Scotland’s chief inspector of prisons has called for more than 70 improvements to the running of the Polmont young offenders institution.
Polmont, near Falkirk, is the largest institution of its kind in Britain and holds adults aged 16 to 21 who are awaiting trial and serving sentences.
In his latest report Brigadier Hugh Monro describes the unit as modern, clean, well-maintained and with good facilities but said young offenders need to be given more activities to get them out of their cells.
Brigadier Monro said in his report: “Young offenders are not sufficiently encouraged to take part in purposeful activity. ”
The inspector added: “It is important that HMYOI Polmont now has a period of stability in order to assimilate the recommendations of this report and to instigate change.”
Polmont, with a capacity of 760, was holding 630 young offenders at the time of the inspection.carried out from October 22-30 last year.
The incidence of offender-on-offender violence during the 12 months prior to the inspection was lower than the previous year but is still higher than in any other Scottish prison, says the report.
The inspector said: “HMYOI Polmont has many advantages which will ensure that the establishment will improve and go from strength to strength.”