WOMEN prisoners could again be housed in Inverness Prison for the first time since 2008 under plans to help Highland inmates to rejoin society after serving the bulk of their sentence in the south.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed that it is looking at introducing a unit for female prisoners at the prison.
Women previously served their sentences at a special 14-bed wing in Inverness until it was closed more than two years ago to accommodate inmates from the vastly overcrowded male wings.
Since then, women prisoners from the Highlands have been housed at Cornton Vale prison in Stirling, which has also been criticised recently for overcrowding.
No decision has yet been taken over the introduction of a female unit, but an SPS spokesman said last night: “It is still at the planning stage, but we are looking at the unit being for people coming to the end of their sentences, and allowing them to go back to their local communities.”
The female prisoners would have easier access to their families and support services that would assist them on their release.
He added that, if the unit was introduced, it would be for a small number of prisoners, possibly between six and eight women.
The spokesman added: “There was a unit at the prison until population pressures required it to be taken away.
“We are always looking at what is best in terms of the way people serve punishments for their offences.”
A £40million replacement for the 116-year-old Inverness Prison is planned, with facilities for all categories of inmates, including women and young offenders.
Proposals for the unit were welcomed by Highlands and Islands MSP Mary Scanlon, although she said she wanted to see more action over the new prison.
She added: “It is important that women from this region are imprisoned in this area so that family relationships can be maintained.”