Scotland’s largest prison, HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow, has been deemed in a state of dire overcrowding by inspectors. The HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) has strongly urged the Scottish government to address the issue of overcrowding as the prison operates at 30% over capacity. Originally designed for 987 prisoners, the 143-year-old jail now houses nearly 1,400 inmates.
A recent week-long inspection by HMIPS revealed that around two-thirds of prisoners at Barlinnie were forced to share cells meant for only one person. This overcrowding could potentially explain why a pre-inspection survey highlighted a high number of prisoners complaining about the behavior of staff, with over half of them reporting witnessing staff mistreating another prisoner.
To cope with the overcrowding issue, legislation was passed in November 2024 stipulating that prisoners sentenced to less than four years will be released after serving 40% of their sentence. HMIPS emphasized the urgent need for a new prison as overcrowding hampers access to basic entitlements and strains staff relationships. Although inspectors did not observe any unacceptable behavior directly, the alarming survey results suggest a serious cause for concern.
Governor Michael Stoney of Barlinnie expressed satisfaction with the professionalism of the prison staff and highlighted the positive relationships they maintain with the prisoners. He refuted claims of abusive behavior by staff, attributing any complaints to the strict anti-drug measures in place at the prison. Despite the challenges posed by the outdated infrastructure, Stoney emphasized the dedication of the staff to making the best out of the situation
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