This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Jim Wallace Welcomes 'Positive Report' By Prison Inspectorate
31/08/2000
Justice Minister Jim Wallace today said that the Annual Report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland shows that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is performing well in a period of change.
Responding to the report for 1999-2000, Mr Wallace welcomed Mr Fairweather's finding that the SPS continues to have an excellent record in its core role of providing secure accommodation and is making progress in a number of other areas, such as cutting drug misuse and serious assaults.
The Minister also said he was grateful for the Chief Inspector's comments on the estate rationalisation programme and ongoing Estates Review.
Jim Wallace said:
"In a period of major change, the fact that the Chief Inspector has on this occasion made no formal recommendations is a real achievement.
"In addition, the improved conditions for remand prisoners at Edinburgh, Inverness and Kilmarnock indicates the seriousness with which concerns expressed earlier this year by Mr Fairweather and myself, among others, have been treated.
"I welcome the Chief Inspector's positive comments on the SPS's strategic approach to addressing drug use and his observation that mandatory drug testing results are again encouraging, particularly given that drugs are often linked to serious assaults and suicides in prisons. I agree with him that the reduction in the number of serious assaults has been heartening and share his concern at the continuing high number of suicides.
"While the revised SPS suicide risk management strategy continues to improve the care of those at risk and a high priority is given to the area, issues such a suicides, and indeed drugs, are societal problems. They can only be tackled through a co-ordinated social justice agenda which offers support, rehabilitation services and real opportunities in education and employment. That is something which the Scottish Executive is putting into place.
"The Chief Inspector reiterates his view that there should be an integrated approach to the management of young offenders. Young offenders are one of the groups of prisoners with particular needs, on which SPS set out its policy in Intervention and Integration, which I published in June this year. The consultation based on this document, is designed to identify ways in which others might engage with SPS in order to improve the management of groups of prisoners with particular needs, including female prisoners, remands and young offenders.
"The Inspectorate's report shows that where action is taken, real progress can been made. The achievements of the SPS are a testament to the work done by staff and management. At a time of change, it will be important further challenges are tackled in a spirit of partnership."
BACKGROUND
The Prisons Inspectorate makes a full formal inspection of each of Scotland's penal establishments on a cyclical basis, currently every 3-4 years. An inspection takes between a week and a fortnight, examining all aspects of the establishment from the point of view of humanity, propriety and efficiency, while having proper regard to security, discipline and control.
News Release: SE2342/2000
31 Aug 2000