Doubts raised about "prisoners in court in underwear" report

Police have questioned an official report that alleged that peoplewere sometimes taken to court from police custody wearing only their underwear or pyjamas, the Herald reports today.

Much publicity was given last week to a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland that highlighted "unacceptable" incidents of prisoners being brought to court in their underwear or nightwear, following an inspection of the custody unit at Edinburgh Sheriff Court (click here for news item).

Yesterday, however, Fiona Taylor, the new Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland, suggested to its watchdog the Scottish Police Authority that the inspectors may have been mistaken. The police had been unable to check the report for factual accuracy before it was published, and what it stated was not the interpretation of the officers on the ground.

it is further reported that even if the inspectors saw someone brought to the court inadequately clothed, custody officers at court regularly provide clothing and footwear for the court appearance itself; and that the prisoner described as being in her nightwear is understood to have insisted on wearing a "onesie" jumpsuit.