HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, called on the Scottish government to consider “radical justice options” to ease the pressure on prisons.

Ms Sinclair-Gieben, who will be leaving the role at the end of the month, said that the public have a right to expect that “criminogenic behaviours will addressed” while people are in custody and that this “cannot happen” with the vast numbers being held by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).

Her comments come after officials announced that about 500 to 550 inmates with 180 days or less to serve from a sentence of under four years were to be released early.

Ms Sinclair-Gieben said: “The ambitious development of HMP & YOI Stirling and the two women’s Community Custody Units were a groundbreaking and commendable approach to women in custody; it would be good to see that creativity applied equally ambitiously to radical justice options that might lead to fewer people being sent to prison, less time having to be spent in prison, more effective use of any time spent there and robust release planning and support.”

Ms Sinclair-Gieben also said that despite many examples of good practice in prisons, such as a reduction in the use of segregation of young people, problems such as overcrowding remain“entrenched” in the system.

“The rise in remand, overcrowding, social isolation, an ageing estate, very limited access to purposeful and rehabilitative activity, the backlog in offending behaviour work, alcohol and substance issues, prisoner transport failures and inequitable access to good healthcare remain highly problematic across the estate,” she said.

“Too many acutely mentally unwell people are being held in custody. Prison and NHS staff do their best but have to cope with profoundly distressed patients.”

She added: “A bold and brave transformational justice agenda could allow Scotland to reduce the prison population. Scotland does not lack a positive vision, but if current levels of resourcing and population remain static, containment rather than the vision for justice in Scotland will be the order of the day.

“It would also be a travesty to see any delay in the arrival of the much-needed HMPS Glasgow and Highland.”

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “We welcome the chief inspector’s final annual report and are thankful for the constructive challenge she has provided in the interests of those in our care, their families, our staff, and the justice sector as whole over the past six years.”

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “We are taking action to deal with the pressure sofa high and complex prison population, including the emergency release scheme approved by Parliament.”