The purpose of HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland is to inspect the conditions and treatment of prisoners in prisons, court custody units and under escort, and to report publicly on our findings. The Public Services Reform (Inspection and Monitoring of Prisons) (Scotland) Order 2015 came into force on 31 August 2015 and from that date HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland assumed overall responsibility for the monitoring of prisons, which is be carried out on a day to day basis by independent prison monitors.
HMIPS is a member of the United Kingdom’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), a group of organisations designated under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture to monitor places of detention and report on the treatment of and conditions for detainees.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) is an international human rights law which seeks to strengthen protection for those who are deprived of their liberty. It recognises that such people are particularly vulnerable to ill-treatment and aims to prevent ill-treatment through establishing a system of regular visits or inspections to all places of detention. OPCAT requires that States designate a NPM to carry out visits to places of detention, to monitor treatment of and conditions for detainees, and to make recommendations for the prevention of ill-treatment.
The UK ratified OPCAT in 2003 and our NPM is made up of 21 bodies who monitor places of detention across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes police custody, prisons, court custody, immigration and military detention, secure children’s homes, and places where people are detained under mental health legislation. The NPM members have the power to enter places of detention and speak to detainees and staff in private.
In keeping with its role as a member of the NPM, HMIPS carries out regular inspection and monitoring of prisons and inspection of court custody units in Scotland. We publish reports of these inspections, identify good practice and make desired outcomes for improvement.
The UK NPM track recommendations made by the 21 bodies over many years via a dashboard - NPM Recommendation Tracker
Visit the UK NPM website