Public ‘At Risk’ From Release of Sex Attackers

The public may be being put at risk from inmates released from Scotland’s leading prison for sex offenders, the service’s chief inspector has warned. In his report on Peterhead Prison, Andrew McLellan expressed concern that there was little evidence to show the Stop programme, the principal tool used to help long-term sex offenders address their behaviour, actually works.

Dr McLellan also said that Peterhead had the worst conditions in Scotland, and it was a disgrace that slopping-out was still the norm. He remarked that prisoners can be locked in a cell with human waste for as long as 14 hours.

He also highlighted the fact that many offenders do not take part in any programme and these were the worst-prepared for eventual release.

Mr McLellan said this was first highlighted three years ago because of the limited number of prisoners taking part in the Stop programme and both these matters remained cause for concern.

He said the numbers taking part in Stop had increased significantly since the last full report and that was welcome if the programme does good. However, he said almost half of the inmates – 129 out of maximum 306 – were on the waiting list for Stop programmes.

He said: “It is almost inevitable that many will be released before they have taken part in a programme. This has to be a concern for public safety. It is not an issue the prison is able to address in isolation.”

Mr McLellan said that, although prisoners were encouraged to participate in programmes, as many as one-third do not and some also try to undermine the programmes. Some participate willingly but others participate only to meet conditions for release.

Others make great play of being willing but welcome the waiting list for offence-specific programmes because it means they are unlikely to have to take part.

He said that of 58 prisoners due to be freed from Peterhead in the past year, 47 were transferred to prisons in the central belt just before liberation. Although they may have been scheduled to attend one of the three one-week pre-release courses each year at Peterhead this was not always taken into account before they were transferred.

He added: “When they arrive at their local prison, they will be placed on protection. It is unlikely that they will have any structured pre-release programme at the local prison. Many of these prisoners will pose a high risk, and will also have high needs.

“Overall, pre-release arrangements at Peterhead give considerable cause for concern. The officers responsible appear committed but unsupported. There is little evidence of a management structure within which pre-release operates.

“The courses offered are ad hoc because some of the individuals and agencies involved do not appear to consider them a priority. The content of the courses does not appear to be the result of a structured assessment of needs.”

However, the prison was commended for introducing single cells for all prisoners and fitting electrical power in each cell.

Dr McLellan added: “While these changes are important, it does not hide the fact that prisoners in Peterhead are living in the worst conditions in any prison in Scotland.”

He later added: “The ending of slopping-out in several prisons in the past two years has been welcomed in reports.

“Its continuation in Peterhead remains a disgrace. It is the worst single feature of prisons in Scotland.”