Prisoners subject to 'effective solitary confinement' amid staff shortages at HMP Edinburgh

HMP Edinburgh, also known as Saughton Jail.

Prisoners such as sex offenders who require additional protection while in jail may be experiencing “effective solitary confinement” at HMP Edinburgh, an inspection report has found.

The Scottish Prison Service has also been told to “consider implementing” the use of bodycams for prison guards in order to “improve the rate of video recording” for violent incidents with the jail.

The prison was rated overall as “satisfactory” in the report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) who praised the quality of staff and prisoner relationships.

HMP Edinburgh, where around 680 prisoners are housed.

Saughton houses some of Edinburgh’s most notorious prisoners including serial killer and sex offender Peter Tobin, and killer of Liam Fee, Rachel Trelfa.

In the report, the inspectors stated overcrowding in one of the prison blocks, Glenesk Hall, meant those requiring additional protection were being forced to stay in their cells for a “disproportionate amount of time”, potentially leading to “effective solitary confinement”.

The report states: “The logistics of population management, compounded by issues of overcrowding across the estate, prevented them from participating with other prisoners in their categories.

“The outcome of this was that these prisoners spent a disproportionate amount of time within their cells, including meal times, which may amount to effective solitary confinement, as it is understood there may be instances where it could be up to 22 hours a day.”

Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, the chief inspector of prisons for Scotland, said staff shortages had lead to cancellations of work sheds leading to a reduction in the level of “purposeful activity” within the prison and contributed to an irregular regime for many prisoners.

She stated: “Without question staff shortages were adding to the natural logistical challenges in getting prisoners to and from work sheds, education, the library etc.

“Finding ways to avoid having to close work sheds at short notice would have a dramatic impact on the ability of the prison to provide the sort of structured regime needed to support rehabilitative activity.”

The report added: “At the time of the inspection, there were insufficient employment opportunities for all prisoners, across all prison populations, and in particular for the female and untried prisoner populations. More than half of workshop activities were not available to prisoners due to staffing shortages.”

Inspectors also raised concerns around suicide prevention at the prison, finding that prisoners arriving from court or after a transfer were “not routinely assessed” by a health care staff member.

Staff were also found to not be challenging bullying behaviour or supporting victims of bullying at the prison.

The report stated: “Recording of bullying and harassment was largely dependent on self-reporting by prisoners, and it was evident that staff preferred to report such instances through the intelligence reporting model.

“By using this, there was no support offered to the victims of bullying or harassment. Staff within the halls reported that they would usually move the perpetrator of bullying, however understood that this would place greater threat or identification to the victim.”

The prison was praised for its induction sessions for new prisoners, the searching of prisoners and their property for contraband, and the way prisoners were escorted out of the prison.

The report stated: “The inspection identified a number of positive findings. In particular staff/prisoner relationships, which are at the heart of any prison, and were almost universally described by prisoners and staff as positive and respectful.

“Inspectors found good evidence of effective, courteous and humane use of authority and action to promote respect and protect against mistreatment. The processes in relation to ensuring lawful detention and liberation were also sound.”