Inspectors warn on Edinburgh jail

An increasing number of inmates with serious mental health problems are being held at Edinburgh Prison, inspectors have found. Checks also found long-term prisoners being required to share cells was causing tension and disagreements. However, the report also found many of the concerns raised at a previous visit to Saughton had been solved.

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, Dr Andrew McLellan, conducted the inspection. Despite the improvements he noted that some problems remain for inmates awaiting trial.

"The conditions for remand prisoners are now better than they were last year," he said. "However, there is little for them to do, resulting in them spending very long hours locked in their cells, especially at weekends."

The former moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland also described the way that medicine is dispensed in the prison as "unsatisfactory", following the review last October. While raising concerns about a rising number of prisoners with serious mental health problems, he acknowledged it was not a problem confined to HMP Edinburgh.

"At the time of inspection the appointment of a second mental health nurse was anticipated," Dr McLellan added. "But the demands placed upon prison services and staff by people with severe mental health problems are great. This theme is emerging in several prisons."

Dr McLellan's report found that most of the 66 double cells in a new house-block were holding two prisoners, provoking "noticeable anger" among long-term inmates.

But the report also stated that many problems observed during a visit in August 2005 had been solved. It was noted that an "excellent" new building, housing the reception, kitchen and laundry had been built and the condition of furniture, bedding and clothing had improved for remand prisoners.