Dr McLellan said overcrowding was undermining progress

Chief Inspector of Prisons Dr Andrew McLellan described conditions at the jail as "tragic".

He also attacked the practice of using the prison to accommodate offenders under the age of 16.

Inspectors visited the prison between 30 April and 4 May and made eight recommendations as a result.

The facility, near Falkirk, is designed to hold 623 16 to 21-year-olds. It had 682 inmates at the time of the inspections.

Dr McLellan said that although the practice of slopping out had ended at the jail and relations between staff and inmates were "very good", the improvements were undermined by the high numbers of prisoners.

'Crammed into cells'

He added: "Tragic is the right word to describe the waste of opportunity which Polmont is.

"The good living conditions, the good working conditions for staff, the good learning and working facilities for prisoners, the safer environment - all of these positive things are being wasted.

Tragic is the right word to describe the waste of opportunity which Polmont is Dr Andrew McLellan

"Because of overcrowding, prisoners are crammed into cells which are far too small. They're kept in cells far too long.

"They cannot make use of the terrific opportunities, which are here to turn their lives around."

In his report, Dr McLellan called for an anger management programme to be reintroduced at the jail to prevent difficulties between inmates escalating.

He also said food and drink should be made available to prisoners who arrive too late for processing to receive an evening meal.

Dr McLellan also recommended that all prisoners be given the opportunity to take their visit entitlement after inspectors found some inmates were only being given 90 minutes access a month to family members.

READ THE REPORT Report on HMYOI Polmont [29KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

In response to the report, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the Scottish Government was committed to a "credible" and "coherent" prison policy.

He said: "We will come down hard on serious offenders, but people who could more appropriately be dealt with in the community should not be sent to our already overcrowded prisons.

"I believe that the time is now right for a more focussed approach to the community disposals available to the courts.

"The new Prisons Commission, which is looking at the purpose and use of imprisonment in contemporary Scotland, together with the review of community sentences and the Community Justice Authorities, will contribute to managing offenders in a way that helps to reintegrate them into mainstream society."

Mr MacAskill said the SNP government's policy was to "avoid, where possible" depriving under 16s of their liberty.

He added: "We are committed to ensuring that all children who are detained, either in secure accommodation or in a Young Offenders Institution are properly protected and have their rights protected."