3. Accommodation and Routines

3.1 Comments on each of the Halls are shown below, though it should be noted that the common feature in ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘E’ Halls is their complete lack of any integral sanitation - ie all prisoners are still required to ‘slop out’; many cells were also without electric power.

‘A’ Hall

(i) Accommodation

3.2 ‘A’ Hall contained mainly short term convicted prisoners though a proportion, approximately one fifth, were LTPs. The design capacity of the Hall was 203 but with 263 prisoners being held there, it meant a number being located two to a cell. The Hall was of the traditional style with four galleries of cellular accommodation and included a number of observation cells on the bottom flat.

3.3 The main communal areas were clean, bright and airy , though the cleanliness of some individual cells left much to be desired. Each cell contained a bed, chair and cupboard, though there was not always sufficient for two people. Some items of furniture were shabby and broken and the cells would be much improved by either a deep clean and/or redecoration.

3.4 The ablutions were located at the end of each gallery and comprised a sluice, urinals, sinks, three toilets and three showers. These were of a reasonable standard but we noted that a toilet on each of the two upper flats was out of use. With approximately 75 prisoners on each gallery, these facilities were incapable of meeting the most basic of bodily functions. Additionally, on many occasions there were insufficient supplies of hot water, which left prisoners with some unsavoury choices when it came to showering, a situation which was replicated across all the Halls, except for Letham.

3.5 The laundry stores appeared to be adequately stocked, with sufficient items of bedding. However, not all mattresses were of the fire retardant variety and some lacked proper covers.

(ii) Routine

3.6 Unlock was at 0620 hours after a numbers check. Prisoners were then locked up at 0710 prior to breakfast - all meals were eaten in the cells - and at 0745 they were again unlocked to remove trays; work parties commenced at 0810. During the morning staff dealt with administrative tasks and permitted those prisoners who were remaining in the Hall to have access to showers and telephones. On returning from work the Hall was locked up at 1145 and a further numbers check carried out. Lunch was at midday and exercise commenced at approximately 1230. This only took place in the outside exercise yard if there were no staff shortages, otherwise it took place on the gallery landing, with the latter often appearing to be the norm. (The exercise period was also generally less than the statutory entitlement, except at the weekend.) At approximately 1320 prisoners returned to work; thereafter there was a further numbers check and the afternoon followed a similar routine to that of the morning. At 1640 there was another numbers check and prisoners received their evening meal at 1645 - a timing which does not meet SPS Operating Standards. From 1800 searches, kit changes and some showering were undertaken until the commencement of recreation at 1845 which lasted for approximately one and a half hours. Prisoners were then locked up for the night at 2045.

3.7 The weekend routine commenced at 0740 hours with breakfast at 0815 followed by exercise at 1000 for one hour. Lunch was served at 1130 after which recreation was available in the afternoon. The evening meal was served at 1610 with lock up for the night at 1700. Services for Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic prisoners were held on Sunday at 0830 and 0930 respectively.

3.8 The Recreation room was adjacent to ‘E’ Hall and comprised a large screen TV and video, pool, snooker and table tennis. Telephones (without privacy hoods) and newspapers were also available. However, due to the excessive numbers being held, one gallery was deprived of any recreation each evening though this was being rotated to ensure some sense of fairness. Nevertheless, that still meant that there were in excess of 140 prisoners at recreation which was considerably more than the facilities were designed for and resulted in many prisoners sitting around or wandering aimlessly. The toilets and drinking water facilities in this area could only be described as appalling and will require considerable upgrading to meet basic hygiene standards.

3.9 Small kit changes were available daily on request, except at weekends. Full kits could be changed twice weekly with larger items such as bedding, once per week. However, there were problems of shortages in all the Halls which often led to prisoners holding on to whatever items they could obtain.

3.10 Physical education (PE) was available in the evenings but only during the week, whilst Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings occurred once a week. Canteen was available weekly but there was no access to sundry purchases. (Prisoners were only allowed to send out one proforma per month and though that appeared particularly restrictive, it was a direct result of the levels of overcrowding.) There was limited access to the library, though prisoners could participate in some cell hobbies.

3.11 Telephones in all the Halls were normally two on the bottom flat and one on each of the other flats. However, this was inadequate for the numbers located on each flat with the inevitable consequence that not all who wished to make a call were able to do so before the evening lock-up.

(i) Accommodation

3.12 ‘B’ Hall housed a variety of different categories of prisoners, but had a similar layout to that of ‘A’ Hall. The majority of prisoners who required protection were housed on the top two flats, one being for those on remand and the other for short-term convicted prisoners. In addition, some protection prisoners and short-term convicted were housed on the bottom flat. The Hall also accommodated prisoners awaiting transfer to Low Moss, Polmont and Longriggend as well as fine defaulters and very short-term convicted prisoners. Some of the cells on the bottom flat were suitable for prisoners requiring observation.

