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Scotsman
4 days ago
- Scotsman
FOI request reveals that violent incidents at HMP Edinburgh doubled from 2015 to 2025
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that violent incidents at HMP Edinburgh doubled from 2015 to 2025. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The FOI by Lothian List MSP Miles Briggs (Con), revealed that violent incidents at the former Saughton Prison increased by 97 per cent in the past 10 years, up from 142 incidents in 2016/17 to 261 in 2024/25. In the decade between, the number of violent incidents has fluctuated, rising to 202 in 2017/18, dropping to 174 the next year, before jumping up to 243 incidents in 2019/20. The figure stayed around 140 for the next three years before jumping to 210 in 2023/24 and the high of 261 in the last financial year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The average population of the prison grew over the same period from 875 to 925, while staff numbers grew by five per cent. The prison population at HMP Edinburgh stayed around 850-870 from 2015 until 2019 when it hit 914, before dropping to 860-880 until 2024 - when it shot up to 925. The number of violent incidents at HMP Edinburgh has almost doubled in the past 10 years. | Neil Hanna While staff numbers there jumped from 453 in 2015/16 to 478 for the next two financial years, before dropping into the new decade. Staff numbers reached a high for the past 10 years of 479 in 2020/21, dropped to just 442 in 2022/23 at the end of the pandemic, before rising again to 467 in 2023/24, and dropping slightly in the past financial year to 464. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Miles Briggs MSP said: 'The increase in the number of violent incidents at HMP Edinburgh in the last decade is shocking, and it reflects a trend of rising violence in our prison estate. 'I worry both for hardworking prison staff members, and vulnerable inmates who are trying to serve their time responsibly. 'It is clear that action needs to be taken to also address increasing levels of drugs and weapons getting into the prison estate and the rapidly changing nature of how these incidents can occur, including with the use of drones. 'SNP Ministers must back prison officers to get tough on rule breakers and start building prisons on-time and on-budget to take pressure off our struggling justice system.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: 'We have been managing an extremely high and complex population for more than a year, which continues to place significant pressure on our staff and the time available to them to do the important work in supporting people, building relationships, and aiding rehabilitation. 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to violence and support individuals who have been affected by it. Incidents of criminality are reported to Police Scotland.'
Daily Record
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Isla Bryson demands to be moved back to female jail after slamming court ruling
Despite the sex offender admitting that life in male jails has meant being able to forge romantic relationships with male prisoners, Bryson says a challenge of the legal ruling could see a move from the male estate. Isla Bryson has slammed a court ruling on biological sex and demanded to be moved back to a female prison. The convicted double rapist, born Adam Graham, began to identify as a woman called Isla while awaiting trial for rape. The case caused political waves after the rapist was sent to female jail Cornton Vale before then FM Nicola Sturgeon announced a switch to all-male HMP Edinburgh and later HMP Glenochil. In April, the Supreme Court ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law and the Scottish Government is facing calls to move all biological men out of women's jails. The decision came after feminist group For Women Scotland (FWS) challenged the Scottish Government's 2018 ruling that transgender women could be included as female in laws requiring 50/50 representation on public boards. Bryson backs plans by Victoria McCloud, the UK's only judge to ever publicly say they are transgender, to challenge the government at the European Court of Human Rights over the ruling and plans her own appeal there. Despite the sex offender admitting last week that life in male jails has meant being able to forge romantic relationships with male prisoners, Bryson says a challenge of the legal ruling could see a move from the male estate. Speaking to the Sunday Mail in a phone call from jail, Bryson said: 'No matter what you think or how you look at it, trans women will always be women. "Even if you don't agree with it, then that's your opinion. We are not going to go away. Sooner or later judges will have to put trans women back in women's prisons because if they don't, trans women have the right to take it to the European court and they will. 