HM INSPECTORATE OF PRISONS: Report on HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont
2. POPULATION AND ACCOMMODATION
Population
2.1 Polmont now holds almost all of the male under-21 prisoner population in Scotland. Convicted young adults from Dumfries and Glenochil and under-21 remand prisoners from Barlinnie have been moved to Polmont in the last year. This means that there are now 50% more prisoners in Polmont than a year ago. In the first day of inspection 650 young adults were being held.
2.2 Some additional staff are now in place as a result of the increased population. There has been a small increase in activity places, but no improvements to existing regime facilities. These were cited by some staff as reasons to keep some young adults locked in their cells. The most significant change to Polmont is the opening of a new accommodation block. But some of the other accommodation and facilities are not good. No changes were made to KPI targets as a result of the increase in population.
Accommodation
2.3 Polmont has nine accommodation areas. The cellular accommodation in the Health Centre is covered in the chapter on Healthcare. The others are detailed below.
Argyll Hall
2.4 Argyll hall was built in the first half of the 20 th century and despite recent refurbishment including the installation of Electric Power in Cell (EPIC), conditions are not good. Young adults 'slop out' through the use of porta potties which are emptied every second day. This is a most unpleasant job undertaken by hall cleaners in an area adjacent to the hall. The area is open to the elements and the water pipes and chemicals sometimes freeze in the cold weather. There is no running water in the cells but prisoners are provided with hand wipes. It is recommended that better arrangements for access to sanitation and hygiene are found in Argyll Hall.
2.5 In addition to the lack of proper sanitation, conditions generally in the hall are poor. There is little natural light, walls and fixtures in communal areas are covered in graffiti, and in some areas the linoleum floors are damaged and in need of repair or replacement. The communal toilets and showers had been mopped but it was apparent that grime on the walls and in the corners had been there for some time. The showers on the ground floor were communal with no cubicles or privacy screens. The furniture in many of the cells was old and broken and the walls were covered in graffiti. There can sometimes be litter including bodily waste in the yard which young adults have thrown out of their cell windows.
Spey Hall
2.6 Spey is similar in age and design to Argyll. EPIC has been installed in the cells since the last inspection. Prisoners here use chamber pots which they can empty in the hall ablutions areas three times a day. Prisoners do not have access to running water except at slop outs though they are provided with hand wipes. There are only six showers for the whole hall. The showers are in cubicles. It is recommended that better arrangements for access to sanitation and hygiene are found in Spey Hall.
2.7 Spey holds under 21 remand prisoners. They spend much of their time in their cells. Exercise is available every day in a yard outside the hall. Young adults can also attend recreation on alternate evenings in the hall or in a recreation room nearby. Facilities consist of pool, table tennis, a large screen television and play stations. There are five telephones in the hall, although two are in the recreation room outwith the main concourse so they are not always accessible.
2.8 There is a small group of young adults on the second floor of Spey who do not mix with others because they fear for their safety. They are known locally as "self deprivals". Some have been accused of sex offences, others have enemies in the main population. They have exercise separately and only get to recreation once or twice a week. The establishment should make sure that these prisoners have reasonable access to a regime.
Nevis Hall
2.9 Each cell in Nevis has EPIC and the hall has an electronic night sanitation system in place.
2.10 Nevis holds what are known locally as "non-conformists". These are young adults who have been downgraded from the mainstream convicted population because of their behaviour in general or after specific incidences of violence, bullying or misbehaviour. However, no attempts are made to deal with or challenge their behaviour while in Nevis. The atmosphere in the hall is tense and oppressive, and a serious incident had taken place in the exercise yard a couple of weeks before the inspection.
2.11 In 'A' section, 10 prisoners are held on a very limited regime. The night sanitation is switched off and the prisoners have to 'slop out'. They have EPIC but no television, kettle or lamp. There is little opportunity for activity outwith the hall. The staff described this section as the "assessment" section but some prisoners were working their way back into mainstream after a period in segregation. The facilities in this section were poor, and while permission would also have to be sought from SPS HQ to keep young adults in the Segregation Unit on Rule 80, no such permission is required for 'A' Section in Nevis. To all intents and purposes the prisoners in 'A' section are out of association.
