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Coordinates: 55°55′36″N 3°15′40″W / 55.9268°N 3.2611°W / 55.9268; -3.2611

HMP Edinburgh
LocationStenhouse, Edinburgh
StatusOperational
Capacity872
Population966
Opened1920
Managed byScottish Prison Service
GovernorDavid Abernethy
Street address33 Stenhouse Road
CityEdinburgh
Postal codeEH11 3LN

Her Majesty's Prison Edinburgh is located in the west of Edinburgh on the main A71, in an area now known as Stenhouse, and, although never named as such, has commonly been known as Saughton Prison from the old name for the general area. The prison is situated on the edge of a predominantly residential area and has good transport and road links to the city centre, which provides good access both for local courts and prison visitors. The building of the prison began on 31 July 1914 with the first prisoner being received in 1919.[1] The prison consists of four halls: Glenesk, Hermiston, Ingliston and Ratho.

The prison receives inmates from the courts in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders. The prison holds adult male (though no longer Young Offenders, those prisoners aged under-21) convicted prisoners serving under four years and a female population in its Ratho hall. Long-term prisoners when sentenced are held at Edinburgh awaiting transfer to their prison of allocation. Edinburgh also provides a national facility for prisoners at the pre-release stage of their sentence.[2]

Healthcare

As of 1 November 2011, healthcare is provided by the NHS.[3] Previous to this it was provided through prison service employed nursing staff, with a GP and on call service provided by the healthcare staff provider (Medacs). Lloyds Pharmacy currently supplies medication through daily deliveries (Mon-Sat).

Library

The prison library was the winner of the 2010 UK Libraries Change Lives Award[4] for its work in promoting literacy among its incarcerated population, who typically have much lower literacy rates than the general population. Kate King, the librarian, was also named UK public library staff of the year in 2014.[5]

Notable inmates

References

  1. ^ "Prisons: HMP Edinburgh". Scottish Prison Service. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  2. ^ "HMP Edinburgh". Scottish Prison Service. Archived from the original on 10 June 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  3. ^ "Health Board Provision of Healthcare in Prisons (Scotland) Directions" (PDF). Scottish Executive Health Department. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. ^ Scott, Kirsty (7 July 2010). "Prison library helps to transform lives". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. ^ Farrington, Joshua (13 August 2014). "CILIP names 2014 library staff of the year". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
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