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BBC Scotland’s home affairs correspondent, David Cowan, reported on the challenges facing Scottish prison staff due to the increased violence among inmates with ties to serious organised crime groups (SOCGs). The jailing of numerous Scottish gangsters has resulted in a surge in attacks, prompting more inmates to be held in segregation than ever before. This rise in violence has put a considerable strain on prison staff, as they navigate a complex web of feuds and rivalries between criminal factions within overcrowded facilities.
According to the Scottish Prison Service, the recent gangland feud in central Scotland has exacerbated tensions in prisons, with staff facing threats and intimidation from gang-affiliated criminals. This situation has raised concerns about the safety of both inmates and prison officers, as the number of inmates with strong SOCG associations continues to grow. The recent increase in gangland violence, including the murders of two senior Scottish figures in Spain, has further intensified the pressure on the prison system.
The governor of HMP Shotts, Gillian Walker, highlighted the daily challenges faced by staff in managing prisoners linked to serious organised crime. With a significant number of inmates serving life for murder, HMP Shotts deals exclusively with individuals on sentences of four years or more. The escalating tensions within the prison system are evident, as violent incidents have risen from 95 to 135 per month this year, with some incidents directly related to organised crime rivalry. Close collaboration with the police is essential for the Scottish Prison Service in determining how best to handle prisoners with gang connections.
The chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, Teresa Medhurst, emphasized the impact of overcrowding on the prison system, as hundreds of short-term inmates have been released early to alleviate some of the pressure. Prison staff are facing an increasing number of challenges, including keeping rival factions separated and combatting the influx of illegal items smuggled into prisons using drones. The rise of drone incidents delivering drugs, weapons, and mobile phones into jails has further complicated the already difficult task of maintaining order and safety within Scotland’s prison facilities
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