3.13 The standard of furniture and accommodation varied according to the status of the prisoners located there, with conditions for prisoners who required protection being particularly impoverished. When numbers were high, admissions were given mattresses on the floor. Cell walls had been covered by a proliferation of posters and graffiti and were in need of decoration. Bedding was available, but required laundering or replacement. Standards of cleanliness were basically a reflection of the standards of the cell occupants which often resulted in spartan and unkempt conditions, particularly in those cells retained for transferees.

3.14 The ablutions areas were similar to those in ‘A’ Hall but standards of cleanliness were variable. For the number of prisoners located in the Hall, these facilities were inadequate particularly for showering.

(ii) Routine

3.15 ‘B’ Hall was holding approximately 310 prisoners, which included prisoners on suicide supervision and other observations. Although there were work parties for both convicted and protection prisoners, there were insufficient places with the result that many prisoners spent most of the day locked in their cell and the main bulk of the daily routine was in line with the other Halls.

3.16 When staffing levels permitted, recreation could take place in facilities adjacent to the chapel. A room on each flat had been converted into a TV area and prisoners were given access to these instead of the large recreation room, but only in strictly limited numbers. Access for convicted prisoners could be every second evening but for the protection prisoners it was only once or twice per week. Exercise occurred on a daily basis but was far less than an hour and was not usually taken in the fresh air. PE was also available but numbers were restricted. Canteen was available weekly and there was access to AA meetings once per week.

3.17 Kit changes were as for ‘A’ Hall but the standard of kit appeared to be particularly shabby.

‘C’ Hall

(i) Accommodation

3.18 ‘C’ Hall was also traditionally-styled with cellular accommodation for 172 remand prisoners, though it was actually holding 269. The cells were located on four galleries with communal areas being generally clean and bright.

3.19 In contrast, however, the cells were dirty, rundown and in a very poor condition with the top two flats being particularly unsatisfactory. With the exception of a few cells where the prisoners had tried to keep them clean, walls were covered in stains and graffiti with the paint peeling off. A particular problem was that prisoners attending Court often left cells unkempt, with rubbish lying around. Cell furniture was poor and in some instances the way beds were fitted together appeared to contravene Health and Safety (H & S) standards. (This was also evident in other Halls but not to the same extent.) There was a shortage of pillowcases and the condition of the pillows and mattresses was grubby and stained. The mattresses did not meet fire standards and the chamber pots were generally in a filthy, encrusted state.

3.20 Ablution areas were located on each flat but were insufficient to meet the basic needs of 80 prisoners. We felt that the living conditions in the Hall were particularly degrading and did not meet many basic requirements. That said, the Hall was due to close in 1998 as part of the rolling refurbishment programme.

(ii) Routine

3.21 The routine for ‘C’ Hall changed on an almost daily basis due to the fluctuations in staffing levels and prisoner numbers. Every activity that occurred during the day, including periods of recreation and (usually indoor) exercise, had restricted prisoner numbers and prisoners could expect to spend considerable periods of the day locked in their cells, though there was a rota system in operation to try to ensure some form of fairness. There was a laid down daily programme of activity, but it appeared to vary as a reaction to circumstances rather than in any planned way.

3.22 Being a remand Hall, prisoners were given access to the canteen three days per week. Kit changes reflected the routine in other Halls but there was a number of shortages and although new pillows were available, they were not being issued because of a lack of pillowcases.

3.23 Periods of PE were available on a daily basis but again, numbers were limited. There were group rooms available to undertake some work on drugs, alcohol, etc., but those sessions were dependent on staffing levels. The turnover and size of the Hall meant that each day was an extremely busy one for staff, but correspondingly limited in terms of stimulation or activity for prisoners.

‘D’ Hall

3.24 Since our last inspection, ‘D’ Hall had been taken out of commission for major refurbishment work, which was scheduled for completion in July 1997. This work included the installation of integral sanitation, new cell fittings and flooring to create four smaller units within the Hall which will allow more flexibility in the use of the accommodation in the future.

‘E’ Hall

(i) Accommodation

3.25 ‘E’ Hall provided similar type accommodation to that of ‘A’ Hall, but was mainly occupied by short term convicted prisoners. Each cell could accommodate two prisoners, though not every cell was doubled-up. The communal areas including the landings were bright and clean and maintained to an acceptable standard.

