HMP Dumfries 'safest in Scotland' says prison inspector

Dumfries Prison could be the safest in Scotland, according to the chief inspector of prisons.

David Strang's inspection report said "mutual respect" between staff and inmates created the safe environment.

The "excellent staff-prisoner relationships" at the institution, which opened in 1863, were also praised.

Mr Strang added: "We had no doubt that HMP Dumfries was a safe prison, if not the safest in Scotland."

Across 10 standards, the prison was rated "good" in one, "satisfactory" in seven, and "generally acceptable" in two.

However, the inspector highlighted the poor standard of accommodation in part of the 19th Century complex.

He said most parts of the building were kept "exceptionally clean" but the accommodation for short-term and remand prisoners in particular was "generally poor".

The inspector also raised security concerns relating to searching prisoners and grounds checks.

Body search

Mr Strang found that staff did not check exercise yards before they were used by inmates.

He said: "This is a significant security risk, especially as we had already been informed that the prison had recently experienced packages coming over the wall into the exercise yard."

It also emerged that there were some inconsistencies in checking the contents of packages that enter the prison.

And particular concerns were raised in connection with the use of a "body orifice security scanner" chair.

Inspectors witnessed one prisoner twice set off the alarm on the chair before being picked up by the prisoner transfer service G4S.

The report said: "The staff member asked G4S staff if they were content to still take the prisoner, which they did.

"This is not in line with police or safe systems of work procedures. This is concerning and a weakness."

An action plan will be drawn up to address areas of concern.

The inspector said he hoped aspects of good practice, which included an "impressive range of cultural activities", would be taken up by other prisons in Scotland.