Question reference: S6W-27207
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 2 May 2024
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Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what minimum standards are required for cells in prisons and custody suites before they can be used to confine prisoners overnight.
Answer
Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed that each prison cell must be of an adequate size, fitted with a means of communication with an officer and have a standard of cleanliness.
Further, each cell used to accommodate an individual must be adequately:
(a) lit by natural or artificial light;
(b) heated and ventilated; and
(c) furnished as is necessary and appropriate for the type of accommodation or area of the prison.
The management of the police custody suites is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government supports His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland ( HMICS ) and Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) to undertake joint inspections across Police Scotland’s network of custody suites to ensure the safety of these facilities.
Where recommendations have been made, Police Scotland, working with health partners as appropriate, work to address these quickly and effectively.