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Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Data shows prison officer assaults are a daily occurrence
Figures have revealed that one prison officer almost every day was assaulted by an inmate while on duty in Scotland's increasingly violent jails. Scottish Prison Service (SPS) data shows 350 officers were attacked during 2024/25 – the highest number in five years – with critics claiming violence behind bars is spiralling out of control. Data supplied under Freedom of Information shows 1,543 officers were victims of assault between 2020/21 and 2024/25. There were 313 assaults in 2023/24, 261 in 2022/23, with 294 and 325 incidents in 2020/21 and 2021/22 respectively. According to the Prison Officers' Association, jails are the 'most hostile and violent workplace of anywhere or any other occupation in the world'. They warn overcrowding, drug abuse, bullying and organised crime gang activities inside Scotland's crisis-hit prison system are placing overworked staff under intolerable pressure. Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr MSP said the 'damning' figures laid bare the 'brutal reality facing prison officers'. He said: 'Violence has spiralled out of control as the Nationalists have relentlessly slashed budgets, leaving hardworking staff at the mercy of dangerous inmates. 'Resources should be clearly targeted so that prison officers get the extra support they desperately need or else ministers run the risk of experienced staff quitting the SPS. 'Instead of continually betraying those working in our justice system, the SNP must start prioritising their safety.' Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said the 'appalling figures' show violence is on the rise in Scotland's prisons and staff are being put in danger. She said: 'Under the SNP, Scotland's prisons are dangerously overcrowded and it is causing chaos. 'It's imperative that the Scottish Government has a plan in place to give prison officers the resources they need to keep staff safe in a job that carries such risks. 'If we can learn anything from other jurisdictions such as England and Wales we should and with some urgency. 'The SNP must wake up to this growing crisis and work with the Scottish Prison Service to keep staff and prisons safe.' Scottish Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP insisted 'no one should go to work expecting to be assaulted'. He said: 'Huge numbers of people, many of whom have complex problems, are being sent to a place proven to worsen their likelihood of reoffending. 'In turn, overworked prison staff are finding themselves with less time to work with individuals to help improve their prospects and are increasingly encountering unsafe situations. 'Prisons can be a pressure cooker but the government must ensure that high safety standards are maintained across the entire prison sector. 'It's time for the Justice Secretary to recognise that a step change is necessary. It's crucial we strike a balance between punishing, rehabilitating and supporting — that is how we will reduce reoffending and make communities safer.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said attacks on prisoners and prison staff are 'completely unacceptable' and all incidents were reported to Police Scotland. They added: 'To continue to provide a safe and secure prison estate, we have increased investment in the Scottish Prison Service resource budget by 10% to £481.5million in 2025/26.' An SPS spokesperson said: 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to violence. 'We take consistent and robust action against those in our care who perpetrate violence and offer support to those affected by it, including our staff.' Photo by Donald Tong on Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Huge compensation sum paid to seven wrongfully jailed Scots prisoners revealed
Payouts are granted when new evidence shows 'beyond reasonable doubt' inmates were wrongly convicted Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MORE than £3million has been paid out to wrongfully jailed prisoners, we can reveal. Figures show the compensation cash was handed to seven lags released due to miscarriages of justice in the last decade. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 More than £3million was paid out to seven lags who were wrongfully imprisoned Credit: Alamy Some £1.2million was split by five innocent cons between 2015 and 2020 while another two have shared £1.99million in the last five years. Payouts are granted when new evidence shows 'beyond reasonable doubt' inmates were wrongly convicted — or there was a 'serious default' or error by cops or authorities. Scottish Labour warned Nats ministers' 'neglect' of the system could lead to taxpayers stumping up for more payouts. Justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said: 'One case of wrongful imprisonment is too many and every effort must be made to prevent these miscarriages of justice occurring. 'That is why it is extremely important to closely scrutinise any changes to the criminal justice system to ensure they do not risk creating miscarriages of justice.' She added: 'There is a real risk that the pressure on our justice system caused by SNP neglect and the dwindling number of defence lawyers could contribute to this problem. 'First and foremost, we must try to prevent miscarriages of justice because of the human cost, but there are also millions being taken from frontline services to pay for these appalling mistakes.' Scotland's most famous miscarriages of justice include Patrick Meehan who received a royal pardon after being wrongfully convicted of the 1969 murder of Rachael Ross in Ayr. In 1973, Stuart Gair was wrongfully jailed for the murder of Margaret McLaughlin in Carluke. And Joe Steele spent 18 years in jail for the Ice Cream War murders after being wrongly convicted of starting a fire which killed six members of the Doyle family in 1984. First convicts leave Barlinnie after Scottish Government release 360 prisoners early due to overcrowding Ministers across the UK have also been forced to apologise for the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of Post Office subpostmasters - some of whom served jail sentences.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Prison officers assaulted by inmates 'almost every day' in Scotland's jails