'If they win and the courts say women have to go to women's prisons, I will probably get moved to a women's prison.' After the outcry over Bryson, trans prisoners faced a move to male jails but prison chiefs opted to let them stay if they had not shown violence to women. However, Alba MSP Ash Regan said: 'The perversity of a double rapist demanding access to women's prisons sums up why we must end this dangerous experiment of gender ideology eroding sex-based rights – male entitlement masquerading as rights must never be at the expense of women's safety, dignity and consent. 'Eight weeks after the Supreme Court ruling, ministers dither while lobbyists stoke the mis-information they helped create. 'Now even Isla Bryson/Adam Graham – the double rapist who shocked the nation – joins a small but vocal chorus in demanding the law be overturned to allow him access to a woman's jail. 'If this is not the wake-up call needed for John Swinney's government, then a third first minister may be sacrificed on the altar of gender ideology.' Scottish Tory shadow minister for victims Sharon Dowey said: 'These abhorrent comments from a double rapist will anger Scots. Not only is this call deeply insulting to his victims, it also highlights how the SNP's gender self-ID policy has become so embedded in Scotland's justice system.' FWS's Susan Smith said: 'For all the activists and politicians who've been trying to undermine the Supreme Court ruling and claim this about walking groups and toilets, this intervention from a notorious double rapist highlights it is vulnerable women whose safety would be threatened by any challenge or change to the law.' The Scottish Prison Service said it had received the Supreme Court ruling and is 'considering any potential impact it may have'. The Scottish Government said it 'has been clear that we accept the Supreme Court judgement'.
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Trans rapist Isla Bryson ‘boasts about bedding fellow con and reveals twisted six month relationship'
It's not the first time the sex beast has formed a relationship behind bars SICK HOOK-UP Trans rapist Isla Bryson 'boasts about bedding fellow con and reveals twisted six month relationship' TRANS double rapist Isla Bryson has reportedly boasted about bedding a fellow sex fiend behind bars. The sicko, born Adam Graham, also made a twisted revelation about a six-month hookup at HMP Edinburgh. 4 Trans rapist Isla Bryson wears a blonde wig and pink women's clothes Credit: Alamy 4 The fiend was caged over a double rape he committed as a man Credit: PA 4 The sicko is banged up on a male landing at HMP Edinburgh Credit: Alamy In a vile phone call - obtained by the Daily Record - the monster said: "Can I be honest, I am glad I'm in a male jail and do you know why? 'Because if I was in a female jail I'd never be able to have relationships or meet guys." Referring to his relationship with a fellow lag, Bryson added: 'I met him in the jail. "I was with him for six months and then he got moved. 'I was sleeping with him for six months. And basically he got moved." It's understood that Bryson's lover is doing time for child sex abuse and drug offences. The pervert was caged for eight years in 2023 over a double rape he committed as a man named Adam Graham. The beast was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after having been found guilty of sex attacks on two vulnerable mums. Bryson was handed an 11 years extended sentence, eight of which will be spent in custody and then an extension of three years on licence when he is released. Judge Lord Scott told Bryson: "Your vulnerability is no excuse for what you did to these two women." Listen as double rapist Isla Bryson hits out at Nicola Sturgeon over trans rights and claims she's worried most about children After being found guilty of rape, Bryson was sent to HMP Cornton Vale, a women's prison on the outskirts of Stirling. The move sparked backlash over safety fears and Bryson was eventually moved to HMP Edinburgh. The scandal came after the Scottish Government's controversial Gender Reform Bill passed in the Scottish Parliament. We previously revealed that Bryson hooked up in jail with a drug-dealing paedo. 4 Bryson has reportedly boasted about sleeping with fellow sex beast Credit: Les Gallagher Sources said the fiend and fellow beast wing, Jason King, have struck up a relationship. The pair have been dubbed 'beastie partners' by other cons. Sex offender restrictions mean they aren't allowed visitors to their cell — so instead they meet up in the nick's communal areas to 'touch each other'. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: "We don't comment on individuals."
