A police custody centre was "often left insecure" and items that could have been used to help escape found lying around, it can be revealed.

A report by Scotland's inspector of constabulary discovered that items were left in the vehicle docking area at one of the centres in Glasgow which could have been used as a weapon or to help a suspect escape.

The report comes after inspections assessed the treatment of and conditions for those detained in police custody centres at Aikenhead Road in the city's south side and London Road in the east end.

The watchdog revealed that the main route from the custody centre on Aikenhead Road to the police station was "often left insecure" and the door to the custody area from the police vehicle area was often left open.

The HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) report read: "While the vehicle docking area at Aikenhead Road is a good size and ostensibly secure, we noted a few items lying around in the docking area which could be used as a weapon or to aid escape.

"These items have since been removed. We also noted that the door leading from the docking area to the custody centre was often left open.

"Similarly, the main route from the custody centre to the police station was often left insecure. We have previously commented on the need to maintain the security of the custody environment."

It was also pointed out that there is no separate area for vehicles taking detainees to and from custody at the London Road centre although "security was generally better" than at Aikenhead Road.

The way suspects were observed at both centres was also criticised in the report and it was pointed out that the time between checks on high risk prisoners was in some cases "particularly concerning".

The watchdog said: "At both custody centres, there appeared to be a reluctance to use either 15 or 30-minute observations.

"Instead there appeared to be an 'all or nothing' approach: detainees were either low risk and could be observed at the minimum 60-minute level; or detainees were high risk and required constant observation."

Inspectors also found examples of cases where constant observation had been used unnecessarily, and cases where detainees with risk factors were placed on 60-minute observations when 15 or 30 minutes would have been more appropriate.

The condition of the cells at Aikenhead Road also caused concern and the inspectors called for an "urgent deep clean" after visiting the custody centre. Blankets at the unit were "very poor" and Police Scotland have been told to replace them.

The HMICS report added: "The benches in all cells at both centres were low and therefore unsuitable for detainees with mobility problems.

"The cleaning arrangements were clearly not sufficient and walls and ceilings were stained with food and/or bodily fluids. Many cells were covered in graffiti and required repainting. Some floors were also in a poor state."

Staff at Aikenhead Road also told inspectors that during busier times, cells could be reused without being cleaned between detainees.

"Staff at London Road told us that cells would not be reused, and would simply be closed until cleaning staff attended," said the report.

"In other centres we have visited, custody staff will clean cells between uses if cleaning staff are not available.

"Custody staff at Aikenhead Road and London Road feel unable to do any cleaning themselves as they have not been trained, are concerned about cross-contamination and are unclear about the usual cleaning practices used by the contracted cleaning company."