HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) stated in its latest report on HMP YOI Polmont that staff are not currently able to guarantee inmates’ right to one hour’s outdoor exercise each day as prescribed by the Mandela Rules for the treatment of prisoners.

The report noted that the difficulty was in part attributable to the number of “designated enemies” young men have within the facility – limiting their time in the two outdoor exercise yards.

HMIPS has recommended the Scottish Prison Service builds additional outdoor exercise areas with fixed equipment to address the problem.

The report said: “Although the timetable indicated that all prisoners were being offered the opportunity of one hour per day in the fresh air, this was not taking place in all areas.

“Despite having to run two regimes in Blair House, women were still afforded one hour’s access to fresh air per day. However, this was not always the case in the young men’s residential areas where most areas were receiving 45 minutes per day, which is a breach of Prison Rule 87(1) and their human rights.

“The number of enemies was cited as one reason, with one example being in the under-18 section which held four children, they could not all go out together.”