National Preventive Mechanism Eleventh Annual Report 2019–20 Similarly, HMIPS found that prisons failed to facilitate contact between foreign national prisoners and their families via video link. Inspectors found some prisoners on nonoffence and offence protection were unable to access the prison regime and spent a disproportionate amount of time in cells, effectively amounting to conditions of solitary confinement. Continued use of psychoactive substances by prisoners impacted on prisoner behaviour and staff morale. There was a lack of access to advocacy services and some barriers to accessing mental health services. Inspectors were concerned that progression was not being managed sufficiently by the Scottish prison service and that the introduction of the national model had not addressed the issues. For example, HMP Dumfries had no offender management programme available, meaning some prisoners were unable to complete programmes required for parole or rehabilitation progress without moving location. HMIPS continued to raise inconsistencies in health and social care provision by the different health boards as an ongoing issue. An inspection of HMP Barlinnie in August 2019 was deeply critical and found the prison to be wholly unsuitable for many prisoners. The lack of accessible cells for those with a disability was particularly concerning. Inspectors also commented on the poor overall living conditions and fragile infrastructure in HMP Barlinnie, Scotland’s largest prison. HMIPS’ report led to a special visit to the prison from the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee. The Committee subsequently echoed serious concerns about conditions in the prison. It has since been announced that a site and funding for a ‘new Barlinnie’, HMP Glasgow, has been secured. The new prison is not expected to be opened until 2024. In the meantime, funding has also been provided to HMP Barlinnie to remodel the reception area and to rectify the issue of the inadequate holding cells in the reception area, colloquially termed ‘dog boxes’. The use of these has been repeatedly highlighted by HMIPS and the CPT as amounting to ill-treatment.137 The SHRC continues to report concerns about the high number of outstanding FAIs into deaths in prison in Scotland, as well as in police custody, and a lack of sufficient public scrutiny in the process. There were 37 deaths in Scottish prisons from January to December 2019, including two women, and a further five deaths of men by the end of March 2020.138 NPM members SHRC and HMIPS did note some positive trends in some of the Scottish prisons inspected in the period, including respectful and helpful staff-prisoner relationships and good, comprehensive information provided in induction (though this was not consistently available in alternative formats and languages). For example, HMP Edinburgh had a well-documented equality and diversity programme and good evidence of participation in it, and was compliant with the Scottish Prison Service Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment policy. There were also positive findings in respect to participation in cultural activities and celebrations and religious observance in HMP YOI Polmont. Mental health detentions and social care As of September 2020, data for Wales showed that the number of formal admissions under the Mental Health Act and 137 HMIPS, May 2020, HMP Barlinnie: Full Inspection – 26 August – 6 September 2019, https://www. prisonsinspectoratescotland.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publication_files/Report%20on%20HMP%20Barlinnie%20-%20 26-August-6%20September%202019%20-%20Final.pdf [accessed 10/11/2020] 138 Scottish Prison Service, Prisoner Deaths, https://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Information/PrisonerDeaths.aspx [accessed 24/08/2020] 44