| ADMINISTRATION
AND OTHER SERVICES |
| |
| Catering |
| 7.1
We visited all prison kitchens and sampled a wide range
of meals throughout the year: the only consistent
difficulty noted was that of establishments being able to
remain within budget as cash limits for food were very
tight. Average meal timings for a working day were: 0700
to 0745 breakfast, 1130 to 1230 lunch, 1600 to 1700 tea.
Several establishments still had to conform with these
timings but, as a result of our recommendations, had
undertaken to adjust them in due course. In general we
were pleased to note that there was a continuing shift
towards meal timings reflecting the needs of prisoners. |
| 7.2
Methods of food delivery and dining arrangements at
establishments varied; for example at HMYOI Dumfries and
HMPs Low Moss and Friarton prisoners dined in
association, whilst at Barlinnie, Glenochil and Perth,
plated meals were delivered to individual cells. Inmates
ate by Wings at HMYOI Polmont with food delivered from a
central kitchen. Thus geography, Security Category, plus
varying needs for control continued to dictate the dining
arrangements at each location. |
| 7.3
Standards of catering were generally adequate; some
locations enjoyed above average standards. For example,
we congratulate HMP Friarton on its award of a
certificate of excellence in food hygiene which was made
by Perth and Kinross District Council. However, we also
thought that it would be difficult to beat the standard
of meals which were on offer at HMYOI Dumfries. |
| 7.4
Ethnic minority needs and diets for vegans and diabetics
were, in our opinion, always well catered for. |
| 7.5
We have some minor observations on non-catering Staff.
Although some appeared to have been medically screened,
some prisoner assistants had still not been trained in
food handling. Staff facilities - eg, showers and
lavatories - were not always up to a consistent standard
either. |
| |
| Canteens |
| 7.6
We were generally satisfied with the administration of
canteens in most establishments and the range of items
carried. However, some canteens could be opened more
often. In the longer term, we believe that this is an
area which might be examined for more prisoner
participation; for example, in day to day administration,
or even help with accounting. |
| |
| Visiting
Committees |
| 7.7
Each prison continued to have its own Visiting Committee
(VC). However, there were changes in their composition
following the publication of the new Prison Rules in
November, which also addressed changes to Regional
Authority boundaries. By the turn of the year most VCs
had re-constituted themselves in preparation for this,
which also required extra training requirements for new
members. A very helpful document, ‘Scottish Prisons
Visiting Committees’, was published in parallel and
was circulated by the SPS in January 1995: its timing
could not have been more apposite. |
| 7.8
VCs are as important as ever; they are now the only
remaining lay ‘watchdog’ who have continuous
access to individual prisons on a daily basis. They are
also one of the Inspectorate’s first points of
contact before or during any inspection; they are often
able to provide an immediate focus on the good or bad of
any establishment. |
| 7.9
Most VC members were complimentary about their contact
with SPS Management and Staff: they were equally
enthusiastic about the direction in which the prison
system in Scotland was developing although they sometimes
found difficulty in keeping up with the speed of change. |
| |
| Local
Review Committees (LRC) |
| 7.10
Until recently most LRCs comprised of lay members and
professional Social Workers and were continuing to meet
on a fairly regular basis. However, major changes to the
parole system, which were brought about by the Criminal
Justice (Scotland) Act 1993, are now beginning to take
effect. Thus the number of cases being dealt with are
reducing and it is expected that most LRCs will be wound
up this Autumn. |
| |
| Fire
Health and Safety |
| 7.11
There were 132 reports of fire incidents over the year,
the majority of which were deliberate fire raising or
nuisance fires and which involved the call-out of local
fire services. Many of these occurred at HMYOI Polmont
which houses the majority of YOs. |
| 7.12
Our inspections revealed appropriate fire procedures were
being followed but had been slowed down through the
market testing process, which in some prisons created
changes to staffing and responsibilities. Nevertheless,
all establishments had a Health and Safety Committee
which included the establishments Fire Prevention
Officer. In future, fire inspections are to be carried
out by the centrally based HM Inspectorate of Fire
Services. |
| 7.13
Those responsible for Health and Safety in establishments
have also experienced change and many are relatively
inexperienced and of comparatively junior grade. We
believe that the co-ordinators should be sufficiently
senior to carry some weight in their establishment. The
SPS has its own Health and Safety Adviser who carries out
annual audit inspections of establishments, together with
unnannounced visits. |
| |
| Butler
Trust |
| 7.14
The Trust which was introduced in 1985 in memory of a
former Home Secretary, presents annual awards to prison
staff in the UK in recognition for work in prisons. In
Scotland each establishment and HQ has a Local Assessment
Committee which considers and recommends any nominations:
we are pleased to record that Scotland had three winners
last year, including an International Travel Award (the
highest award possible), a UK Travel Award and a Butler
Trust Certificate. The scheme was also given a major
boost when the Princess Royal visited HM Prison Dungavel
last year in her role as Royal Patron of the Awards
Scheme. |
| |
| Passmen |
| 7.15
During the course of the year we continued to encounter a
number of what were called ‘passmen’. These
were prisoners who, by virtue of their nature, security
category or seniority, had gained sufficient Management
trust to be employed on support duties in the prison
Halls and elsewhere. We make particular mention of them
in this report as they symbolise a type of personal
relationship which should be encouraged. They represent
give and take and trust on both sides. Additionally, many
aspects of minor routine are almost totally reliant on
the good-will, judgement and trust of passmen: indeed it
has been said that parts of daily prison life would
collapse without their contribution! If only more
prisoners could be like passmen and thus were treated
like them. |
