Around 30 inmates were involved in mass disorder at HMP & YOI Polmont, near Falkirk, on Saturday, September 26, in what has been described as one of the worst prison riots in Scotland in a decade. Several prison officers sustained minor injuries as staff struggled to maintain control, and guards from other prisons were drafted in to help.
Shocking images released by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) show the aftermath inside the young offenders institution, with smashed tables and chairs, damaged ceiling panels, a broken glass window, and rubbish strewn throughout.
Overcrowding and tension blamed
Linda Pollock, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said that "bubbling tension" within the increasingly overcrowded prison was a factor. She warned that prisons were "on the brink" after Scottish Government projections indicated the prison population could rise to around 9,450 next year, roughly 1,600 more than the estate was designed to hold.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, Ms Pollock said the predicted increase would make it impossible to safely accommodate prisoners and protect staff welfare. "We did have disorder in Polmont, there was destruction there and we had to take control of the situation," she said. "People in custody are becoming frustrated by the overcrowding conditions, the impact that has for them and restricting the opportunities they have for rehabilitation. We are seeing bubbling tension across the estate. We pushed our prisons to the brink and now we are at the brink and action needs to be taken."
Ms Pollock highlighted recent disruption to the water supply at HMP Barlinnie, which is due to be replaced by HMP Glasgow in 2028, as an example of the "fragility" of the prison estate. She expressed concern that conditions could return to levels of disorder "last seen in the 1980s," saying the current system was "close to breaking point" and that action was needed to ensure it "does not break."
Government reforms considered
Police Scotland are understood to be investigating the riot. An SPS spokesperson said: "I can confirm a protest took place at HMP & YOI Polmont and was resolved safely and securely by SPS staff. The health and safety of those in our care, and our staff, was a key priority throughout."
In June, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on permanent new measures to tackle overcrowding in prisons. Proposals under consideration include changing the definition of long-term prisoners and changing the automatic release point for long-term prisoners.
Justice secretary Neil Gray said work was ongoing but further action was needed. "To ease the pressure, we have maximised capacity across the prison estate by 640 over the past three years and we are building two new prisons," he said. "Alongside expansion of the prison estate, the reforms will strike the right balance across custodial sentences, community sentencing and the need to robustly protect victims and the public."
Pauline McNeill, Labour's justice spokesperson, called the situation "completely unsustainable," saying: "The justice secretary must come forward with a comprehensive, long-term plan for tackling these issues, including evaluating proper alternatives to custody and supporting hardworking prison staff." Conservative justice spokesperson Stephen Kerr said: "The SNP's only answer is to water down the consequences for criminals after two decades of failing to build the prisons Scotland needs. Enough is enough. The SNP must stop putting the needs of offenders ahead of public safety."
