THE Princess Royal visited Low Moss prison outside Glasgow yesterday to investigate a radical approach to drug and alcohol addiction among inmates.
In the jail's Alba House unit prison officers trained as counsellors run a 12-week programme - much like the 12-step programme used by Alcoholics Anonymous - to get prisoners free of addictions. It moves from determining the nature of addiction through to counselling, meditation and education.
The Princess, the first member of the royal family to visit the Low Moss complex, spoke to all nine members of the present three-month programme.
All have signed a contract with Governor Bill Middleton, who initiated the scheme two years ago, to stay free of drugs.
Michael McDonald from Ruchill in Glasgow said: ''I have been taking drugs for around 14 years. The Princess asked me if I thought I could stay off drugs. I told her no and that I was going to support accommodation when I leave prison to help me because I don't think I am strong enough to get off drugs on my own. But hopefully I will be able to try to stay off drugs.''
Tony Bell from Easterhousewas impressed by the Princess Royal. ''She is a really nice and down to earth person. It was good to know that people from the outside are interested in what happens to us.''
The Princess Royal's visit was made in her role as patron of the Butler Trust, which promotes good practice in jails and makes awards to officers who have distinguished themselves. Among the award-winners presented to the Princess were John Cunningham and Bill McGibbon.
q Alba House remains unique in the Scottish Prison Service, a matter of regret for some, writes James Freeman, Home Affairs Correspondent.
A report by the independent prisons inspectorate is expected to commend the work of Alba House, but say that its throughput is tiny compared to the size of the problem.
There is a need for more Alba Houses which simply cannot be met among a Scottish jail population currently at the 6000 mark. Critics also say that trained staff are often moved on to other duties or other jails.
A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said staff who had undergone Alba House training took their skills with them when they moved to other jails.
''Who knows what may happen in the future,'' he said.
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