2 days ago
Prison officers assaulted by inmates 'almost every day' in Scotland's jails
Scottish Prison Service data shows 350 officers were attacked during 2024-25 –the highest number in five years.
Shock figures reveal a prison officer was assaulted by an inmate almost every day while on duty in Scotland's increasingly violent jails.
Scottish Prison Service data shows 350 officers were attacked during 2024-25 –the highest number in five years – with critics claiming violence behind bars is spiralling out of control.
Data supplied under Freedom of Information shows 1543 officers were assaulted between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
There were 313 assaults in 2023-24, 261 in 2022-23, with 294 and 325 incidents in 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.
According to the Prison Officers' Association, jails are the 'most hostile and violent workplace of anywhere or any other occupation in the world'.
They warn overcrowding, drug abuse, bullying and organised crime gang activities inside Scotland's crisis-hit prison system are placing overworked staff under intolerable pressure.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said the 'damning' figures laid bare the 'brutal reality facing prison officers'.
He said: 'Violence has spiralled out of control as the Nationalists have relentlessly slashed budgets, leaving hardworking staff at the mercy of dangerous inmates.
Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'Under the SNP, Scotland's prisons are dangerously overcrowded and it is causing chaos.
'It's imperative the Scottish Government has a plan in place to give officers the resources they need to keep staff safe in a job that carries such risks.'
Scottish Lib Dem Justice spokesperson Liam McArthur insisted 'no one should go to work expecting to be assaulted'.
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He said: 'The government must ensure high safety standards are maintained across the entire prison sector. It's time for Justice Secretary Angela Constance to recognise a step change is necessary.'
A Scottish Government spokesman said attacks on prisoners and staff are 'completely unacceptable' and all incidents were reported to police.
They added: 'To continue to provide a safe and secure prison estate, we have increased investment in the Scottish Prison Service resource budget by 10 per cent to £481.5million in 2025-26.'
An SPS spokesperson said: 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to violence. We take consistent and robust action against those in our care who perpetrate violence and offer support to those affected, including staff.'
