WOMEN at Scotland's only all-female prison have been held in "silent cells" without natural light or ventilation where the bed is just a mattress on concrete, according to the latest report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Brigadier Hugh Monro described conditions in the "silent" segregation cells at Cornton Vale as "disgracefully poor" and revealed the prison will have to stay open for at least another five to six years.
Yesterday he said he fully backs recommendations to raze Cornton Vale in Stirling to the ground and replace it with smaller, specialist community-facing units. But he said that move would take time.
Speaking ahead of the publication of his latest report into Scotland's only all-female prison, he suggested inmates suffering from complex mental health issues should perhaps be moved into specialist care facilities.
In his findings, he said it was "disappointing" one-third of the recommendations he made a year ago had not made sufficient progress and concluded the prison was "still in an unsatisfactory position".
Brigadier Monro told The Herald: "I strongly agree Cornton Vale should be knocked down. The only worry is that it will take some time to achieve. I think Cornton Vale will continue for the next five to six years so I need to keep my eyes on the prison in the intervening period to ensure conditions don't go backwards."
Last week the Commission on Women Offenders, chaired by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini, QC, published a report on women in the criminal justice system which recommended Cornton Vale be demolished to make way for specialist units.
On the "silent cells" the inspectorate report states: "I saw one prisoner lying on a mattress on a concrete plinth and there was no window to provide ventilation or light.
"On moral and health grounds, these cells are unacceptable. This situation, whereby temporary cells would be required during the build of the new modular unit, should have been anticipated, locally and at headquarters level. I have demanded these silent cells be closed immediately and alternatives be found."
Replacement cells are expected to be completed by this summer.
Brigadier Monro told The Herald: "It was, in all aspects, utterly grim. The ablutions were right by the bed."
He described visiting the jail's Ross House, which houses prisoners who are kept separate from others because of their "behaviour or state of mind", as a "harrowing experience" and said the situation should be reviewed at the "highest levels of Government".
Brigadier Monro said yesterday: "We need some signposts nationally about where such people should be held. Either we up our game for male and female prisoners when dealing with mental health issues or we need to look at alternative facilities not within the prison system."
Following an inspection of the facility last year, Brigadier Monro found the jail was overcrowded, despite an inspection report highlighting the same failing in 2009.
However he said he was pleased with the progress made as the number of women at Cornton Vale had been reduced from 385 to 280 as 114 prisoners were transferred to Ratho Hall at Saughton Jail in Edinburgh.
The report also found there was greater access to "purposeful" activity, with 68% of prisoners out of their cells during the day.
However, he said the fabric of the prison had not improved and there were poor facilities for family visits.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "The chief inspector's report recognises further progress has been made at Cornton Vale and while I welcome that, it is clear much remains to be done to improve conditions."
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