SCOTLAND'S prisons inspector has expressed concerns about overcrowding and lack of access to facilities at a prison that has taken in a new population of sex offenders.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Brigadier Hugh Monro, said that although progress had been made at Glenochil Prison near Tullibody since a previous inspection in 2010, the impact on prison life of the transfer of 150 sex offenders from Peterhead in October that year had been "considerable".

He said the new population had complicated the regime at the prison as the two groups of prisoners were kept separate, meaning that their access to activities and facilities was restricted. He urged the Scottish Prison Service to address the issues before a further group of sex offenders were transferred from Peterhead.

He said: "Overcrowding has become more acute since my last visit and I was concerned to note the 'doubling up' in 90 single cells, which in my view should only occur for the minimum length of time."

Mr Monro also called for improvements to job training for staff and better prisoner access to programmes and activities.

He said: "While we have seen an increase from the previous inspection from 37% to 47% of prisoners at a daytime activity, and a new library has been set up, more still needs to be done.

"Personal officers are an essential part of mentoring and progressing prisoners, and this visit has confirmed that there are still no job descriptions for those roles. This is vital work that needs to be given focus so progress can be made.

"The arrival of sex offenders from Peterhead needs to be addressed in light of the further tranche due to transfer from Peterhead in the near future."