Teresa Medhurst has hailed the work of SPS staff – as the country heads towards its highest ever prison population.
The newly published Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 show that on 4 March, Scotland recorded the second highest number in custody ever.
Writing in her foreword to the report, Mrs Medhurst acknowledged that all forecasts indicate we will reach a new record total.
This, along with the complexity from increases in Serious and Organised Crime Group (SOCG) members, mental health difficulties, social care needs, and other challenges, is putting pressure on establishments and staff.
It means staff have less time to build relationships with people, to best support their recovery and rehabilitation, and reduce the risk of reoffending.
However, despite this, 2024-25 was a year of delivery for the Scottish Prison Service, with new strategies on supporting families; mental health; alcohol and drugs; and development and learning.
Staff working in establishments delivered increased hours of purposeful activity – time spent out of cells focusing on employment, vocational training, education, rehabilitative programmes, and activities related to health, wellbeing and recovery – despite the population pressures they are forced to manage.
The year also saw the last child leave HMP & YOI Polmont, a landmark moment, with no under-18s ever to be held in a Scottish prison again.
SPS apologised for its failings in the deaths of Katie Allan, William Lindsay, and Jack Mackenzie at HMP & YOI Polmont, following Fatal Accident Inquiries last year.
Following the various FAI recommendations made by Sheriff Collins, work on a range of actions to deliver impactful and enduring change in how people are supported is happening at pace. This will be a key part of 2025-26 for the Scottish Prison Service and the next annual report.
Mrs Medhurst wrote: “This year we have also delivered on the development of strategies and policies that underpin our ambition to transition to a trauma informed organisation, allowing us to better understand and respond to a range of complexity of needs for those in custody.
“These include the publication and implementation of our Alcohol and Drug and Mental Health Strategies, which we have developed and will deliver with our key partners in NHS, Social Work and Third Sector.
“It is vital that we foster a safer and more supportive environment for everyone.
“These strategies set out an approach which will see us create an environment where people feel valued and cared for and comfortable to seek help and access support, for mental health need and drug and alcohol recovery.
“Working with families continues to be a central focus of our work and we recognise the detrimental impact having a loved one in custody can have on families and family life.
“The launch of our 5-year Family and Parenting Strategy in June 2024 sets out how we will work with partners to improve outcomes for families and those in our care.
“And our next generation development and learning strategy (“Learning for a Better Future”) launched in January along with a new education provider sets the foundation for creating the opportunities, culture and environment that enable people in our care to have a better life beyond custody and increase their likelihood of desistance.”