An independent inspection highlights understaffing, record-keeping gaps and welfare concerns at St Leonards custody centre and urges a review of current staffing arrangements
The recent joint inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has put the spotlight on operational pressures at St Leonards custody centre in Edinburgh. The centre, which serves as the primary custody facility for Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian, has a 34-cell capacity and handled 7,157 detainee episodes in 2026-2026.
Inspectors visited in September and identified issues that inspectors say have broader relevance across several custody sites. The report highlights how constrained staffing affected routine tasks and the consistent application of care standards.
Key inspection findings
The inspection report outlines a range of operational concerns, starting with the description of St Leonards as “significantly understaffed”.
Inspectors identified problems in the way information was recorded on the National Custody System, with missing entries for wellbeing observations, meals, healthcare interactions, care planning and legal rights. Limited management presence was also noted, with staff telling inspectors that leadership visibility was insufficient to address day-to-day pressures.
The report included a total of 10 recommendations, several of which are specifically focused on healthcare practice such as infection prevention and control, training and medicines management.
How staffing pressures affected care and processes
Inspectors found that staffing shortages translated into practical compromises. Custody staff reported restricted ability to take breaks and described situations where arresting officers queued with detainees while waiting to process them. There were also operational barriers to integrating new recruits due to delayed issue of protective equipment, including body armour. Staff interviews revealed a worrying normalization of limited hygiene offers: only hand and face washes were routinely available to detainees, and several people held in custody said they had not been offered the chance to wash or shower during their detention period.
Impact on detainee dignity and safety
The inspection emphasised that anyone detained should receive care that respects their dignity and safety. With routine care sometimes curtailed, inspectors raised concerns about whether standards were consistently maintained. The report suggests that the current operating model and staffing levels made it difficult to sustain routine welfare activities while also managing the throughput of a busy custody centre. Deficits in recorded observations on the National Custody System further complicated oversight of detainee wellbeing, making it harder to evidence that care and legal rights had been delivered.
Impact on staff welfare and safety
UNISON, representing police staff, described the inspection as “damning” and reiterated long-standing concerns about dangerous understaffing. Branch secretary David Malcolm said the national staffing ratio of one staff member to ten detainees is inadequate at one of Scotland’s busiest centres. Staff reported an assault on a colleague in a poorly configured holding room and stressed that break opportunities were limited. The union insisted that custody staff must be safe while they work and called for urgent action to implement the report’s recommendations.
Recommendations and the force response
Inspectors recommended that Police Scotland consider the rationale underpinning the current staffing model to ensure it is fit for purpose. The joint report’s 10 recommendations cover staffing, healthcare practice, record-keeping and training. In response, Chief Superintendent Chris Stewart of the Criminal Justice Services Division welcomed the inspection and said the force would carefully consider the recommendations. He confirmed that Police Scotland is already reviewing the staffing model across its custody estate while working on improvements to policies, processes and training to maintain a safe custody environment for people in detention and for staff.
Next steps and accountability
Both inspectors and union representatives expect clear, timely action. The inspection serves as a prompt to review operational resourcing, strengthen management oversight and improve documentation systems such as the National Custody System. Implementation of healthcare-specific recommendations around infection prevention and medicines management will also need to be monitored. UNISON has said it will engage with the force to press for change, while Police Scotland has committed to ongoing review and mitigation measures. The joint inspection underscores the need for staffing and process changes to ensure dignity, safety and legal rights are upheld in custody settings.
