Call to convert care homes to house elderly prisoners

Some Scottish care homes should be converted into specialist prisons for the increasing number of elderly inmates, according to a former Justice Secretary.

Kenny MacAskill said new measures were needed given that the number of over-50s being imprisoned has increased by 61 per cent in the past five years.

The numbers rose from 603 to 993 between 2010/11 and the present. There are also 152 prisoners over 60, a 63 per cent jump on 2011’s figure of 88.

Mr MacAskill said: “Maybe, buying a care home and adding some modest security measures is a better option than trying to care within a current institution.”

Figures from Scottish Prison Service (SPS) records indicate an increasing number of elderly people being imprisoned, mainly as a result of historical child abuse.

And prisons are also expecting more inmates with disabilities including dementia or mobility and continence issues.

Writing in The Herald, Mr MacAskill said prisons were not equipped for dealing with such inmates and that staff lacked the requisite training.

Scotland’s chief inspector of prisons, David Strang, announced recently that he will be conducting a series of inspections to find out what prison is like for elderly inmates.

He said: “As I go about inspections I already notice people walking with zimmers or using wheelchairs. If they were living at home they would be receiving social care support.

“Those convicted of serious offences, including sexual offences, still need to be detained if they are a risk to the public. But this is likely to be more of a challenge in the future.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Prison Service said: “It is acknowledged the number of people in prison with high care needs, including social care need and palliative care need, is a growing issue in Scotland. The SPS commissioned an estate-wide social care needs assessment that is scheduled for publication in 2017.”