Convicted sex beasts are turning into bookworms at Glenochil prison, a new report has revealed.

The Glenochil Visiting Committee found that more sex offenders than mainstream prisoners were using the facility’s library by a ratio of 2650 to 120.

Its 2013/14 annual report also reveals that the perverts are flocking to attend education courses in contrast to other convicts – but cookery classes remain popular with all criminals.

HMP Glenochil, found on the outskirts of Tullibody, had an average capacity of 684 prisoners during 2013/14.

The facility is split between two new purpose-built halls – Harviestoun, which, with a capacity of 316, houses mainstream prisoners and Abercrombie, whose capacity is 354, houses sex offenders (also known as protection prisoners) – and a segregation unit, Devon Hall, which can hold 14 prisoners.

The prison now contains even more long-term prisoners than short-term prisoners since the arrival of the sex offender population from the former HMP Peterhead and the report reveals that the prison population continues to exceed capacity in relation to Abercrombie Hall.

It states, “Design capacity is 354 prisoners but at times the hall has coped with 10-12 persons over this figure without too much difficulty. Doubling up in single occupancy cells remains a continuous issue but staff have become adept at managing both this and the associated problem of trying to separate smokers and non-smokers.” The report notes that the prison library has recently begun a refurbishment and the book stock now exceeds 4000 titles through donations from staff, prisoners and a Glasgow publisher. A library catalogue of books has been created to allow prisoners not able to visit the library to borrow books and committee members found that sex offenders use the library 22 times more than mainstream criminals.

The report continues, “Although there is a timetable to suit both population of prisoners, elderly and/or disabled prisoners are aware they can spend all morning/afternoon in the library. Chess and Scrabble are now being played regularly in the library and Friday afternoon has been rescheduled to provide protection prisoners with additional time in the library.” The report also notes that while the prison provides ‘learning programmes’ through Motherwell College for all prisoners, they are most popular with sex offenders.

It states, “Protection prisoners generally have very good attendance and the 40 places in the morning sessions are nearly always full with long waiting lists. In contrast, the afternoon sessions for the mainstream population have poor attendance with about 25 places taken up out of 40 available. The issue of getting this population interested in education or training is an ongoing problem.” The Glenochil Visiting Committee monitors the prison and reports any issues to the prison governor and Scottish government.