The management takeover of Kilmarnock prison by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) will be discussed by East Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) this week.

The prison has been privately managed by Serco since its opening in 1999.

However, the 25-year contract ends in March 2024, when SPS will take direct control of the Bowhouse prison - currently one of only two privately run jails in Scotland.

A report to the CPP this week states: “This contract has not been renewed and the SPS will take direct management of the prison on the 16 March 2024.

“SPS have put in place a project lead and team to manage the transfer of the prison from Serco to SPS.

The report states that the change of operator will not impact on the service provided at Bowhouse and will utilise a national partnership between SPS and Social Work Scotland to provide prison based social work via East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

The report continues: “There will be no change to the justice social work services that are currently provided at HMP Kilmarnock although the Memorandum of Understanding sets out detailed monthly activity and performance reporting requirements that are not currently in place with Serco.

The delivery of primary health care would also remain with NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

A Health Needs Assessment was undertaken prior to the decision of the SPS to take over management of the prison.

During its last full inspection in 2021, prison inspectors made 56 recommendations, with emphasis on six areas:

- Address ‘completely unsuitable’ search area for prisoners coming in through reception.

- Review of cells as the existing design was too small for two people.

- Reduction of the 20 week wait to receive mental health support.

- Introduce a robust and systematic process to identify, test and support all prisoners with an additional learning support needs.

- Ensure prisoners are provided with the opportunity to take daily exercise for one hour per day in the open air.

- Ensure that key workers have access to the appropriate information and develop the skills to support prisoners’ transition from custody to the community.

While Serco is currently responsible for managing and maintaining the prison, the report points out that SPS was already responsible for the provision of facilities in the prison.

It suggests that the ‘direct management of the prison may provide a more straightforward route to achieving the required development’.

One of the  risks identified by the report is the size of the prison population.

Under Serco management there was an agreement that the prison population remain below 548, far lower than the maximum capacity of 692.

SPS have indicated that they do not plan any ‘significant’ increase, but the report says that a rise to around 600 is likely as the current diversion of prisoners to other establishments to maintain the population at 548 would no longer be required.

The report also points out: “There may also be a change in the demographic and turnover of people in the care of the prison which would have an impact on workloads more likely to affect the health care team.”

The report will be considered by the CPP on Thursday, June 8.