News In Focus
2 August 2006
Record number of prisoner complaints
The Scottish Prison Complaints Commission received the highest number of complaints in its 12 years of operation last year, according to its annual report published today.
The commission received 460 complaints in 2005-06. Of these, 363 were judged to be within the commission's remit. This compares with 388 complaints, 259 within its remit, in 2004-05.
The report also reveals that:
- The commission helped to achieve conciliation in 127 cases - a 120% increase from 58 the year before
- For the first time the commission did not need to file any formal recommendations with the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service
- Most complaints were about orderly room proceedings – held when a prisoner is charged with breaching the prison rules – staff and prison regimes.
- The greatest number of complaints, 37%, came from prisoners held in HMP Dumfries. Their most common complaint was the prison regime, relating to its exercise, education and prison transfer policies.
Commenting on the report, Prison Complaints Commissioner Vaughan Barrett said that the majority of the complsints at Dumfries were filed by five prisoners. A significant number stemmed from the change in prisoner demographics from primarily short-sentence, local prisoners to a mixture of long-term, local and protection prisoners.
“Long-term prisoners and protection prisoners, who need to be kept separate from mainstream prisoners due to their personal circumstances or the nature of their convictions, have different programme and staffing needs and Dumfries Prison has had to adapt to this change."
Mr Barrett said he was disappointed that there had been no progress made on the proposal the commission filed in January 2005, requesting that it be given a formal remit under an Act of Parliament.
He added: “A clear remit would allow better understanding of the role of our office, would allow us to speak with greater authority and enhance our position with prisoners and SPS staff. I would encourage MSPs to treat this matter with some priority.”
The commissioner said he was extremely pleased to report that despite the number of complaints, the Commission had maintained its standard of completing its investigations and issuing final responses within six to eight weeks in 70% of cases.
"It is a remarkable achievement that conciliation was achieved in 127 complaints, representing an almost 120% increase on last year's total. This is an achievement for which the commission's staff, Scottish Prison Service (SPS) staff at the local level and prisoner complainants all deserve credit.
"Overall the Commission has achieved a number of successes this year and I would like to thank our staff for their dedication and hard work."