HMP Greenock staff praised in chief inspector's final report

Wendy Sinclair-Giebens is due to leave her position as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland at the end of August.

She warned overcrowding remains a ‘serious concern’ in jails across the country and that this issue is hindering the successful rehabilitation of prisoners.

Ms Sinclair-Giebens noted that Scotland should not ‘build its way’ out of the problem, but said it would be a ‘travesty’ if new builds in Glasgow and the Highlands were to be delayed.

She added: “In a fiscally challenging environment, every opportunity to invest to save elsewhere must be actively considered.

“The ambitious development of HMP & YOI Stirling and the two women’s Community Custody Units were a groundbreaking and commendable approach to women in custody; it would be good to see that creativity applied equally ambitiously to radical justice options that might lead to fewer people being sent to prison, less time having to be spent in prison, more effective use of any time spent there and robust release planning and support.

Ms Sinclair-Giebens visited HMP Greenock last summer (Image: George Munro)

“The opportunity of co-locating community justice centres incorporating prison, courts and a forensic unit, could see a paradigm shift in some of the current pressing issues on mental health and prisoner transport but could also provide a centre of excellence in prisoner assessment of risk and custody planning.”

In a visit to HMP Greenock in July last year, Ms Sinclair-Giebens described the condition of the 113-year-old prison as ‘appalling’.

She did, however, praise staff for their efforts in ‘almost impossible’ conditions.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) welcomed the outgoing chief inspectors’ final annual report and thanked her for the ‘constructive challenge’ she has provided over the course of the last six years.

(Image: George Munro)

A spokesperson said: “She cites many examples of how SPS staff work to support people, such as the growth of recovery cafes; the focus on reducing the demand for illicit substances; the many partnerships aimed at building skills and improving employment prospects; and the care and compassion shown every day, often in extremely challenging circumstances.

“In particular, the chief inspector highlighted the excellent staff-prisoner relationships at HMP Greenock; the strong management and committed staff group at HMP Perth; the vision, energy, purpose, and direction brought to HMP & YOI Polmont, and HMP Edinburgh’s impressive peer mentor system for new admissions.

“We share the chief inspector’s ambition to go even further as we support rehabilitation, reduce the risk of reoffending, and help support safer communities.”