Scottish Prison Service data shows 350 officers were attacked during 2024-25 –the highest number in five years. Shock figures reveal a prison officer was assaulted by an inmate almost every day while on duty in Scotland's increasingly violent jails. Scottish Prison Service data shows 350 officers were attacked during 2024-25 –the highest number in five years – with critics claiming violence behind bars is spiralling out of control. Data supplied under Freedom of Information shows 1543 officers were assaulted between 2020-21 and 2024-25. There were 313 assaults in 2023-24, 261 in 2022-23, with 294 and 325 incidents in 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. According to the Prison Officers' Association, jails are the 'most hostile and violent workplace of anywhere or any other occupation in the world'. They warn overcrowding, drug abuse, bullying and organised crime gang activities inside Scotland's crisis-hit prison system are placing overworked staff under intolerable pressure. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said the 'damning' figures laid bare the 'brutal reality facing prison officers'. He said: 'Violence has spiralled out of control as the Nationalists have relentlessly slashed budgets, leaving hardworking staff at the mercy of dangerous inmates. Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'Under the SNP, Scotland's prisons are dangerously overcrowded and it is causing chaos. 'It's imperative the Scottish Government has a plan in place to give officers the resources they need to keep staff safe in a job that carries such risks.' Scottish Lib Dem Justice spokesperson Liam McArthur insisted 'no one should go to work expecting to be assaulted'. 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'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He said: 'The government must ensure high safety standards are maintained across the entire prison sector. It's time for Justice Secretary Angela Constance to recognise a step change is necessary.' A Scottish Government spokesman said attacks on prisoners and staff are 'completely unacceptable' and all incidents were reported to police. They added: 'To continue to provide a safe and secure prison estate, we have increased investment in the Scottish Prison Service resource budget by 10 per cent to £481.5million in 2025-26.' An SPS spokesperson said: 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to violence. We take consistent and robust action against those in our care who perpetrate violence and offer support to those affected, including staff.'
Scotsman
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Drivers crawling through long-running M8 roadworks face further delay
Restrictions due to work on the Woodside viaducts in Glasgow are expected to continue to 2027 Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... Long-running roadworks which have already slowed motorway traffic through Glasgow to a crawl for four years may not now be completed until 2027, The Scotsman has learned. Complex repairs to the Woodside viaducts on the M8 just north of the city centre have been extended multiple times, first to 2023, then 2024 and are now officially due to be finished next year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The outer two lanes of the Woodside viaduct have been closed for safety since March. | Amey However, a roads industry source said this may be further pushed back to early 2027, meaning that 150,000 drivers a day will be restricted to two lanes in each direction rather than the normal four along with a 40mph limit for a total of six years. The project to prop up the 55-year-old viaducts' supports while they are refurbished has taken longer than planned because some sections of the structure are in a much worse condition than expected, which led to the outer lanes being closed. The scheme which is estimated to cost £126-152 million has been made more complex by the proximity of Glasgow Subway tunnels. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Underground gas, water and electric cables and pipes have been found that were not shown on plans. The Scottish Government's Transport Scotland agency, which is in charge of the upgrade, has said the impact of a 'large number of previously identified risks' on the completion date was being assessed. The Automobile Association motoring group said the work was taking too long and must be accelerated. AA president Edmund King said: 'The M8 is an essential link, not only to Glasgow but the whole of Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Whilst we understand the Woodside viaducts work is essential, the road is also essential to 150,000 vehicles per day. 