This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6105198.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Prisons 'bursting at the seams' | Prisons 'bursting at the seams' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's chief inspector of prisons has voiced his frustration at continued overcrowding in jails. | Scotland's chief inspector of prisons has voiced his frustration at continued overcrowding in jails. |
| In his annual report, Dr Andrew McLellan said the country's prisons were "bursting at the seams" and that not enough was being done about it. | In his annual report, Dr Andrew McLellan said the country's prisons were "bursting at the seams" and that not enough was being done about it. |
| Dr McLellan said there had been a "striking rise" in the number of prisoners under 21 and the number of women being locked up in 2005-2006. | Dr McLellan said there had been a "striking rise" in the number of prisoners under 21 and the number of women being locked up in 2005-2006. |
| The Scottish Prison Service said about £1m per week is spent on prison estate. | The Scottish Prison Service said about £1m per week is spent on prison estate. |
| Dr McLellan said: "Nothing has been more frustrating in the writing of annual reports in 2003, 2004, 2005 and now 2006 than finding new ways to express the damage done to Scotland's prisons by overcrowding. | Dr McLellan said: "Nothing has been more frustrating in the writing of annual reports in 2003, 2004, 2005 and now 2006 than finding new ways to express the damage done to Scotland's prisons by overcrowding. |
| "Nothing is more illustrative of the powerlessness of the chief inspector of prisons to make any real difference where it matters most." | "Nothing is more illustrative of the powerlessness of the chief inspector of prisons to make any real difference where it matters most." |
| Only when we transform life for our poorest young men will overcrowding in our prisons disappear Dr Andrew McLellan | Only when we transform life for our poorest young men will overcrowding in our prisons disappear Dr Andrew McLellan |
| He said overcrowding was making the drugs problem in jails worse and that the situation was now so bad that the addition of every new prisoner made conditions worse for others. | He said overcrowding was making the drugs problem in jails worse and that the situation was now so bad that the addition of every new prisoner made conditions worse for others. |
| "Everyone agrees about this: but nothing changes," he added. | "Everyone agrees about this: but nothing changes," he added. |
| Overcrowding has been most significant in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Polmont, Inverness, Greenock and Barlinnie. | Overcrowding has been most significant in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Polmont, Inverness, Greenock and Barlinnie. |
| Dr McLellan said: "When I was appointed to this office in October 2002, I was told that the plan was to build two new prisons; and that a decision on the future of Peterhead would be made soon, with the possibility that that might lead to a third new prison. | Dr McLellan said: "When I was appointed to this office in October 2002, I was told that the plan was to build two new prisons; and that a decision on the future of Peterhead would be made soon, with the possibility that that might lead to a third new prison. |
| "Four years later the position is that no new prisons have been built, that the plan is still to build two new prisons, and that a decision will soon be made on the future of Peterhead." | "Four years later the position is that no new prisons have been built, that the plan is still to build two new prisons, and that a decision will soon be made on the future of Peterhead." |
| Dr McLellan said imprisoning children is Scotland's secret shame | Dr McLellan said imprisoning children is Scotland's secret shame |
| He said the most "disappointing" aspect of this year's report was the number of children in Scotland's prisons, which has risen to 24. | He said the most "disappointing" aspect of this year's report was the number of children in Scotland's prisons, which has risen to 24. |
| "I think it's a secret shame of Scotland that we think being sent to prison or a young offenders institution is the only thing we can do for a 14-year-old," said Dr McLellan. | "I think it's a secret shame of Scotland that we think being sent to prison or a young offenders institution is the only thing we can do for a 14-year-old," said Dr McLellan. |
| In the past four years prisoner numbers have grown by 10%, according to the report. | In the past four years prisoner numbers have grown by 10%, according to the report. |
| In 2004-05 the daily average prison population was 6,779 against a design capacity of 6,396. | In 2004-05 the daily average prison population was 6,779 against a design capacity of 6,396. |
| Dr McLellan said there were five ways to improve the situation: building more prisons; rethinking sentencing; capping prisoner numbers; reducing reoffending and reducing crime. | Dr McLellan said there were five ways to improve the situation: building more prisons; rethinking sentencing; capping prisoner numbers; reducing reoffending and reducing crime. |
| "Only when we transform life for our poorest young men will overcrowding in our prisons disappear," he said. | "Only when we transform life for our poorest young men will overcrowding in our prisons disappear," he said. |
| 'Damning indictment' | |
| "There are 1,440 local authority wards in Scotland. One half of all of our prisoners come from 120 of these wards, and these wards are the poorest in the country. | "There are 1,440 local authority wards in Scotland. One half of all of our prisoners come from 120 of these wards, and these wards are the poorest in the country. |
| "In one part of Glasgow one 23-year-old man in every nine is in prison." | "In one part of Glasgow one 23-year-old man in every nine is in prison." |
| A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: "Investment in the SPS estate continues at more than £1m per week, and has seen redevelopment and new accommodation opened at HMP Glenochil, Edinburgh, Cornton Vale and Castle Huntly. | A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: "Investment in the SPS estate continues at more than £1m per week, and has seen redevelopment and new accommodation opened at HMP Glenochil, Edinburgh, Cornton Vale and Castle Huntly. |
| "This investment will provide the prison service with an estate that is both fit for purpose and value for money for the taxpayer." | "This investment will provide the prison service with an estate that is both fit for purpose and value for money for the taxpayer." |
| The Scottish National Party described the report as a "damning indictment" of the Scottish Executive's "flawed" prison policy. | |
| The party's justice spokesman, Kenny MacAskill, said: "Rather than filling up prisons with minor offenders and building private prisons that cost the taxpayer millions, next year an SNP government will ensure that prisons are used to detain dangerous criminals and punish serious offences." |