Young offenders at Polmont are kept in their cells for long periods due to staff fears over violence and disorder, it has emerged.

Prison staff at all levels at the young offenders institution believe that opportunities for the youths held there to interact with each other were limited because of "the fear of interpersonal violence", according to an inspection.

A report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, David Strang, into Polmont found that because of this view, "extended periods" in their cells was needed to keep "good order and discipline" among detainees.

However, it was also pointed out that "much progress" has been made at the institution over the last few years in terms of the physical environment and the "nature of interventions available".

Mr Strang found in his report, published on Wednesday, that the challenge for Polmont is to create an environment that encourages young men to take on the opportunities available to them.

He added that staff need to be engaged in changes taking place at Polmont and pointed out that higher that average sickness absence "add pressures to the workforce as a whole".

A "disproportionate" focus on control and order was at the expense of opportunities to socialise and as a result may affect the "ambition" of the detainees to turn their lives around, it was found.

The staff fears over violence and disorder also had a negative effect on recreation time and communal dining.

Mr Strang states in his report: "Whilst the interactions witnessed were professional and respectful this must be counterpointed with the limited time that the young men were permitted to be out of their cells.

"It was surprising that during conversations with SPS staff, at all levels, the majority held view was that social interaction opportunities were limited because of the fear of interpersonal violence, therefore extended periods of confinement to their cells was required in order to maintain good order and discipline.

"We found a widespread belief among staff at all levels throughout HMYOI Polmont that the young men could not be trusted to behave responsibly. This led to a mind‑set that high levels of control needed to be exercised over them.

"Security, safety, and order are, of course, very important. But a disproportionate emphasis on control at the expense of opportunities to socialise and demonstrate constructive behaviour may well undermine the ambition to enable young men to prepare for a positive future.

"We noted that an apparent overemphasis on security had an adverse impact on decisions about recreation, time in the fresh air and communal dining, all of which were restricted by a fear or expectation that too many young men together would result in disorder or assaults.

"I would like to see the balance between these two elements redressed in a way that would encourage engagement and responsibility.

"Without in any way compromising security and safety,HMYOI Polmont should seek to encourage the whole population to participate actively in more activities outwith their cells."