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HMIPS Inspection Reports - Women's Estate

On 14 August 2024, HMIPS’s first full inspection reports for the Lilias CentreBella Centre and HMP/YOI Stirling were published. All were largely very positive. Re the Lilias Centre, you don’t often/ever hear a prison’s ambience described as “calm, relaxed and good-humoured”. However, there was criticism of the persistence of routine body-searching; a lack of investment in technology; and some specific issues pertaining to the design of HMP/YOI Stirling’s Separation and Reintegration Unit and its practice of being used as an assessment centre prior to women being transferred to significantly poorer quality accommodation in other (non-women specific) prisons.

HMIPS Annual Report 2023/4

On 6 August 2024, HMIPS published its Annual Report 2023/4. For the sixth and final time, the Chief Inspector Wendy Sinclair-Gieben highlighted that the stubbornly entrenched issue of prison overcrowding was her primary concern.

HMIPS Full Inspection of HMP Edinburgh

On 14 March 2024, a full HMIPS inspection report of HMP Edinburgh was published. It raised specific concerns about lack of purposeful activity; time out of cell; and the need for tighter assurance on the use of force.

HMIPS Full Inspection of HMP & YOI Polmont

On 14 December 2023, a full inspection report of HMP & YOI Polmont was published by HMIPS. It showed significant improvements in comparison with its previous inspection report, however, concerns remained in a number of areas e.g. lack of outdoor exercise provision; the continued use of routine body-searching of women; and issues around the understanding and implementation of progression. Interestingly, it mooted the possibility of under-utilised capacity being re-purposed to accommodate men from other overcrowded establishments.

HMIPS Full Inspection of HMP Perth

On 05 October 2023, HMIPS published its full inspection of HMP Perth. Yet again serious concerns were raised including overcrowding; cell-sizes which don’t meet Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee agreed standards and the poor condition of the buildings. The pre-inspection report’s findings didn’t always chime with the findings of the main inspection, however, it did contain some worrying findings: 57% of respondents reported having witnessed staff members abusing, threatening, bullying or assaulting another prisoner and 36% reported                      experiencing this themselves; whilst of those who were due for release in the next 6 weeks, 56% said that they did not feel well prepared for a life outside prison; 73% of them also said that they were not getting the help they need to set up support for their mental health upon their release.

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