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13.1 The inspection team concluded that there were relatively few concerns of a statutory nature with regard to the day to day operation of HMYOI Dumfries, though a most notable exception was the lack of work for female prisoners. When combined with the reported high levels of drugs misuse amongst this already disadvantaged group, this points to an urgent need for their regime to be re-invigorated. (Where appropriate, further advice might be sought from HM Institution Cornton Vale.) A similar lack of meaningful employment for female prisoners has also been encountered at HMPs Inverness and Aberdeen and we recognise that this can be one of the main disadvantages for small female units, albeit that it places individuals closer to their home. However, there is no doubt that the female prisoners in Dumfries are the most disadvantaged group we have seen so far. We also suggest that more could be done to tackle the relatively high levels of drug misuse among local convicted and remand prisoners. Given the fact that the town appears to sit astride a major drug route, we have suggested that there might be a joint approach with the local community drug team in order to tackle this problem.
13.2 The Institution enjoys links with the local community that were amongst the best we have seen. For this, credit must go to the Governor and to the various volunteer members of staff. In particular, the operation of the "Prison! Me! No Way!" scheme is to be commended as an excellent example of crime prevention.
13.3 We could have been tempted to state that Dumfries was an entirely safe place for both YOs/prisoners and staff to be, were it not for a sudden upsurge in violence which took place in the latter half of last year. We have previously observed a similar situation in HMP Perth and it may be that the temporary overcrowding created by the recent accommodation rebuild could be one of the causes. We are reassured, however, that in future there will be considerable CCTV coverage and when combined with the end of reconstruction work, this should greatly assist control. Separately, given the volatility of the majority of the age group with which the Institution deals, we were greatly encouraged by the comparatively low levels of acts of self harm. We were also pleased with the relaxed atmosphere in most Halls and the good staff/prisoner relationships (apparently enhanced via YOs/prisoners being addressed by their first names).
13.4 So far as human decency is concerned, we found that many of the previously assessed high standards were still being maintained, despite the turbulence that had been created in recent months as a result of the reconstruction work. When complete in the year 2000, this same refurbishment will bring an end to the practice of slopping out and will represent a very major step forward in matters of hygiene and individual self-esteem.
13.5 In terms of the establishment's contribution towards the reduction of crime, we were satisfied that more than containment was being achieved. That said, we fully support the need for a national strategy which, in an integrated way, addresses the needs of all those held in Scotland's four YOIs and which is underpinned by a central policy of selection and training for staff to work with adolescents. Once that is in place, together with a much more formalised induction system and better sentence planning and management, we would be better satisfied that the establishment was operating as a cost effective YOI - both in terms of further helping to reduce levels of crime and its relatively high unit costs (£32,000 annually per individual compared with a national average of £26,000).
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