An inspection of HMP & YOI Stirling, Scotland’s new £85 million therapeutic women’s prison, has led to calls for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to end routine body-searches of female inmates. Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, praised the prison’s therapeutic environment and compassionate staff but raised concerns over security risks, late arrivals without medical assessments, and the frequent transfer of remanded prisoners, limiting the facility’s benefits.

Sinclair-Gieben criticized random body-searches as degrading and undermining trauma-informed care, calling for them to be used only with specific intelligence. She also commended a new pain-free restraint technique and recommended wider adoption. While highlighting the positive atmosphere in community custody units in Glasgow and Dundee, the report flagged inconsistencies in security protocols that could hinder reintegration efforts.

The SPS acknowledged the need for improvements and confirmed body searches are now only conducted when necessary, emphasizing their commitment to rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.