Families of inmates at HMP Barlinnie are demanding urgent answers after a water supply problem at Scotland's biggest prison left prisoners unable to wash, flush toilets or take medication for up to 24 hours. The issue, which first emerged last Thursday, has not been fully resolved almost a week later.
Water cut off to halls A and E
The water supply to halls A and E was cut off last Thursday and has not yet been fully restored, according to a group called Concerned Families of Prisoners at HMP Barlinnie. Many of the affected inmates are untried and on remand.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) initially said it had fixed the issue last Friday, but later confirmed it was ongoing. Families say prisoners are now being forced to wash in cold water, raising concerns for their welfare and hygiene.
Families demand transparency
A spokesperson for the group told the Daily Record: "We are extremely angry and worried about the situation being reported inside HMP Barlinnie. We are being told that everything is well and that the water is working, but what we are hearing from prisoners paints a very different picture.
"Yes, there may be water, but cold water is not the same as having proper facilities and being able to live in safe, hygienic conditions. We are hearing that prisoners are having to take cold showers, with no proper heating of the water.
"How is this acceptable in a prison in Scotland in 2026? We understand that the situation may affect only two halls, but that does not make it any less serious for the men living in those halls."
The spokesperson added: "Their health, hygiene and dignity matter just as much as anyone else's. Nobody should be expected to endure potentially unhygienic conditions without clear information about what is happening, what is being done to resolve it and how long they are expected to live this way.
"Why are families being given reassurance that everything is fine when the accounts reaching us suggest that serious problems remain?"
They called on the Scottish Prison Service, the Governor of HMP Barlinnie and relevant oversight authorities to provide "an honest, detailed and timely update".
SPS response and ageing infrastructure
An SPS spokesperson said: "As our estates team have worked through the issues of the last few days, further repair work has been identified.
"While water supply has been restored, and heating and hot water are available, there continues to be some disruption. We are grateful to those in our care for their cooperation and understanding."
The problems have been attributed to the age of the Victorian jail, which is due to be replaced. HMP Barlinnie opened in 1882, and its replacement facility, HMP Glasgow, is scheduled to open in 2028 in the nearby Germiston area of the city.
Each of Barlinnie's five halls holds around 200 prisoners. The prison is currently operating well above its capacity of 987, making it one of the most overcrowded prisons in Scotland.
