Calls for kettle ban for high-risk prisoners after boiling water attacks on officers

Calls have been made to ban high-risk prisoners from having access to kettles following a spate of boiling water attacks on prison officers.

Eight incidents of boiling water being used to attack prison officers were reported last year, according to a Freedom of Information request.

There were three incidents in HMP Barlinnie, two in HMP & YOI Polmont, and one each in HMP Edinburgh, HMP Glenochil, and HMP Low Moss.

All prisoners, including those designated as high-risk and requiring a high degree of supervision, currently have access to kettles.

The Scottish Conservatives have described the figures as “alarming and unacceptable” and urged SNP ministers to act now to protect staff and inmates.

Shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr MSP called for a review into the safeguards in place that allow other prisoners access to kettles.

He said: “Given the number of boiling water attacks on prison officers in the past year alone, it’s simply common sense that high-risk prisoners should not have access to kettles.

“There is also a clear need for an urgent review on whether all other prisoners should have access to kettles given the clear risk they pose to prison staff and fellow inmates.

“These alarming and unacceptable figures must act as a wake-up call to the SNP government.

“Ministers have a duty of care to brave and dedicated prison officers – and that means acting now to reduce the chances of future, potentially catastrophic, attacks involving boiling water.”

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “While people in our care do have access to kettles, these are removed if considered a risk to the individual or others.”