1. FOREWORD
1.1 The conditions and treatment of prisoners under escort have been inspected from time to time in the course of the inspection of a prison. This report is the result of the first systematic inspection of the subject across Scotland.
1.2 The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides for HM Chief Inspector of Prisons to "… inspect the conditions in which prisoners are transported or held in pursuance of prisoner escort arrangements …". The contracting out of prisoner escort services in 2003 provided the occasion for this inspection.
1.3 The inspection itself covers only the conditions and treatment of prisoners as they are taken to and from court, and when they are held in court ("core" business). This is by far the largest part of the escort arrangements. There will be at a later date inspection of the conditions and treatment of prisoners under escort to other destinations, such as hospitals, funerals, escorted home leave and children's hearings ("non core" business).
1.4 The report is based on visits to every court in Scotland, observation of the processes involved, and examination of the range of records kept in prisons and courts, by Reliance Custodial Services and by the Scottish Prison Service. It is also based on listening to prisoners, prison staff, RCS staff and Scottish Courts Service staff; and on the answers given by prisoners to questions developed by HMCIP and included by the SPS in the Annual Prison Survey.
1.5 In the interests of the administration of justice and the maintenance of security in institutions where persons are lawfully detained, individual courts and other locations have not been identified in this report. However, where concerns exist, the relevant courts and locations have been informed and action taken to address these concerns will be monitored by the Inspectorate.
1.6 I would like to thank Reid Howie Associates for the considerable work involved in this project. I would also like to thank Reliance Custodial Services, the Scottish Court Service and the Scottish Prison Service for the considerable help and cooperation offered to the inspection team at all times.
ANDREW R C McLELLAN
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
March 2007