Prison inspectors criticise underwear/nightwear court appearances
"Unacceptable" incidents of prisoners being brought to court in their underwear or nightwear have been condemned in a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland.
The report, signed by Chief Inspector Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, focuses on a visit to the custody unit at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which it finds to be "a well run facility with staff that were clearly well motivated, well led and worked well as a team", despite it being busy and noisy.
But it calls on Police Scotland to ensure that those arriving from police custody are appropriately dressed for the journey and their subsequent court appearance. "It was concerning to observe prisoners being removed from escort vans in their
nightclothes and one prisoner appeared to be in his underwear and one prisoner had no footwear", the inspectors say. "It is unacceptable that individuals are expected to appear in a court of law in their underwear or nightclothes."
They also urge local management to review "how they undertake some of the more sensitive engagements" with those held. On occasions sensitive or potentially personal matters were discussed in open areas where confidentiality could have been breached, the report finds.
It further notes one aspect that "requires immediate clarification": the provision of medical information, as a health management plan received from Police Scotland was said to have ceased some months previously. "The escort contractor and the SPS’ contract monitoring unit must review this situation as a matter of some urgency, to ensure that custody staff have the information they require for the safe management of individuals in their care."
The report further calls for an immediaten end to the provision of open urinals in many of the holding cells, as not meeting "basic standards of decency", as well as posing a risk of infection.
However the management and control of personal escort records, which contain critical information regarding prisoners presenting risks to themselves or others, developing issues, or their attendance at court, was praised as being "undertaken with great diligence and care".
Police Scotland said it was "keen to work with our partners on these recommendations", and Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service said the in-cell urinals were being taken out of commission throughout the court estate on a rolling programme.