Calls for prison decision 'no later than March 2008' - Buchan Observer

CALLS have been made to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson for a definitive decision on the future of Peterhead Prison no later than March 2008.

The request was made by Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson when he met with the Justice Minister and SPS Director of Public Services, Rachel Gwynd, along with representatives of the Prison Officers' Partners Committee to discuss the future of the Peterhead jail.

With no commitment yet shown by the Executive on the future of the prison, Mr Stevenson secured a commitment from the Minister that plans for the facility and allocated funding would be included in the draft Executive budget in September and that a clear decision would be made at the very latest by March 31, 2008.

Having campaigned with the committee and other community groups to save Peterhead Prison, the local MSP also put pressure on the Minister to obtain responses from the Criminal Justice Authorities to the consultation on the future of North-east prisons published last year.

He also pressed the issues of prison staff working conditions and prison management. Commenting after his meeting, Mr Stevenson said:

"The Justice Minister has confirmed to me that a decision will be made on the future of Peterhead Prison at the very latest by March of next year and that we can expect to see these plans published in the draft budget in September.

"Though we are still awaiting a funded commitment from the government to prison places in new premises, the outcome of today's meeting has been a positive development.

"The delays and uncertainty surrounding the fate of the prison have been considerable and unsettling for all concerned so this news is very welcome.

"I took the opportunity to impress upon the Minister and the SPS representative other issues of concern to the Committee, such as prison officers' morale and working conditions and to demand that they finally address these ongoing problems.

"People in the North East are aware of the SNP's relentless dedication to this campaign. They can be sure of rapid action on this issue from an SNP Justice Minister in the next term.

"However, a decision before the election by the present government could have ended this unnecessary delay.

"This is a clear reflection of the Lab-Lib coalition's lack of commitment to the criminal justice system and to prison staff employed in our area."

Mr Stevenson has also called for the human rights of Scotland's prison officers to be given priority in the country's prisons policy. The MSP - who is also the SNP's spokesperson on prisons and Shadow Deputy Justice Minister - made the call after a series of high profile 'human rights' claims by inmates in Scotland's prisons.

Mr Stevenson made it clear that he considered the right of prison staff to be able to carry out their job effectively as professionals to be fundamental. He said:

"We have heard much in the media recently about prisoners bringing claims for compensation under Human Rights legislation because they have to slop out or because they've been denied the vote. In addressing the problem of slopping out in Scotland's prisons, I think it's time we placed the rights of the men and women who actually work in our prisons higher up the agenda.

"The staff are day and daily confronted by prisoners slopping out. The exposure to smell and the risk of contamination is unacceptable in the 21st Century and I will be raising this with the Justice Minister in early course."

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