Mystery surrounds shock resignation of Inverness prison governor

By ALISTAIR MUNRO
Published on 07/12/2012 16:07

THE governor of Porterfield Prison in Inverness has left his post amid massive speculation.

Angus MacVicar, 62, has been in the prison service since 1977 and had taken over at the high security prison in the Highland capital in 2010.

The Scottish Prison Service declined to elaborate on the reasons for his departure but confirmed he had resigned his position.

A spokesman insisted there were no formal complaints against Mr MacVicar being investigated, despite rumours of alleged inappropriate behaviour.

He added: “Mr MacVicar is no longer with the Scottish Prison Service having recently tendered his resignation.

“The Deputy Governor, Gordon Morrice, has taken over the role of Governor on a temporary basis.”

The spokesman said that while Mr MacVicar was due to retire until 2014, he was “of pensionable age” and was quite entitled to resign when he did.

Deputy governor Morrice has taken over at the jail in the city’s Duffy Drive, in the Crown area, until a replacement is appointed.

No-one else has departed the prison.

There has also been no suggestion of any criminal activity in relation to the resignation.

Mr MacVicar was previously involved in the redevelopment of Glenochil prison, in Clackmannanshire, and had experience as a governor in Shotts Unit — a subsection of the main Shotts prison in Lanarkshire designed specifically for housing difficult and disruptive prisoners.

Porterfield — highlighted by the chief inspector of prisons as overcrowded and lacking decent living conditions — houses around 120 prisoners, although it was designed to accommodate just 104.

It is expected the post, described as a “plum role”, will be advertised next month.