 Overcrowding was found to be an issue at Greenock Prison |
Overcrowding at the Scottish jail housing Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi has been criticised by prison inspectors. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons found that one hall in Greenock Prison had nearly double the number of prisoners it was built for.
Dr Andrew McLellan's report was based on a follow up inspection in March.
The report also praised the good standard of food, and positive staff and prisoner relationships.
Dr McLellan found that prisoners in A Hall spent too much time locked in their cells.
His inspection revealed that high overcrowding and rapid turnover of prisoners made it almost impossible to maintain an acceptable standard of furniture and decoration.
Toilets in cells, including cells in which prisoners were sharing, were not enclosed.
However, the report also noted that prisoners did maintain family contact and that healthcare provision had improved significantly.
Dr McLellan said: "Greenock prison is a good illustration of what overcrowding means.
"Darroch Hall and Chrisswell House have no overcrowding - while Ailsa Hall has nearly double the number of prisoners it was built for.
"A similar picture emerges in a number of prisons across the Scottish Prison Service: overcrowding is not spread evenly, but is concentrated in a few halls in a few prisons, where its effects are disproportionate.
"It is much to the credit of all who work in Greenock that the damage done by overcrowding is not greater than it actually is.
"Despite these difficulties, many of the concerns raised in the last inspection report have been dealt with."
He added that the most serious criticism contained in the last report was about the arrangements for healthcare.
Since then, Dr McLellan noted a significant improvement.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
It is much to the credit of all who work in Greenock that the damage done by overcrowding is not greater than it actually is