3.26 As with the other Halls, the standard of cleanliness and decoration in the cells was variable and could have been improved. Equally, the furniture was of varying standards but generally in a poor condition and not always adequate for the number of prisoners located in each cell. The same problem existed with the ablution areas, with the facilities on each flat being insufficient to meet the needs of the overcrowded prisoner population.

(ii) Routines

3.27 The Hall operated routines on the same basis as ‘A’ Hall. The recreation room was another converted workshed next to the ‘A’ Hall facility and the same problems were evident in respect of unhygienic drinking and toilet facilities and the general lack of space and facilities for the numbers involved. Kit changes occurred in line with other Halls though ‘E’ Hall was the only one which supplied duvets. This greatly improved the general quality of bedding for prisoners and set the Hall apart from the others in that respect.

3.28 Prisoners had access to the canteen and to AA meetings on a weekly basis whilst PE was available in the evenings. Access to telephones was the same as ‘A’ Hall but the provision of only one phone per flat was inadequate to meet the needs of the high prisoner population.

(i) Accommodation

3.29 Letham Hall was a custom built temporary accommodation block consisting of 76 rooms on two levels. It had been open for approximately 18 months and held C and D category short term prisoners who were mainly held two to a cell.

3.30 The accommodation was modern, bright and maintained to a very acceptable standard in terms of cleanliness and decor. Each of the cells had electric power and prisoners were provided with a kettle; plans were also well advanced for the introduction of electrical leads for radios.

3.31 There was no access to integral sanitation and chamber pots were in use. However, the facility to alter this was available by providing prisoners with keys to their cells, a situation which we suggest should be kept under review.

3.32 The standard of cell furniture was good; each cell was equipped with bunk beds, a fitted unit comprising a table top, two wardrobes, two chairs and a cupboard. Pinboards were not available, but appropriate space was given over to photographs and pictures. The bedding and curtains provided were also of a satisfactory standard.

3.33 The corridors and communal areas were bright and well maintained and the ablutions provided ample facilities for the number of prisoners located in the Hall. Recreation rooms were available on each of the levels in addition to which there was a group work room and a classroom. Staff offices were equally well-maintained and provided a comfortable working environment.

3.34 We were pleased to note that having been in operation for some 18 months, the building and the equipment were still being well looked after by both prisoners and staff.

(ii) Routines

3.35 Letham Hall tended to house those prisoners who worked in areas such as the Reception. Prisoners were selected for the Hall on the basis of security category and the layout and routines were much more relaxed than in any of the other Halls. We noted, however, that there was no induction process for prisoners coming into the Hall and we suggest that such a process might be beneficial in assisting prisoners to adjust from the more traditional Hall routines.

3.36 The majority of prisoners in the Hall were allocated work parties and so were out between 0800 and 1140 hours and again between 1320 and 1540. Exercise was available following lunch time but not for the statutory period. In inclement weather prisoners were locked up after their meal and no exercise took place, a situation which we consider to be unacceptable.

3.37 Recreation was not restricted by numbers and normally took place in the two recreation rooms both of which were well equipped with snooker and pool tables, table tennis and TV and videos. There was an adequate number of card telephones in the Hall and canteen facilities were provided on a weekly basis.

3.38 Laundry changes occurred in line with the other Halls. However, arrangements for the storage and distribution of kits were not ideal and could be improved. PE was available during the evenings and prisoners could also attend AA meetings.

Comment

3.39 The conditions for prisoners in Letham Hall were a credit to the staff who worked there, in terms of both the standard of accommodation and the relaxed atmosphere. ‘A’ and ‘E’ Halls were mainly of a satisfactory condition and the introduction of duvets in ‘E’ Hall had had a marked effect. ‘B’ and ‘C’ Halls, where the numbers were highest and the prisoner populations most transient, failed to meet even the most basic standards of decency and we recommend that a common standard of cell conditions and furniture should be set for each and every Hall and rigorously maintained. This would significantly improve the conditions for prisoners being held in Barlinnie.

3.40 High prisoner numbers meant that the majority of facilities within the Halls were not adequate to meet the needs of prisoners and many Operating Standards were not being met. Exercise was normally for less than an hour and except at week-ends, took place indoors. Recreation facilities were limited and unimaginative and with the exception of Letham, every Hall was operating a restricted access policy. Access to canteens was only once per week except for remand prisoners. Laundry facilities were also inadequate to meet daily demands and some prisoners, particularly those in ‘B’ and ‘C’ Hall, were regularly suffering from shortages of kit. We, therefore, recommend that existing routines are altered to ensure that basic standards of decency are uniformly met. In addition, we suggest that there should be at least one more telephone per landing in all Halls (except Letham).