9.1 The SPS has continued to fulfil its primary mission, which is the protection of the public from those violent and persistent criminals who are held in its custody. However, although good order was sustained last year, there was a further rise in the number of serious prisoner on prisoner assaults. This could be attributed, in part at least, to a growing drug and gang culture which has its origins in the community. There has also been gradual but impressive progress with a number of initiatives in recent months including the much needed refurbishment of a number of Victorian era prisons and the introduction of random MDT.

9.2 The SPS and its prisoners are, however, facing four major difficulties - chronic overcrowding, drug misuse, suicide and a lack of productive employment, all of which tend to be inter-related:

• Overcrowding is the central issue, with remedies urgently required. There must be some relief for staff and prisoners in the weeks and months ahead.
• Drug Misuse requires a range of further preventive measures and new incentives if the encouraging impetus which has been achieved by the introduction of MDT is to be maintained. A start should be made to these soon.
• Suicide and Employment have been or are the subject of comprehensive review by the SPS, though we have made some additional suggestions which are included in the Points of Note overleaf. These require actioning in due course.

9.3 Our general assessment of where the four difficulties lie at establishment level is that most, if not all, prisons contain a population which has a drug problem. However, some do not suffer from any of the other difficulties listed - eg Castle Huntly, Noranside, Penninghame, Dungavel, Low Moss, Dumfries, Glenochil and Shotts. Other prisons may be suffering from a combination of one or more of these difficulties and in this category we would include Friarton, Inverness, Polmont, Peterhead, Longriggend, Cornton Vale, Greenock and Edinburgh - though the overcrowding among remands at the latter needs urgent attention.

9.4 However all four problems are only too apparent at three prisons which hold remand prisoners - viz, Aberdeen, Perth and Barlinnie. Indeed, the theme which consistently emerges from this report is the unfavourable and demeaning conditions which remand prisoners are having to endure at most locations, whereas they should be receiving the best of regimes during their time in custody. Our central recommendation, therefore, is that there should be a review of the policy and practices in respect of the custody of remand prisoners. More alternatives to custody also ought to be provided for those individuals who are remanded for allegedly petty or non-threatening offences.