New Scottish prison monitoring plans hailed

SCOTLAND will have a “robust” new system of prison monitoring which will be of a “gold standard”, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has declared.

A new prison monitoring system is set be introduced to Scottish institutions next year. Picture: TSPL

• Scottish prison monitoring system to undergo overhaul

• New plans, expected to be unveiled in autumn 2014, will see visiting committees scrapped in favour of part-time monitors assisted by local people

• Independent review has found existing arrangements does not meet standards set by United Nations

The Scottish Government had already announced it was scrapping the current prison visiting committees.

Instead, it proposes four part-time prison monitors will take on the work, assisted by local people who will be recruited as lay monitors.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons will oversee the monitoring under the new system, which is expected to be up and running by autumn 2014.

Mr MacAskill said: “This new approach will provide an integrated and robust system which will provide Scotland with a gold standard in prison monitoring.”

Labour has vowed to oppose the proposed new monitoring system - which needs to be approved by the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government faced opposition when it announced the current prison visiting committees were being axed.

Today, Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “These proposals once again fail to recognise the contribution made by Scotland’s prison visiting committees.

“The proposals also fail to put in place independent monitoring of prisons and they are an insult to all concerned.

“Volunteer members of prison visiting committees, including members of the SNP, will be outraged by Kenny MacAskill’s plans to close them down, and that anger I suspect will be very widely shared.”

Mr Macdonald said: “Labour will call on the Justice Committee to reject these plans and will work with members of all parties to achieve that end.”

The new system has been proposed after the Justice Secretary appointed Professor Andrew Coyle of London University to consider the independent monitoring of prisons.

This found the existing prison visiting committees did not meet the standards required by a United Nations protocol, as budgetary matters and administrative arrangements are managed by the Scottish Prison Service - which runs the institutions the visiting committees are required to monitor.

The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture aims to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in places where people are deprived of their liberty.

Mr MacAskill said: “I am determined to ensure that the reform of independent monitoring of prisons delivers the best outcomes and, in particular, meet our obligations under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).”

The Justice Secretary said existing members of prison visiting committees would be able to apply to become lay monitors under the proposed new system.

He added: “We believe that we have come forward with the best possible solution, one which has been welcomed by Brigadier Hugh Monro, Chief Inspector of Prisons.”

Brigadier Monro welcomed the Government’s announcement that the new monitoring system will be overseen by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

He said this would “provide a framework for independent prison monitoring that has the potential to become the benchmark for the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT)”.

He added: “Importantly, the Scottish tradition of including local, lay people to monitor prisons will continue and will be enhanced through improved training and support.”