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Recorded Crime in Scotland 2020-2021

On 28/09/21 the Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2020-2021 figures were published which included the following key points: between 2019-20 and 2020-21, crimes recorded by the police in    Scotland remained almost unchanged; non-sexual crimes of violence decreased by 4%; sexual crimes decreased by 2%; crimes of dishonesty decreased by 19; fire-raising, vandalism etc. decreased by 10%; and other crimes increased by 10%. Most of these crimes relate to drug possession, crimes against public justice or handling offensive weapons.

HMIPS Liaison Visit to HMP Greenock

On 29 July 2021, HMIPS published a report on its Liaison Visit to HMP Greenock. It made a number of criticisms, many of which were related to the ageing building and its leaking roof; lack of accessible cells; and progression, specifically lack of opportunities, backlog of paperwork and unsatisfactory slow processes.

HMIPS Liaison Visit to HMP Castle Huntly

On 27 July 2021, HMIPS published a report on its Liaison Visit to HMP Castle Huntly. Its criticisms focused on the need for substantial modernisation and improvement to the accommodation blocks and the need for more single cells. It also pushed for the reintroduction of communal dining.

Audit Scotland: Community Justice Sustainable Alternatives to Custody

On 15 July 2021, Audit Scotland published its Community Justice Sustainable Alternatives to Custody report. Amongst its findings it was noted that there had not been a shift towards non-custodial sentences and that there was a lack of effectiveness data. It also showed enormous geographic variation in the use of non-custodial sentences, which strongly suggested that this was a result of individual sentencers' decision-making.

 

Mental Welfare Commission Report: Women and Mental Ill-Health

On 8 July 2021, the Mental Welfare Commission published a report entitled,‘Concerns About the Care of Women with Mental Ill-Health in Prison in Scotland: An Analysis of the Records of Nine Women in Custody’. It reviewed the records of nine women who received mental health care in prison custody in Scotland between 2017 and early 2020 in response to a a report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the CPT) in October 20191 about their visit to police and prison premises in Scotland in October 2018. The CPT had raised serious concerns about the wellbeing of women with mental ill health in HMP YOI Cornton Vale, particularly about delays in accessing inpatient treatment, and about women with personality disorder not being eligible for transfer to a psychiatric hospital.

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