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Daily Record
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scotland's jails at 'breaking point' as prison officers demand urgent action on overcrowding
Scotland's jails are at 'breaking point' as prison officers today demand urgent action on 'dangerous' levels of overcrowding. A damning new report from the prison warder's union has laid bare staff fears after jail numbers reached record levels. Almost all prison officers (over 95%) say rising prisoner numbers make our jails more dangerous - while more than 80% say their prison can no longer cope. Scotland has one of the highest incarceration rates in Europe, with 8,110 people behind bars in the prison estate this week. Phil Fairlie, Assistant Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has around 4,000 members across the country, said: 'This report is the clearest evidence from our members on the frontline that Scotland's prisons are at breaking point. 'It is POA members who are expected to work in this pressure cooker atmosphere every single day. They are doing a remarkable job in incredibly challenging circumstances, but without the correct support and additional staffing something has to give, they are not superhuman and it will take its toll eventually. 'The Prison Officers' Association will be sending a copy of this report to every MSP, MP, The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service. We are urging those in positions of power and influence to listen to our members and take immediate action to end the overcrowding crisis.' Hundreds of Scottish prisoners were released early in recent months in a bid to ease the pressure on packed jails after the population hit a peak of 8,361 in May last year. The problem has been linked to longer sentences being imposed by the courts, a rise in domestic abuse and sex crimes and convictions for historic sexual abuse. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill was passed under emergency procedures last year, allowing short-term inmates serving less than four years were set free after serving 40% of their sentence as opposed to the previous 50%. But the POA report, which surveyed more than 500 prison officers, shows more than 68% of staff think current levels of overcrowding are the worst they have seen in their career. When asked about the steps being taken to accommodate increasing prisoner numbers, more than 55% of prison officers said prisoners not ready for release are being freed early. More than 91% said overcrowding increases tensions in Scotland's prisons, leaving prisoners locked up in their cells for longer and reducing prisoner access to exercise and fresh air. They said it provided fewer opportunities to engage in education or rehabilitation projects, while stoking rising levels of substance misuse and resulting in more incidents of violence against staff and prisoners. More than 86% of warders said the prisoner levels were contributing to rising sickness absence levels in staff and more than 94% said it current conditions meant they would be unable to work until their normal pension age of 68. In February, the Governor of Scotland's biggest jail, Barlinnie admitted he would 'struggle' to survive life inside the overcrowded prison he manages, describing it as a 'pressure cooker'. In April, inspectors described parts of the prison as being in a 'wretchedly poor state' while operating at 30% over capacity. HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) 'strongly urged' the Scottish government to tackle overcrowding as a priority. The Scottish government has committed to building a new prison to replace Barlinnie on the outskirts of the city. It is due to be completed in 2028 at a cost nearly near £1bn. One unnamed prison officer said: "Too many prisoners are caught in a revolving door. They're out one week and back the next. "Prison has become a warehousing business where slogans about changing lives are ironic because the horrors caused by conditions of overcrowding do change lives - for the worse.' POA chiefs were set to hold crunch talks with MSPs on the report at a meeting at the Scottish Parliament today. Mr Fairlie said: 'We need urgent action to address the overcrowding crisis and we welcome the Prisoner Early Release Bill as an early step. But until these measures are having a meaningful long term impact, we need more staff, an improved estate, and a recognition that our Prison Officers are not superhuman and able to work under such conditions until they are almost 70.' A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman said: 'Our staff are our greatest asset. Every day, prison officers do outstanding work in the most challenging circumstances, and it is crucial that their voice is heard. 'This important report demonstrates the risk they face from a rising and complex prison population, the impact this has on their health and wellbeing and on their ability to do their jobs effectively. 'We need to see a reduction in our population, so that our staff can fully support people in our care, to reduce their risk of reoffending, and help build the safer communities we all want to see.' Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Like the rest of the UK, Scotland's prison population has risen significantly in recent times and has become increasingly complex. We have taken a number of actions to address this and to support the dedicated staff who do outstanding work in our prisons day in, day out. I am grateful for their commitment and dedication. 'We continue to work with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and wider justice system to manage the prison population and have increased investment to the SPS resource budget by 10% to £481.5 million in 2025/26.'
Sky News
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Hundreds of prisoners in Scotland to be freed early from next month to ease overcrowding
Why you can trust Sky News Hundreds of prisoners in Scotland will be released early over the next two months as part of new legislation to ease pressure on the country's prisons. Short-term inmates serving less than four years are to be set free after serving 40% of their sentence as opposed to the previous 50%. The change - which comes into force from 11 February - will also apply to prisoners sentenced from that point on. However, the new law will not apply to those in jail for domestic abuse or sexual offences. The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish parliament in November in a bid to ease overcrowding across the nation's prison estate. In the long term, the Scottish government said the change could result in a sustained reduction of about 5% to the sentenced prison population. An estimated 260 to 390 inmates are expected to be eligible for immediate release, with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) managing the liberations in three tranches over six weeks. • Tranche one: 18-20 February • Tranche two: 4-6 March • Tranche three: 18-20 March According to the latest SPS data, Scotland's prison population was 8,223 on 24 January - above the target operating capacity of 8,007. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: "The prison population has significantly grown in recent years and I recognise that the impact is being felt in prisons and across the justice system. "While not a complete solution, this act will bring sustained reduction to prisoner numbers so the prison estate can continue to function effectively. "We need the prison system to focus on those who pose the greatest risk to the public and provide a range of support to help reduce reoffending and integration back into the community. "That is why this act is backed by both the Prison Officers' Association and the Prison Governors' Association." The victim notification scheme (VNS) remains unchanged. Those who have signed up to the scheme will be informed automatically by the SPS if there is a change to the release date of the prisoner in their case. Victims who are not signed up can contact the SPS directly for the information. They can also nominate Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland, ASSIST or Children First to receive the information on their behalf. Information on the number of prisoners set free at each tranche and how many victims notified will be published within two months of the initial release. Ms Constance added: "I absolutely recognise that the release of prisoners can be distressing for victims of crime and that changing the release point for short-term prisoners has the potential to raise questions and cause concern. "That is why we will continue to work closely with victim support organisations to ensure that accessible information is available to victims on the change to the release point for short-term prisoners." A total of 477 inmates were let out early in four tranches last summer as part of efforts to ease overcrowding, with 57 returning to prison within weeks after reportedly committing further crimes. The Scottish Conservatives branded the early release scheme as "reckless" and a "shameful betrayal of victims". Liam Kerr MSP, the party's shadow cabinet secretary for justice, added: "SNP ministers railroaded these plans through parliament without a second thought about the risks it would pose to public safety. "They are displaying a stunning lack of common sense, given the public expect prisoners to serve their sentences in full. "This is a crisis of the SNP's own making due to their catastrophic failure to invest in Scotland's prison estate over the last 18 years. "It is disgraceful that their only solution is yet another mass release of criminals, many of whom will undoubtedly go on offend again."
