SCOTLAND'S historic Prison Visiting Committees will be scrapped and replaced with three independent monitors in the face of widespread political opposition.
The move to cut the groups which oversee the welfare of inmates has been approved by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill despite the serious concerns of the Scottish Human Rights Commission.
The 16 committees will now be replaced by three professional monitors working under Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP).
The move to axe the committees faced cross-party opposition and ministers were forced to announce a fresh consultation.
Last night two MSPs expressed anger that their criticisms of the proposals had been ignored.
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, said: "If the Government wanted to build on the work of visiting committees and add value to their work, there would be no opposition.
"But scrapping the principle of local communities having independent access to monitor prisons is entirely the wrong way to go, and deserves to be opposed."
Labour's Justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald MSP said: "Scrapping visiting committees would end the accountability of the Scottish Prison Service to local communities, and take away an independent voice in prisons policy.
"The SNP Government is proposing the prison service should be inspected by former senior figures from the prison service – the prison service would effectively be inspecting itself.
"Scotland's justice system deserves better than that."
He said the decision to scrap independent visiting committees "is a slap in the face" to their 240 volunteer members, and fails to deliver independent monitoring of prisons demanded by international agreements.
Established in 1871, the committees were told in December by Mr MacAskill they would no longer be required.
However, in the face of growing opposition, he said in February he would conduct further consultations.
Ministers want monitors to have previous experience of the prison service, which has led to criticism they will not be sufficiently independent.
However, the introduction of monitors may appease those who feared the committees would effectively have no replacement.
The Scottish Government also plans to create a Prison Support Service to help inmates – especially the vulnerable, illiterate and those with mental health issues – access services.
The committees were established to open up prisons to wider scrutiny.
They hear and investigate requests and complaints by prisoners and are obliged to pay fortnightly visits to prisons.
The volunteer members of the committees which monitor young offenders are appointed by the Justice Secretary, with the rest appointed by local authorities.
There will now be further consultation on the new model as required by the legislation, until December.
Visiting Committees will continue their work until then. The new monitoring service will begin in spring 2013.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Government is committed to improving and simplifying the public-sector landscape, and in this light we are replacing the existing prison visiting committees with new arrangements.
"The creation of a prisoner support service will help some of the most vulnerable prisoners in Scotland cope with the realities of prison life.
"Integrating the independent monitoring of prisons with HM Chief Inspector's existing functions will provide an effective and impactful way of ensuring consistent standards."
He added: "There remains plenty of opportunities for interested parties to shape the detail of our proposals."
He said the Government is grateful for the work of the committees, and there are still many opportunities for people who wish to volunteer to work with prisoners.
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