Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Secondment

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Secondment By Lynne McKenzie

The close links between the WSREC and the SPS continue to prosper in 2003 to 2004. The two previous secondees,Lynne McKenzie,who completed her secondment in September 2003 to become the Race Relations Development Manager at HMP Barlinnie and Lynette Findlay who left in January 2004 to take up a post at the Scottish Parliament,both made significant contributions to the secondment role.

The secondment has proved mutually beneficial to both organisations in the sharing of best practice and ongoing race relations policy development. Both the secondee and the WSREC Projects Manager, Mohammed Razaq are key members of the SPS national Race Relations Liaison and Monitoring Group (RRLMG) and the group benefits from having their expert external expertise. In particular the external representation is invaluable when the RRMLG reviews every reported racial incident and complaint within the SPS.

Since the formal recording of such incidents were maintained in 2000,there have been sixty complaints lodged,investigated by local Race Relations Managers and referred to the RRMLG. Approximately 50% of these have been upheld. After reviewing each complaint,where the group considers that there are excellent learning points and/or areas of best practice which may impact throughout the SPS then these are shared with all establishments.

The new secondee1,who is expected to take up post in May 2004 and Lynne McKenzie will conduct the forthcoming Ethnic Minority Prisoner Survey in June and July and this will be followed up by ethnic minority prisoner focus groups in selected prisons to explore and unpack the key prisoner issues arising from the survey. These focus groups will be held in October/November and a full report will be submitted to the RRMLG.

For the first time the Professional Practice in Race Equality in the West of Scotland training course traditionally held at Paisley University will also be held at the Scottish Prison Service College at Polmont. This is another good example of the close links being forged between both organisations. The course will run in November for five days and this will enable up to twenty SPS Race Relations Managers/Officers drawn from throughout the prison estate to attend this important course at a central location.

It should also be highlighted that HMP Barlinnie hosted a celebratory lunch in December to mark the religious festival of Eid-ul-Fitr. This was a resounding success and amongst the invited guests included representatives from the Central Mosque,WSREC,Dungavel Immigration Centre,SPS senior managers and staff and of course prisoners. The meal was prepared and served by prisoners of the Muslim faith,with of course some assistance from the Catering Staff in HMP Barlinnie. This event forged closer links between the prison and the Muslim community and the excellent food was enjoyed by all.

1The new secondee will be Rob Hastings (Former Operation Policy Manager in SPS Headquarters)