Ministers' prison monitoring plans approved

The proposed prison monitoring system to replace prison visiting committees was approved yesterday by the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs gave the go-ahead for the Scottish Government's revised plans to introduce a combination of paid and unpaid prison monitors, operating independently under the Chief Inspector of Prisons, in place of the volunteer-led visiting committees.

Holyrood's Justice Committee had raised concerns over the independence of the monitors under ministers' original proposals, which were subsequently modified to strengthen operational independence and to clarify the respective roles of monitors and prison inspectors.

The new scheme meets Scottish Government obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) and the National Preventative Mechanism (NPM). It gives independent prison monitors powers to visit any prison without prior notice, at any time, access any part of a prison, speak to any prisoner privately and investigate any matter a prisoner brings to them.

It will be subject to regular review through an advisory group set up by the Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, which will have an independent chair and include representatives from the Scottish Human Rights Commission alongside other agencies.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The previous system for monitoring Scotland’s prisons was not as effective as it could be. There was a lack of accountability and significant inconsistencies in the way in which individual visiting committees worked....

“The new arrangements will be OPCAT compliant, which the previous system of prison visiting committees was not, and will create a more robust, professional, and co-ordinated approach to independent prison monitoring in Scotland which will deliver the best outcomes for prisoners and the wider community.”