Mixed report on under-fire prison

Concern over staffing levels at privately run Kilmarnock Prison

News, 26 April 2005

Staffing levels are lower at Scotland’s only private jail than in SPS prisons, a report by the Chief Inspectors of Prisons revealed today.

Dr Andrew McLellan's report, which follows a full inspection last October, reveals that the prison has between 80 and 120 fewer staff than at similar-sized state institutions like Edinburgh and Perth.

This means that prisoners' access to facilities and opportunities for activity designed to reduce offending behaviour are limited.

There was also a considerable turnover of staff, resulting in many prisoners being looked after by relatively inexperienced prison officers.

The inspection was carried out last year before a damaging fly-on-the-wall documentary was aired on the BBC, exposing officers turning a blind eye to drugs and alcohol use. It also found that some prisoners on suicide watch were not checked regularly.

On the positive side, the report showed there had been no escapes since the prison opened and that all prisoners live in decent accommodation. Staff-prisoner relationships are relaxed and arrangements for family contact are good.

Dr McLellan said: "The most impressive finding of this report is that Kilmarnock is a safer prison. There were no escapes in the year leading up to the inspection and the number of assaults has reduced considerably. The Prisoner Survey shows that prisoners feel safe in Kilmarnock."

He added: "However, there are are problems that need to be addressed. Lack of proper provision for basic education in reading, writing and numeracy is a serious concern. Despite a daily budget considerably greater than that in SPS prisons, food is not good.

“There has been no improvement in opportunities for remand prisoners. Healthcare has improved; more progress must be made.

"Vocational training and addictions work are all in need of improvement.”

He also said that the prison was regularly forced to house children and that "while there is no reason to believe that they are not treated properly, there are strong arguments about children being detained in prison".