Images reveal extent of damage after Scotland's 'worst prison disorder in a decade'

The worst prison disorder seen in Scotland in a decade erupted at a young offenders institution last month, the Scottish Prison Service has said.

The incident, which involved around 30 inmates at HMP & YOI Polmont, required additional officers from four other jails to help restore order.

Linda Pollock, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), told BBC News it was an example of “bubbling tension” caused by overcrowding at the facility.

SPS

On September 26, officers battled inmates armed with “homemade weapons”, resulting in several officers suffering minor injuries and the facility being locked down.

Now, images released by SPS has revealed the extent of the destruction within YOI Polmont, including broken furniture, glass strewn across the floor, and panelling torn from the walls and ceilings.

A large amount of debris also littered several communal areas of the prison.

Pollock said the riot was “not unexpected” given the rising pressure facing prisons due to the sharp increase in the number of people held in custody.

Scotland

Scotland’s prison population could rise by nearly 1,000 inmates by next summer

Figures released by the Scottish Government show that the prison population could reach 9,450 by June 2027

The images were released as it was revealed Scotland’s prison population could rise by nearly 1,000 inmates by next summer.

Scottish Government projections released on Thursday suggest the prison population could reach a high of 9,450 by June 2027. The current design capacity of the prison estate is 7,805.

“We did have disorder in Polmont, there was destruction there and we had to take control of the situation,” Pollock said.

SPS

“People in custody are becoming frustrated by the overcrowding conditions, the impact that has for them and restricting the opportunities they have for rehabilitation.

“We are seeing bubbling tension across the estate. We pushed our prisons to the brink and now we are at the brink and action needs to be taken.”

SPS

Police Scotland is continuing to investigate the riot at YOI Polmont.

SPS is preparing to overhaul several prisons across the country, with construction under way on HMP Highland costing over £200m and HMP Glasgow costing £1bn.

The new prison expected to open in 2028 will replace the ageing Barlinnie facility, which was hit with water issues earlier this month.

The issues continued for around a week, with intermittent periods where inmates had little access to running water.

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