Judith Robertson

The commission expressed concern that the current conditions being experienced by some people in Scottish prisons could amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, in breach of article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Judith Robertson, chair of the commission, writes: “People in prison are likely to be more vulnerable to the risks and impacts of COVID-19. Closed conditions of detention make social distancing virtually impossible; many prisoners are currently living together in cells designed for one person; and prisoners are spending more time in their cells with no possibility of receiving a visit from their family.”

And, despite action taken by the Scottish government to address concerns raised in early April by members of the Scottish Sub-Group of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), Ms Robertson said “we remain deeply concerned about the current conditions being experienced by some people within Scotland’s prisons”.

The commission is urging the Scottish government to take action to ensure that the conditions in which all prisoners are being held are fully in accordance with their human rights obligations.