3. Population and Accommodation

Population

3.1 Although the prison is designed to hold 435 prisoners, at the time of our inspection 'D' Hall, with a design capacity of 125, was out of commission as it was in the process of being refurbished, thereby giving an effective design capacity for the establishment of 310. On the first full day of our inspection (Monday 3 February 1997) the population at lock up was 456, accommodated as follows:-

In addition, three prisoners were located in the separate cells and 12 prisoners were in the hospital.

3.2 Of the total population of 456, there were 78 prisoners on remand of whom 48 were adults and 30 were YOs. A breakdown of the sentences being served by the remainder of the population was:-

3.3 All the remand population were classified as security category 'B', whilst a breakdown of the convicted categories was:-

3.4 In the year prior to our inspection there had been no escapes or absconds though there had been two suicides and one attempted suicide. Over that same period there had been two assaults on staff, 24 assaults on prisoners by other prisoners and one alleged murder. At the time of inspection, six adult prisoners were on strict suicide supervision, two were on intermediate suicide supervision and five were on basic suicide supervision; in addition, seven adult prisoners were on medical observation.

Accommodation

3.5 As noted at paragraph 2.2, prisoner accommodation was normally contained in four Halls and a TFF hostel though at the time of our inspection 'D' Hall was out of commission for major refurbishment work. That project, which was scheduled for completion in September 1997, involved installing integral sanitation units and new cell fittings. In addition, the top two flats were being floored-in thereby in effect creating two smaller Halls within the one structure, which would enable management to adopt a more flexible approach in the use of that accommodation. The original plan had envisaged that when that work was completed another Hall would be closed so that similar refurbishment could be carried out. However, the high prisoner numbers had led to a re-appraisal of that plan with the result that any future refurbishment would have to be undertaken while the Halls were occupied by isolating a number of cells as part of a rolling programme.

3.6 As part of our inspection we visited every cell which was in use and our comments on the accommodation in the main Halls are as follows (the TFF hostel accommodation is described at paragraph 6.52):-

3.7 'A' Hall was being used to accommodate LTPs but due to the closure of 'D' Hall, most of its 79 cells had double occupancy; on the day of inspection the population was 130. The Hall was of the traditional gallery style and its cells were contained on four flats. None of the cells in the Hall had electric power sockets though they did have internal light switches. We noted that the work to fit new cell windows and to instal integral sanitation units in a number of cells which was ongoing at the time of our last inspection had been completed. A total of 10 cells with integral sanitation now existed and we were impressed with the accommodation which they provided.

3.8 We were, however, very disappointed with the overall standard of the other cells which showed no real improvement over the situation which we had encountered at the time of our last inspection. We found great inconsistencies over the provision of furniture with a particular shortage of clothes hanging or storage space. As a result, prisoners’ belongings were being stored in cardboard boxes under beds; there were various makeshift clothes-hanging arrangements and clothes could also be found lying in heaps on beds and on floors. Indeed, with the exception of a few cells, the overall impression was one of dirtiness and untidiness and the feeling that no one - staff or prisoners - was making any real effort to keep areas clean.

3.9 Many of the cell walls had damaged paintwork or evidence of toothpaste having been used to fix posters; there was also a noticeable amount of graffiti on walls and ceilings. Many of the wooden storage units which were in existence were in a very poor state of repair and there was an overall shortage of chairs; in some cells not every prisoner had a chamber pot and some were using plastic liquid containers for their ablutions. We also found many beds which were in poor condition and a considerable number of non fire-retardant mattresses. Each prisoner had been supplied with a duvet and could provide their own duvet covers but many of those were badly in need of laundering. Prisoners could also supply their own curtains but there was a shortage of proper curtain rails. On the positive side, the local rule about limits on poster hanging were generally being observed.

3.10 There were communal shower and toilet areas on each flat and though their overall condition was reasonable, they gave the impression of grubbiness and would have benefited from a thorough cleaning, particularly the tiles in the showers.

3.11 'C' Hall had a design capacity of 145 which included four observation and one quiet cell. It was used to accommodate a wide variety of types of prisoner - ie remands (adults and YOs), short and long term convicted prisoners and those on protection, observation or punishment. As with 'A' Hall, it was suffering from chronic overcrowding and on the day of inspection, 221 prisoners were located there. Some of the cells were extremely small and consequently, became very cramped when they were being used to hold two prisoners.

