MORE than £45,000 has been spent on massage oils, hair dyes and nail varnish for Scots inmates in the last three years.
The Scottish Prison Service has revealed that they are supplying products used to provide “luxury” treatments for prisoners.
Extensive lists provided under the Freedom of Information show that hair masks and treatments, rollers, makeup and face masks are all being provided for inmates.
Last night critics branded the spending “ridiculous” and “inappropriate.”
HMP Grampian in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, which opened it’s doors to prisoners in March, has spent £9218.25 on grooming products since opening.
Items bought by the prison included “Diva session hair straighteners”, “almond hair oil” and a selection of hair dyes, waxes and “hair aid conditioner.”
Perth prison spent the most money on grooming products, spending £12,916.96 in the past three years.
This including buying in equipment such as “privacy screens” and other “hairdressing materials.”
HMP Shotts was third, spending £5891.
Cornton Vale prison in Stirling had a long list of items which came in at £5784.66 for the three year period.
Items included massage oils, facial masks, exfoliating creams, cuticle treatments, nail polish and “pedicure treatments.”
As well as this they also provided facial cleansers and toners, eye creams, makeup and hand creams.
HMP Low Moss revealed that they spend around £1000 a year on products used for grooming services, while HMP Glenochil spent £2387.78 on products including hair masks, matte sea spray – used to naturally curl hair and hair thickening spray.
Polmont Young Offenders Institution spent £2364.96 in the past three years.
They bought in items such as Velcro rollers, Argan secret hair oil, Dax wax, Velcro rollers and Silka spikey gel.
HMP Inverness spent £1644.51, while HMP Edinburgh’s spend was £1389.33.
Dumfries prison said that they had spent £240.25, and £138.51.
Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: “It’s understandable if soap and other basic products are being provided at the expense of taxpayers.
“But anything above this should come from the prisoner’s own pocket, and the public would think any other arrangement to be ridiculous.
“At a time of tight budgets, the prison service could be using this money in a far better way.”
Andy Silvester, a spokesman for Taxpayers Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be fuming at this totally inappropriate use of taxpayers’ cash. These items will be luxuries for millions of law-abiding Scota, so it’s ridiculous to suggest that criminals should get them for free.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said: “A lot of the stuff will be bought for training purposes. We teach people hairdressing skills, in many instances prisoners will be the recipients of the treatments.
“The majority of the products are used for training purposes to teach transferable skills.”
