Too many sharing cells in prisons

Audit Scotland report reveals extent of overcrowding in Scotland's jails

News, 8 May 2008

Significant spending on prisons has improved conditions but not alleviated overcrowding, according to a new report out today.

The Audit Scotland report, "Managing Increasing Prisoner Numbers in Scotland", notes that almost £300 million has been spent over the past six years on improving conditions in Scotland’s prisons, but the number of places has stayed the same.

Prisoner numbers reached an all-time record high of about 7,700 in April 2008 – although the design capacity is only for 6,600. Because the number of places has remained largely unchanged in recent years, 11 of Scotland’s 14 prisons are overcrowded and more than one-fifth of prisoners are sharing cells designed for one person.

Between 2000-01 and 2006-07 the average number of prisoners in Scotland increased by 20%, and the number is expected to rise by as much again by 2016-17. Plans to increase prison capacity, including building three new prisons, may not be enough to accommodate these numbers if present trends continue.

Restricted access

Overcrowding restricts prisoners’ access to rehabilitation activities, which aim to cut reoffending. Currently about 65% of prisoners are reconvicted within two years of release. Rising prisoner numbers can also put pressure on services such as family visits and healthcare. The growth in prisoner numbers has caused higher costs associated with admitting, accommodating and transferring people.

However, the Scottish Prison Service has managed a significantly increased prisoner population with no real increase in running costs.

Auditor General for Scotland Robert Black said: “With the current projections indicating that the prison population could rise as much by 2016 as it has done since 2001, it will be important to improve access to programmes that help to reduce reoffending as well as ensuring an adequate number of prison places.”

The report also looks at community sentences. Since 2000-01, the use of community sentences has gone up by more than half and spending has increased significantly. However, the report states that their use may still be restricted by availability of places and delays in starting community sentences, and more research is needed on their effectiveness.

Government response

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the Scottish Government was already addressing some of the recommendations made in the Audit Scotland report, but the government could not just build its way out of the problem at the expense of new hospitals or schools.

He commented: "We have already made some progress in terms of revitalising community penalties and making record investment in the prison estate. But we cannot progress as quickly on this agenda as I would like until we tackle the problems of prison overcrowding.

"The time offenders spend in prison should be used to work proactively with them to reduce their risk and propensity to reoffend. The Scottish Prison Service has impressive risk management programmes, but progress is being hindered because the system is having to cope with severe pressures caused by ever increasing prisoner numbers.”

Mr MacAskill added that he was committed to revitalising community penalties and looked forward to receiving the recommendations of the McLeish Commission at the end of next month.