2.12 There are four showers in metal cubicles, for the whole hall. There is graffiti on many of the cell walls, food is served from a cupboard in the centre of the hall and prisoners take their meals back to their cells to eat. The facilities for dishwashing are not good. Plates and cutlery are collected after use and washed in a cupboard at the end of one of the sections. This practice should stop and the facilities generally should be improved.
Cramond Hall
2.13 Cramond houses protection prisoners. This includes a mixture of sex offenders and non-sex offenders; short term and long term young adults. The hall has 78 cells, with single occupancy throughout. On the day of inspection the population was 74. There are two floors with three sections on each floor. Young adults have access to night sanitation under the same conditions as in Nevis (described above). There is EPIC in each cell and prisoners have TV's and kettles. The upper floor is considered 'enhanced'.
2.14 Prisoners collect their meals from a heated trolley and eat in their cell. Recreation facilities comprise pool, table football and play stations. Prisoners expressed their disappointment at not being allowed to associate in cell during recreation as all doors are locked. Staff said this was to prevent violent or sexual activity taking place in cells, but since they also said that Cramond is a quiet hall with very little violence or bullying, (there had been only one fight in the last year), this seems to be overly restrictive.
2.15 The exercise yard is adjacent to the building. On the day it was inspected, building work had reduced its size, and prisoners were crammed into a very confined space. On one of the days of inspection young adults were not allowed out for exercise in the open air because it was raining. They were not offered inside association in its place but kept locked in their cell. The reasons for this should be examined.
2.16 Interviewing facilities are very limited in Cramond. One area used is a converted toilet on the upper floor, and the door has to be wedged shut. This is not acceptable. Seating has been put in place which is reasonably comfortable but the large window exposing the room to the rest of the landing makes privacy impossible. These issues should be addressed.
2.17 The hall in general was clean and tidy, and the toilet and shower areas are adequate. The cells are spacious and comfortable. It was however surprising to find pornographic magazine pictures on the walls in some cells.
2.18 Relationships between staff and prisoners were very good, is reinforced by the result of the most recent SPS Prisoner Survey where 98% of prisoners in Cramond said they got on very well, quite well or okay with officers. This was the highest rating in Polmont.
Lomond Hall
2.19 Lomond houses convicted short and long-term prisoners under the age of 18 years. The design is similar to Cramond. There were 71 prisoners in the hall on the day it was inspected. Staff in Lomond wear polo shirts rather than the normal staff uniform. This creates a more relaxed and less threatening and intimidating atmosphere in the hall. Staff see themselves as mentors and positive role models for the young adults.
2.20 Recreation takes place on the landings, although there is a large room in the basement of the hall which lies empty. With a little investment and some imagination this could be a very good activity area. The stairs leading into Lomond hall are very unsightly. There are tiles missing, the skirting board is filthy and the walls are chipped and marked.
2.21 Prisoners in Lomond walk about 100 metres to a dining room in the centre of the prison at mealtimes. This is very disruptive and has the potential for mischief making on the way there and back.
Beechwood Hall
2.22 Beechwood is what would formerly have been known as a "Training for Freedom Hostel". It is located outside the perimeter fence, and can hold up to 16 low supervision prisoners in the last stages of their sentence as they prepare for release. On the day of inspection there were four prisoners living there. Prisoners are given a good deal of freedom and responsibility. They are allowed weekend home leaves and are given the opportunity to work in the community. Work placements are varied and of good quality. Polmont has formed good relationships with the local companies who take on the young adults.
2.23 Bedrooms in Beechwood are small but fit for purpose. The rest of the unit comprises of a laundry/utility room, a multi gym, a kitchen, a lounge area and a staff office. There is CCTV coverage of the lounge area. The front door is locked between 8.30pm and 7.30am. The young adults cook their own food and once a week one of them goes with an officer to a local supermarket to stock up the freezer.