Daily Record
14-06-2025
- Daily Record
Listen as Tans rapist Isla Bryson boasts about bagging men behind bars in prison call
Scotland's most controversial prisoner has admitted life in male estates has meant the rapist has been able to forge romantic relationships with male prisoners. Trans rapist Isla Bryson can be heard boasting about bagging men behind bars in a shocking phone call made from prison. The sex fiend told of the relationships after being moved from a female jail to the male estate. Scotland's most controversial prisoner admitted life in male prisons has meant the rapist has been able to forge romantic connections with male inmates. In the first ever recorded telephone call from jail this week, Bryson vowed to continue living as a woman and claimed of 'meeting men' and admitted striking up a relationship with a fellow prisoner, who was jailed for child sex abuse and drug offences. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. 'I've always been like this Can I be honest, I am glad I'm in a male jail and do you know why? 'Because if I was in a female jail I'd never be able to have relationships or meet guys. 'Do you know what I mean?' Bryson, born Adam Graham, began to identify as a woman called Isla while awaiting trial for rape. Bryson's case caused public and political outrage after the rapist was sent to female jail Cornton Vale before Nicola Sturgeon, then first minister, announced a switch to all-male HMP Edinburgh. The double rapist, who was jailed for eight years, with a further three on licence in February 2023, was later moved to HMP Glenochil. Referring to his relationship with the other con, Bryson said: 'I met him in the jail and I was with him for six months and then he got moved. 'I was sleeping with him for six months. And basically he got moved 'Obviously it was all consensual.' In April, Britain's Supreme Court ruled that only two biological sexes - male and female, assigned at birth - can be recognised under the 2010 Equality Act. The decision is likely to have far reaching repercussions and has raised questions over whether trans prisoners should be housed in all-female jails. Bryson, 33, was convicted in January 2023 of raping woman in Clydebank and Drumchapel, while known as Graham. A spokesperson for The Scottish Prison Service said: 'We don't comment on individuals. 'We have received the Supreme Court's judgement and are considering any potential impact it may have."
Scotsman
10-06-2025
- Scotsman
Man once branded 'Scotland's most dangerous teen' back in court after being caught with blade
A knife thug once branded 'Scotland's most dangerous teen' has appeared back in court after he was caught with a blade and a phone in his prison cell. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Darren Cornelius, 35, was found to have the knife and the mobile device hidden in his cell during a routine search at HMP Edinburgh on October 7 last year. Cornelius pleaded guilty to possessing the phone and knife at a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year and was due to appear for sentencing on Wednesday, April 16. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But the con failed to appear after it emerged he had been the victim of a prison attack that is believed to be linked to the recent gangland war that has erupted in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Darren Cornelius appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Cour | PA Cornelius did appear in the dock on Tuesday where he was handed an 80 day custodial jail term by Sheriff John Cook that will run consecutively to his current sentence. Cornelius was first caged aged just 11 when he was sent to a young offenders institution for stabbing a nine-year-old schoolgirl in Edinburgh in 2000. He abducted the girl from her grandmother's house before stabbing her eight times - narrowly missing the artery in her throat - and then left her for dead near the city's Fountain Park leisure complex. He avoided an attempted murder conviction due to his low mental age but was ordered to spend 17 months in secure accommodation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cornelius was then handed a life term for a random knife attack in the capital's Bruntsfield in 2007 and had 10 years added for slashing gangland hitman Marcelo Pacitti at HMP Edinburgh in 2018. Pacitti was convicted in August 2007 at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering George Walker, who had a role in the Ken Loach directed movie Sweet Sixteen. Pacitti shot Mr Walker as he sat in his home in August 2006. He was with his father, also called George, who was believed to have been the intended target of the killing. Cornelius was subsequently sentenced to a further 16 months for a blade attack on two prison warders at HMP Shotts, Lanarkshire, in 2022.
