An award-winning initiative which has seen crime rates drop by more than 70% at HMP Edinburgh has now been rolled out in Perth Prison.
Prison Watch, a partnership project between the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Police Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council, aims to prevent illegal contraband being thrown over prison walls and has provided a new hotline to the prison to notify staff of any concerns over “suspicious behaviour”.
Based on the successful Neighbourhood Watch system, the scheme has experienced high levels of success at other Scottish prisons since its February 2011 pilot at HMP Edinburgh, which saw a remarkable 76% drop in contraband including drugs, weapons and mobile phones being smuggled into the establishment within a six-month period. As a result, it received a Butler Trust Award earlier this year.
Around 120 homes and businesses around Perth Prison were hand-delivered information by prison staff ahead of the scheme’s launch this week. Signs have also been placed around the prison site to raise public awareness.
One of the key aims of Prison Watch is to maintain a high standard of living for the residents in the communities surrounding Scottish prisons.
Perth residents have been urged to look out for odd behaviour in the vicinity of the prison, such as suspicious vehicles, or groups of people or individuals behaving strangely or loitering in the area without apparent reason.
Mike Inglis, governor of HMP Perth, said he was “delighted” to see the programme rolled out at Perth.
“This protective initiative allows local people to report anonymously their worries of suspicious conduct around the prison,” he said.
“With this new service we hope to keep our local community safer, together with partner agencies, and to ensure the prison is even more secure.
“Alongside our partners this will ensure our community flourishes and criminal behaviour will be challenged. It is vital that HMP Perth is seen as part of the community and contributes to the wider outcomes for the Perth and Kinross area.
“I would encourage anyone who witnesses concerning behaviour to call.”
Chief Inspector Mike Whitford said: “Police Scotland, in conjunction with the Scottish Prison Service, looks for any opportunities to promote safety in the community.
“The launch of the Prison Watch initiative throughout Scotland supports the Government’s drive for a ‘Stronger, Safer Scotland’.
“This partnership approach helps to work towards an inclusive and respectfulsociety, in which all people and communities live in safety, and demonstrates the clear commitment we have to raise public awareness of reporting any suspicious activity around prison walls or in neighbouring streets.
“We would not ask that any suspicious individual be approached, but would ask that any incident raising concern be reported to the police.”
Councillor Douglas Pover, a former police officer, said: “HMP Perth is part of the city’s community and the introduction of illegal items such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones into the prison system presents a safety issue for local residents, prison staff and inmates.
“In the interests of promoting a safe environment for everyone, we are fully supportive of the Prison Watch initiative.
“I would encourage anyone who witnesses anything unusual or suspicious in the area to contact Prison Watch, where they can report information anonymously and help reduce criminal behaviour in the community.”
Prison Watch Scotland can be contacted anonymously and in confidence by phoning 01738 458111.