2.24 There is a telephone, television and pool table in the lounge. Young adults can also play football on the grass area behind the unit.
2.25 Beechwood is a good facility that provides young adults with appropriate opportunities to prepare for release.
Dunedin Hall
2.26 Dunedin is the Segregation Unit. There are 12 cells and 2 observation cells. Most cells have integral sanitation but where prisoners have damaged the fixtures they have not always been replaced. These cells are normally only used when a prisoner has made threats to damage property. There were six young adults in the unit on the day of inspection five were on Rule 80 and the other had received three days cellular confinement as a punishment in the orderly room.
2.27 The Rule 80 paperwork was of a very high standard. A case conference approach was taken in managing prisoners on Rule 80. The prisoner participated in the case conference along with appropriate staff and other specialists as appropriate.
2.28 EPIC is not installed in the cells. Prisoners are given a battery-operated radio and a flask if they are on Rule 80. Those prisoners on punishment are not given a radio and their bedding is removed from their cell between 7am and 5pm. This is a practice that stopped in adult establishments many years ago. Polmont should review the way young adults in cellular confinement are treated.
2.29 A written regime plan sets out in detail every aspect of life in Dunedin. However, the young adults in the unit had not seen it. They also said they did not get any form of induction nor were they given any information about what to expect when they arrived in Dunedin. This should be addressed.
2.30 Prisoners are only allowed to shower every second day. There is a multi-gym located in Dunedin, and prisoners are not allowed to go to the main gym. Staff do not accept requests or legal phone card orders on paper, prisoners must request verbally. Prisoners are not allowed to put photographs or posters on their cell walls. They are only allowed 2.50 from their PPC each week when others are allowed up to 5.00.
2.31 There is some recreation for Rule 80 prisoners. One at a time in the evening they are allowed out to go to a small room with a chair, a television and a play station. Unfortunately the more prisoners there are on Rule 80 the less often you will be given the opportunity. It is recommended that conditions for and treatment of prisoners in Dunedin Hall are improved.
Iona Hall
2.32 Iona is a new hall opened in 2003. It has 213 cells on three floors, with two sections separated by grille gates on each floor. Some sharing takes place in larger cells making the design capacity 261. The population on the day of inspection was 237.
2.33 Iona has integral sanitation throughout, and cells are large and bright. The communal areas on each floor are also well lit and decorated. Each floor is well served with interview rooms and there is a well appointed multi-gym which prisoners can use during recreation periods.
2.34 Iona has been used as the Polmont "top end" for convicted prisoners. It also has a more enhanced regime on the top floor from where prisoners can apply for a move to Beechwood. The hall has two astro turf pitches that are used by the gym staff for outside sports activities, mainly five a side football. The hall also uses the pitches for outside exercise after lunch. There are 18 telephones in Iona, three in each section. Prisoners said that at busy times it was difficult to access a telephone.
2.35 Meals are served in each section and are hot and fresh. However, although there are tables and chairs located in each section, young adults take their food back to their cells during the week. At weekends they eat at the tables. The reasons for not allowing individuals in Iona to dine communally should be examined.
2.36 Recreation takes place in the sections. It is very noisy during recreation time as might be expected with so many young men milling around playing games and relaxing. Under the privilege scheme being run "Enhanced" prisoners are eligible for recreation every night and at weekends. "Basic" prisoners are allowed out to recreation on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and at the weekend and "Standard" prisoners are allowed out all periods except Friday evenings.
2.37 There have been some teething troubles in such a major building project. Cell walls are now being glazed to make them easier to wipe clean. However, a major concern was highlighted in that if a prisoner locked in his cell presses his intercom to speak to an officer, the emergency buzzer in the cell is not available until the intercom has been answered or reset from the central staff point in the hall. This has the potential to put prisoners' safety at risk with no way of raising the alarm. It is recommended that arrangements for the emergency cell intercom system in Iona Hall are reviewed as a matter of urgency.
2.38 Overall, prisoners and staff spoke very positively about Iona Hall. Conditions were excellent and staff-prisoner relationships were very good.