Prison violence 'out-of-control' as 250 staff assaulted in Scotland every year

The SNP is being accused of letting prison violence “spiral out of control”, after figures show staff are subjected to more than 250 assaults from inmates every single year.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show there have been 2,562 prisoner-on-staff assaults over the past decade.

At HMP Barlinnie alone, there have been nearly 3,000 assaults recorded since 2015/16. This includes 2,601 by one prisoner against another, and 365 incidents against a member of staff.

Hundreds of assaults have been recorded at HMP Barlinnie alone. | Danny Lawson/Press Association.

This means 12 per cent of all assaults at HMP Barlinnie, the biggest prison in Scotland, were against prison staff. Assaults peaked in 2019/20 and doubled between 2015/16 and 2018/19.

The Scottish Conservatives now say the Scottish Government needs to take a different approach to tackling prison violence, or risk experienced staff quitting their jobs and stretching resources even further.

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Liam Kerr, the Scottish Conservatives’ justice spokesman, said: “The SNP have let violence against prison staff spiral out-of-control. Cuts from the SNP mean hard-working prison officers have been left at the mercy of violence and threats from inmates.

“SNP ministers need to take a different approach, which should include a new plan to tackle prison violence.

“Resources should be clearly targeted so that staff get the extra support they desperately need.

Liam Kerr MSP.

“Otherwise, there is a real risk that many more experienced staff may choose to leave the prison service and leave them even more overstretched. Instead of short-changing our justice system, the SNP must finally prioritise the safety of our prison staff.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Any attacks on prison staff or other prisoners is completely unacceptable and all incidents involving alleged criminality are reported to Police Scotland.

“Everyone should be able to live and work safely in prisons. We are investing a total of £881.1 million in our prisons to support frontline staff and progress improvements in the prison estate in 2025/26.

“This will help to meet costs linked to the rising population and enable the Scottish Prison Service to continue to deliver a safe and secure prison system.”