'The repairs must be given greater priority as the delays and congestion will be costing millions of pounds and greatly inconveniencing drivers. 'Surely with the advances in engineering, the works should not be taking this long.' Glasgow Labour MSP Pauline McNeill, who is due to raise the issue in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, said: 'This is a complex project and the work is impressive but we must have clarity on whether this is on track - motorists have seen delays as part of their daily commute since 2021. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I hope Transport Secretary [Fiona Hyslop] will ensure the Scottish Government is pulling out the stops to prevent further delay.' A Transport Scotland spokesperson told The Scotsman: 'Due to the level of complexity of the Woodside viaducts, a cost range and indicative completion dates were published in May 2024. 'Transport Scotland and Amey [which maintains the road] continue to work to deliver the project as safely and as quickly as possible whilst aiming to minimise disruption and motorway restrictions and ensure the safety of the travelling public. 'A large number of previously identified risks, such as delays with piling around the Subway tunnel and uncharted obstructions have been more clearly understood recently. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Transport Scotland and Amey are considering the complexity of these issues and the impact they may have on completion dates and cost of the project. 'Once certainty of any changes to the project timeline and cost range are known, we will notify the public at the earliest opportunity.
Scotsman
03-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh schoolboy, 10, caught carrying knife and 12-year-olds found with blades
Police officers catch a child carrying a knife every four days in Scotland using stop-and-search powers, according to new analysis by 1919. Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. 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... Official Police Scotland statistics show there were 91 instances of under-18s being found in possession of a bladed or pointed weapon in 2024 – among them a 10-year-old Edinburgh school boy. The latest figures, which come in the wake of several reports of knife incidents in Edinburgh involving youths, showed that teenagers now account for almost a third of positive knife searches across all age groups, sparking calls for the introduction of more 'meaningful' punishments. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last month, there was an alleged stabbing of a 17-year-old boy at Portobello Beach following reports of a large-scale disturbance. On May 19, a 16-year-old boy appeared in court charged with attempted murder in connection with the incident. Now, justice and home affairs magazine 1919 has taken a deeper dive into the stop and search statistics to highligh several instances where youth children were discovered carrying weapons. In July 2024, for example, a 10-year-old boy was caught with a knife in the east of Edinburgh, while several 12-year-olds were found carrying blades in the Capital, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Lanarkshire throughout the year. More than a dozen children aged 13, two of them girls, were also subjected to a positive blade search. Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill described the figures as 'shocking' and is calling for more early intervention schemes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'These shocking figures are yet another sign that there is a youth violence epidemic emerging in Scotland. 'The SNP has created a perfect storm by cutting youth work services, letting police officer numbers fall, and mismanaging child and adolescent mental health services and education. 'Each one of these 91 cases is very serious for our communities and potentially for those actually carrying the weapon. The only way to tackle this effectively is to have early intervention schemes that get to the root cause, and without this we will fail our communities. 'The SNP must take urgent action in all of these areas to tackle knife crime and actually do something that will halt this epidemic.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Conservatives said 'soft-touch' sentencing policies which lessen the punishment for under 25s are 'emboldening' young people to carry weapons. 'These alarming figures lay bare just how drastically knife crime has spiralled out of control,' said MSP Sharon Dowey, the party's community safety spokesperson. 'There must be meaningful punishments for those who use a knife, and expanded stop-and-search powers for police to act as a deterrent.' David Threadgold, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, which funds the company behind 1919 magazine, wants to see more effective preventative strategies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Each one of the truly shocking statistics is a justifiable and evidenced-based reaction by the police to an increasingly concerning societal trend we now see emerging among younger members of our communities in Scotland. 'Each of these statistics is a real situation which created significant risk for my colleagues, as well as potentially life changing consequences for the perpetrator, and sadly – as we have seen so tragically across Scotland recently – the victims of knife crime, their families and friends. 'The solution to this problem cannot rest alone with the police; much greater and more effective preventative strategies have to be in place across Scotland.'
