Report on HM Prison Shotts

HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland 1998

12. VISITING COMMITTEE

12.1 We met with the Chair and Secretary of the VC which had a total membership of 17. A rota had been devised which ensured that one member was making a visit to the main Prison, HM Unit Shotts and the NIC at least once a week. (In practice, individual Committee Members were tending to visit in pairs once a fortnight.) Regular tours of the Halls, worksheds, Health Centre and recreation areas were being included in those visits.

12.2 The major areas of concern that were expressed to us included the Committee’s view that the health centre was now inadequate, both for the nature of the population and for the maintenance of appropriate standards of health care. The Committee members were, in fact, unanimous in their view that a new health centre needed to be built as soon as possible.

12.3 The members were also under no illusion that drugs were one of the biggest problems in the prison though they were impressed with some of the education and reduction programmes on offer. They also suggested that there would be benefits in providing the Committee members with more drug awareness training.

12.4 Other issues raised by the Committee representatives included:-

12.4.1 Relationships with management were said to be excellent; open communications were being maintained and the VC felt they were being kept abreast of current issues. They also singled out prison staff for their general helpfulness.

12.4.2 They were impressed by a number of recent changes, including the new entrance to the prison and the upgraded security arrangements (including the hand scanner). They felt that these also provided excellent first impressions for visitors on arrival.

12.4.3 Catering arrangements had continued to improve and they thought that the menu system was excellent.

12.4.4 The Committee was impressed with the enhanced workshop arrangements whilst the innovative work being carried out by FCDOs was also much appreciated.

12.5 Finally, the Committee representatives underlined the difficulties encountered by their members in trying to cover three quite different establishments. It was felt also that some sort of badge to identify members would be extremely helpful.