Well good Lordy, didn’t Barlinnie look lovely on the TV (BBC Scotland series “Inside Barlinnie“). The impression the three programmes gave was that it was a lovely place and there’s nothing to worry about. I imagine the SPS is going to change its marketing tag line to “Yeah, but it used to be so much worse.”
95% of the message was that it’s all good and yet they are going to spend hundreds of millions of pounds in building a new prison in Glasgow. Why would this be necessary if the propaganda-esque message is true?
The casual observer may have missed the occasional “it’s not fit for purpose” and even if it was noticed, the question must have arisen: In what way is it not fit for purpose? The rational conclusion from watching these episodes is that if it showed an accurate picture of Barlinnie then there is no need for a replacement prison.
However, a new prison is being built. Why? Could it be that the programmes did not show an accurate picture of Barlinnie? Could it be that the cameras weren’t allowed to have access to problematic areas? Could it be that there were editorial decisions made to present it in a particularly positive light?
It was strange that the staff all spoke very well in front of the cameras… and yet prisoners report poor treatment from them (maybe all prisoners are liars?) It was strange that the small size of the cells wasn’t discussed despite the fact that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture describe them as torturous (maybe they’re lying, too). And it was strange that none of the other serious faults, including the 8 key recommendations from the 2019 inspection Report were mentioned (maybe HMIPS are liars, too).
It could be concluded that the staff know it should be done (because they said it in front of the cameras) but they choose not to or at least when the cameras aren’t there they don’t care enough to do what they know they should. If that is the case, will anything improve with an new prison?
Multiple prisoners report multiple violations of the Mandela rules, the prison rules (which is the law, of course) and the Human Rights Act. Independent observers confirm the accounts, too.
Barlinnie has previously been referred to as a “national disgrace” (I’m afraid I don’t have the source for this but please Google it and then email your MSP). So do we believe the narrative created by BBC Scotland? Well, it’s up to you but I know what I believe.
NaN.