Our IPM Annual Report 2023-24 comprises findings from more than 100 Independent Prison Monitors across all nine HMIPS standards. Last year, IPMs undertook over 1000 visits to Scottish prisons and contributed over 4000 monitoring hours across the 17 prisons. IPMs have also responded to over 1400 prisoner requests relating to matters such as visits, sentence progression and personal safety. Through these weekly visits to every prison in Scotland, IPMs provide scrutiny and oversight of the day to day running in each establishment, engaging with prisoners and staff and filing reports on standards for the attention of the Chief Inspector.
While each of the 17 prisons have their individual challenges, the monitoring findings highlight some clear and consistent themes across most establishments. Issues such as progression and access to external appointments and healthcare have been particularly prominent in weekly monitoring reports. In the latter half of the year especially, the issue of overcrowding and the subsequent impact on prisoners and prisons daily regime became a key concern.
As outlined in the individual establishment reports, IPMs have also noted pockets of good, innovative practice and many examples of compassionate, respectful interactions between staff and prisoners in prisons throughout the year.
As the Independent Prison Monitoring system enters its tenth year since inception , HMIPS remain proud of the work of all volunteer IPMs, past and present. Their reassuring presence remains an important component of a fair and transparent prison system in Scotland.
Published 11 July 2024