3.12 We were surprised to learn that the Hall had been decorated some 18 months before our inspection because generally speaking, the cell conditions were even worse than those in 'A' Hall. The remand section, which was on the top flat, was particularly bad with graffiti covered and paintwork damaged cells with very little furniture other than beds - see photograph opposite. What furniture was in existence was in poor condition and as with the situation which we found in 'A' Hall, there was a great deal of inconsistency with regard to the amount of furniture from cell to cell. Again, many of the cells were extremely untidy with no apparent effort being made to effect any improvements. In many of the cells, left-over items of food were creating a potential health and hygiene risk.

3.13 Though slightly better, the other parts of the Hall were still very disappointing in that they were housing convicted prisoners who had more personal belongings than remands but again limited or no storage facilities resulting in clutter and untidiness. We found damaged furniture, shortages of basic items, poor quality bedding, non fire-retardant mattresses and cell walls with graffiti and damaged paintwork. As with 'A' Hall, the rule about poster hanging was being observed and the communal ablutions areas were in reasonable condition, though we noticed that they were subject to regular acts of vandalism.

3.14 'E' Hall comprised mainly single cells though there were also two small dormitories. Part of the Hall had, however, been sectioned-off to create a Drug Rehabilitation Unit - details of that 10 cells area are contained at paragraphs 5.37-42.

3.15 The remaining 60 places were split into three wings and apart from the dormitories, were all of single occupation. All the rooms had electric power units and internal light switches and prisoners had keys for their own doors. Prisoners also had access to night sanitation except for those in a section of 'B' wing where it had proved impractical because of the location of the access point for night patrol staff; prisoners in that section were provided with chamber pots. A small number of cells and the larger dormitory had integral sanitation units.

3.16 In general terms, cell conditions in the Hall were better than those in other parts of the establishment. There was sufficient furniture and storage units, all of which were in a reasonable state of repair and paintwork in the cells was generally in good condition - with the exception of a few cells in 'B' wing which were rather scruffy. The local rule about poster hanging was being observed - again with the exception of a few cells where there had been some slippage in standards - but some of the cells (particularly in 'A' wing) were extremely untidy with articles of clothing strewn about and leftover items of food. The communal toilet/shower areas were acceptable in terms of both cleanliness and condition.

Comment

3.17 In the report of our last inspection we had recorded our disappointment at the state of the prisoner accommodation areas, both in terms of the quantity and quality of cell furniture and the overall standard of decoration. That report had recommended that a complete review should be carried out of all those areas with the aim of bringing each cell up to an acceptable standard of decoration and furnishing.

3.18 It was therefore disappointing on this latest inspection to find a situation which differed little from that found in 1993 - particularly when we learned that a redecoration programme had been completed 18 months prior to our inspection. Though some cells showed evidence of that redecoration, the majority did not and it was clear that a slippage in standards had been allowed to occur.

3.19 As noted above, a major refurbishment of 'D' Hall was ongoing at the time of inspection and when completed, the accommodation there would provide integral sanitation units and new fitted cell furniture. We therefore suggest that the Governor should introduce strict guidelines for staff which ensure that they constantly monitor the condition of that upgraded accommodation with appropriate and swift action being taken against any prisoner who abuses the property in any way.

3.20 As regards future plans for the other Halls, we understand that due to rising prisoner numbers it is no longer a feasible option, either at Perth or elsewhere, to close a Hall to enable major refurbishment to proceed. When 'D' Hall re-opens at Perth, the proposal is to locate LTPs presently in 'A' Hall in that new accommodation. Remand prisoners and those on protection would be moved to 'A' Hall leaving 'C' Hall for short term prisoners, any residue of LTPs and observations. On current estimates that would mean a 'C' Hall population of around 120/130 which would enable upgrading work to be carried out in the Hall on a rolling programme basis. That upgrading work would involve re-painting the cells and installing new furniture. The Governor also had proposals to upgrade 'A' Hall by installing integral sanitation units but because it was no longer possible to close the Hall down, that work would have to be undertaken on a gradual basis which made it a very long-term project.

3.21 We were naturally disappointed to learn that the original plan to close down the Halls on a rotational basis for major refurbishment work had had to be abandoned. However, we have to be realistic and accept that the pressure of prisoner numbers makes such a project impractical. The revised plan does, in our opinion, offer the next best alternative and we recommend that that project should proceed as a matter of priority and that appropriate funds should be made available to ensure that the work can be undertaken - see also paragraph 5.5.

3.22 During our inspection of the cellular accommodation, we noted that some of the prisoners were sleeping on mattresses on the floor of their cells. We were assured that all such prisoners had specifically stated that they did not wish to have a bed - indeed, we were subsequently presented with signed statements to that effect. In our opinion, however, a choice between having a bed and not having one is not one which should be offered to prisoners and we suggest, therefore, that every prisoner must be provided with a bed regardless of their personal preference.