One year ago, Cornton Vale was appalling. Now it's worse

Published on Tuesday 14 June 2011 15:28

SCOTLAND'S only all-female prison has received another damning report, with some problems "even more stark" than they were in the inspector's last, highly critical, assessment.

Cornton Vale is overcrowded, with poor living conditions and limited activities for inmates, which hinders their rehabilitation, making them more likely re-offend, according to the latest report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland.

An earlier inspection report highlighted failings at the jail a year ago and the follow-up inspection, carried out in February, showed a lack of progress in improving conditions there and that it remains an "unacceptably poor establishment".

Brigadier Hugh Monro said the relationship between staff and inmates had got worse, while infection control and safety had deteriorated.

The state of female offending in Scotland - the number of women behind bars has doubled in the past decade - has led to the launch of a commission led by former lord advocate, Dame Elish Angiolini.

Cornton Vale's population has fallen from 399 at the time of the last report in 2009, to 385 now, but that is still above its 375 capacity.

The inspection said overcrowding was a "major concern", while the treatment and living conditions of prisoners were "not acceptable".

It also said the treatment of prisoners with mental health problems was a "source of concern", while limited access to activities fuelled boredom and prevented rehabilitation.

The Stirling jail remains an "unacceptably poor establishment", and no plan has been put forward to address its failings either within from prison bosses or at a national level, the inspector said.

Brigadier Monro said: "Despite the warnings raised in my full inspection report in late 2009, Cornton Vale remains an unacceptably poor establishment with significant failings across all key areas of provision.

"I believe there is an immediate need to both reduce the prison's population and review the design capacity of the establishment.

"Insufficient progress has been made to improve both physical conditions and the quality of the regime. The dignity, safety, infection control and health issues are even more stark than in 2009.

"I also noted that relationships between prisoners and staff had further deteriorated with a lack of trust."

He added: "The broader issues of how female prisoners are treated must now be seen as strategic priorities for both the Scottish Prison Service (SPS] and the Scottish Government."The SPS has promised to move 116 Cornton Vale prisoners to Ratho Hall at HMP Edinburgh from July to try to ease overcrowding.

Chief executive John Ewing, said: "Whilst progress has been made, we recognise that further work still needs to be done and share HM Inspector of Prisons' concerns about the impact which current levels of overcrowding has on the service we can deliver.

"In the longer term, we all recognise that the solution to many of these issues is to reduce the number of women in custody in Scotland, and the announcement today by the Scottish Government of a new commission to examine the issue is a very welcome development."

However, prison officers said the SPS has failed to fund Cornton Vale, compared to men's prisons across Scotland, and problems have become so severe they should tear it down and start again.

Andy Hogg, Scottish assistant secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said: "Cornton Vale has suffered from massive under-investment.

"They need to raze it to the ground and rebuild it. There're too many areas that are not fit for purpose for a modern estate.

"Without a doubt there's been unequal funding compared to men's prisons."

Critics say both the Scottish Government and the prison service have failed to react to repeated criticisms of Cornton Vale, with overcrowding and poor prisoner care being constant themes of four inspections dating back to 1996.

Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman, said: "Sadly, we have been here before with Cornton Vale.

"There is a whole raft of issues that urgently need to be addressed, but the most worrying aspect of this report is that the Scottish Government was warned over a year ago and has failed to do enough to improve things.

"What is the point of inspecting prisons if you are not going to act on the findings?" Liberal Democrats justice spokeswoman, Alison McInnes, added: "This is a damning report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons.

"Nothing has been done to improve conditions at Cornton Vale prison following last year's poor report. In fact, this report says that conditions are now much more 'stark'."

She added: "This is a shocking situation and the justice secretary cannot be allowed to shrug it off as an 'operational matter for SPS'.

"He must take responsibility and direct that immediate improvements are made."Kenny MacAskill said: "While the SPS has made good progress in areas such as suicide risk management and education programmes, it is clear that much remains to be done to improve conditions at Cornton Vale.

"Things as they stand are unacceptable."