Decision Report 201402380

Summary

Mr C complained that his prison failed to deal appropriately with his requests to be transferred to a different prison.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) are entitled to decide how best to manage the prison population. Therefore, it is up to them to decide whether or not to grant transfer requests, taking into account all relevant information. We cannot question these decisions unless there is evidence that they have not been taken properly. Neither can we have a prisoner placed in a particular prison. Our role is to consider whether the SPS act in line with relevant processes or procedures.

We looked at information provided by Mr C and the SPS, and we found that although it took a number of months for Mr C to be transferred, this was reasonable in the circumstances. It was clear that SPS staff made reasonable efforts to have Mr C transferred to an appropriate prison; however, in doing so, they had to take into account several factors about the receiving prison's population, in addition to Mr C's own situation. We were satisfied that the SPS dealt with Mr C's transfer requests appropriately and, therefore, we did not uphold his complaint.