The Chief Inspector produces an Annual Report which is presented to the Scottish Ministers and laid before Parliament.
HMCIP also undertakes inspections of legalised police cells. These are cells in a number of police stations, usually distant from a prison, where prisoners may legally be held for short periods while awaiting trial or immediately after conviction. They are unique to Scotland.
HMCIP has responsibility for the inspection of the treatment of and conditions for prisoners under escort.
In 2006 HMCIP produced "Standards Used in the Inspection of Prisons in Scotland". The standards are presented in three separate sections:
Security, good order, protection of prisoners from harm.
All aspects of the treatment of prisoners and the framework of rights within which imprisonment should operate.
The activities provided by the prison, the ethos, measures taken to solve the problems that led the prisoner into crime, preparation for release and social reintegration.
In each of these sections general principles are described and individual outcomes defined. The individual standards which will lead to the required outcomes are listed. Finally, a set of indicators to measure delivery of the standards is provided.
A total of nine outcomes are identified:
Appropriate steps are taken to ensure that individual prisoners are protected from harm by themselves and others.
Prisoners are treated with respect for their dignity while being escorted to and from prison, in prison and while under escort in any location.
Prisoners are held in conditions that provide the basic necessities of life and health, including adequate air, light, water, exercise in the fresh air, food, bedding and clothing.
Prisoners are treated with respect by prison staff.
Good contact with family and friends is maintained.
Prisoners' entitlements are accorded them in all circumstances without their facing difficulty.
Prisoners take part in activities that educate, develop skills and personal qualities and prepare them for life outside prison.
Healthcare is provided to the same standard as in the community outside prison, available in response to need, with a full range of preventive services, promoting continuity with health services outside prison.
Appropriate steps are taken to ensure that prisoners are reintegrated safely into the community and where possible into a situation less likely to lead to further crime.
STAFFING
The Chief Inspector is assisted by a Deputy Chief Inspector, an Assistant Chief Inspector, an Inspector, and a Personal Secretary. This core team is augmented by experts from other specific areas: HM Inspectorate of Education and the Social Work Inspection Agency. Other experts and lay inspectors are involved as required.
Details of the current postholders in the core Inspectorate are as follows:-
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons - Brigadier Hugh Monro CBECommissioned into the Queen's Own Highlanders in 1972, leaving the Army after 36 years service in 2008. Commanded 52 Lowland Brigade 1999-2001, when he was responsible for commanding the operation to eradicate Foot and Mouth disease in Scotland. Final posting to Baghdad to help train and equip the new Iraqi Army and Police. 
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HM Deputy Chief Inspector of Prisons - John T McCaigJohn joined the Scottish Prison Service as an officer at HMP Barlinnie in 1974 
and thereafter held a number of management positions in a variety of
establishments. Immediately prior to taking up post in the Inspectorate he
was Deputy Governor of HMP Barlinnie for four years. |
HM Assistant Chief Inspector of Prisons - Dr. David McAllister David joined the Scottish Executive in 1989 and has worked in a number of areas including Prisons, Police and Urban Regeneration. Prior to joining the Scottish Executive he worked in Frankland Prison and studied Criminology at the University of Hull. He joined the Inspectorate in November 2000.
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HM Inspector of Prisons - Mick ArmstrongMick joined the English prison service as an officer in 1978. He worked at Foston Hall in Derbyshire and Low Newton in Durham as a Senior officer and a Principal Officer. After graduating with an MBA in 2000 he came to the Scottish prison service in 2002, through open competition, as an F band manager. After several roles he became a G band manager at Edinburgh prison. He joined the inspection team in September 09. 
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Personal Secretary to HMCIP - Janet Reid Janet joined the Civil Service as a typist in 1974 and worked in typing pools in a number of buildings. Between 1975 and 1980 she was re-graded to audio typist and specialist typist and in 1982 she was promoted to Personal Secretary. She then worked in a number of Divisions before moving to her post in the Inspectorate in 1996.
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