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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Governor attacks prison service | Governor attacks prison service |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The outgoing governor of Inverness Prison has said it has been forced to revert to practices of 200 years ago. | The outgoing governor of Inverness Prison has said it has been forced to revert to practices of 200 years ago. |
| Alastair MacDonald said overcrowding meant prisoners were being sent to jails far from their families. | Alastair MacDonald said overcrowding meant prisoners were being sent to jails far from their families. |
| He also said 30% of those coming through the gates could not read or write and half of them had not reached primary six academic level. | He also said 30% of those coming through the gates could not read or write and half of them had not reached primary six academic level. |
| Mr MacDonald, who retires this week after 31 years, said prisons were increasingly becoming a social service. | Mr MacDonald, who retires this week after 31 years, said prisons were increasingly becoming a social service. |
| Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said the population at Inverness, also known as Porterfield, had grown in the six-and-a-half years he has been in charge. | Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said the population at Inverness, also known as Porterfield, had grown in the six-and-a-half years he has been in charge. |
| He said: "When I first arrived here the daily population was around 125 and now we are regularly having 150. | He said: "When I first arrived here the daily population was around 125 and now we are regularly having 150. |
| "On top of that, on a weekly basis we have to send prisoners down south and indeed this takes us back to the situation that prevailed in the Highlands 200 years ago. | "On top of that, on a weekly basis we have to send prisoners down south and indeed this takes us back to the situation that prevailed in the Highlands 200 years ago. |
| Many policies are like the Easter Eggs we hated getting as children - very large, very attractive but when you take off the silver paper it is a big hollow egg Alastair MacDonald | Many policies are like the Easter Eggs we hated getting as children - very large, very attractive but when you take off the silver paper it is a big hollow egg Alastair MacDonald |
| "So we are going in a reverse direction at the moment sadly." | "So we are going in a reverse direction at the moment sadly." |
| Mr MacDonald added: "It is a very sad fact so many families now have to travel great distances to see their brothers, husbands, whoever, because we have to send them to places like Barlinnie because of overcrowding." | Mr MacDonald added: "It is a very sad fact so many families now have to travel great distances to see their brothers, husbands, whoever, because we have to send them to places like Barlinnie because of overcrowding." |
| The former governor of Shotts and Barlinnie ruled out any attempt to close Inverness, but said there was a "lack of will at many levels" to deal with unsuitable prisons. | The former governor of Shotts and Barlinnie ruled out any attempt to close Inverness, but said there was a "lack of will at many levels" to deal with unsuitable prisons. |
| Community risk | Community risk |
| Citing statistics from two years ago showing that 135 per 100,000 people in Scotland were imprisoned, Mr MacDonald said: "A serious question has to be asked of the Scottish nation. | Citing statistics from two years ago showing that 135 per 100,000 people in Scotland were imprisoned, Mr MacDonald said: "A serious question has to be asked of the Scottish nation. |
| "Why are we having to lock up so many of our citizens? | "Why are we having to lock up so many of our citizens? |
| "What has gone wrong? Why is the direction taken a wrong turning with regard people who cause risks within our communities." | "What has gone wrong? Why is the direction taken a wrong turning with regard people who cause risks within our communities." |
| He said more appropriate and less costly alternatives to prison had to be found for some of those who end up in jail. | He said more appropriate and less costly alternatives to prison had to be found for some of those who end up in jail. |
| "If you look at the average prison population now more than 30% of prisoners coming through Inverness' gates cannot read or write," said Mr MacDonald. | "If you look at the average prison population now more than 30% of prisoners coming through Inverness' gates cannot read or write," said Mr MacDonald. |
| Mr MacDonald has been governor at Inverness for more than six years | Mr MacDonald has been governor at Inverness for more than six years |
| "About 50% of them haven't reached primary six academic level." | "About 50% of them haven't reached primary six academic level." |
| He said 70% of admissions at Porterfield hade substance abuse problems and 70% displayed mental illness. | He said 70% of admissions at Porterfield hade substance abuse problems and 70% displayed mental illness. |
| "Many of my senior colleagues now are becoming acutely aware that we are becoming centres of social service," he said. | "Many of my senior colleagues now are becoming acutely aware that we are becoming centres of social service," he said. |
| "We are lifting many people out of poverty so it's claimed. We are certainly lifting many people into prison." | "We are lifting many people out of poverty so it's claimed. We are certainly lifting many people into prison." |
| The governor said the Scottish Executive, in consultation with the prison service, had produced helpful and valuable policies. | The governor said the Scottish Executive, in consultation with the prison service, had produced helpful and valuable policies. |
| However, he said they were not backed by adequate funding. | However, he said they were not backed by adequate funding. |
| "Many policies are like the Easter Eggs we hated getting as children - very large, very attractive but when you take off the silver paper it is a big hollow egg," said Mr MacDonald. | "Many policies are like the Easter Eggs we hated getting as children - very large, very attractive but when you take off the silver paper it is a big hollow egg," said Mr MacDonald. |
| Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson declined to be interviewed on Mr MacDonald's comments by BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme. | |
| However, the Scottish Prison Service defended what it calls the executive's record investment in the service, which it says compensates for decades of neglect. |