A new report has revealed that prisoners in Scotland are not receiving the minimum requirement of human contact on a daily basis. 

The report, published by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and UK National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) on Thursday, looks at prisons and mental health settings in Scotland, as well as segregation and deaths in custody.

And the report has concluded that the lives of Scottish prisoners have been put at risk as recommendations made three decades ago have still not been implemented.

(Image: HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow: PA)

The report found 83% of previous recommendations given by human rights bodies to Scottish prisons have yet to be implemented, stating there has been little-to-no progress in the last decade.

Some 24 human rights recommendations showed little progress, with only five showing an acceptable level of progress, and not a single recommendation marked as complete.

The research found segregation or solitary confinement was still prevalent, with a failure to meet the minimum requirement of two hours of human contact a day.

It also said there is a lack of mental healthcare in prisons and no specialised high secure psychiatric unit for women prisoners in Scotland, resulting in women not getting access to mental healthcare or being transferred 300 miles to a facility in England.

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It warned of gaps in the system for investigations of deaths in prisons, and that there is no independent system for investigating deaths of people detained in mental health settings in Scotland.

Under human rights laws, absolute rights such as the right to life and protection from inhumane and degrading treatment must never be breached.

Shelley Gray, member of the SHRC, said: “Absolute rights are the most fundamental of human rights and there is no excuse for allowing these breaches or failing to act when these rights are at risk.

“The level of inaction and delay is no longer acceptable, and we want to see these important human rights concerns addressed by the Scottish Government with the urgency they deserve.”

Angela Constance, Justice Secretary, welcomed the report.

She said: “I should say I very much welcome and appreciate the report from the SHRC and their partners the NPM.

“It is a report that will be given full and careful consideration by myself and indeed other ministers because there are issues here that go beyond our criminal justice system, whether you’re talking about health, education, social policy, and we know that there can never be any justice without social justice.”

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A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson added: “The rights, health and wellbeing of all those in our care is a key priority, and we work closely with partners, including NHS, to support people’s journey to better outcomes.

“The first stage of our review of the Talk to Me suicide prevention strategy has been completed, and we have introduced further measures to keep people safe, including dedicated phone lines which families can call to raise a concern about a loved one in custody.”