Exclusive data reveals that the Scottish Prison Service has mistakenly released dozens of inmates over the past decade, with dangerous criminals left to roam communities for months, and in one case, for more than a year.
A Decade of Dangerous Errors
Over the last ten years, 55 prisoners have been accidentally freed from custody in Scotland. Shockingly, this figure includes 13 violent offenders who were released in error. The information, obtained by The Mail on Sunday, shows the public has been largely kept in the dark about these serious administrative blunders.
In numerous instances, the wrongly liberated individuals remained at large for extended periods before being recaptured. The most extreme case occurred in the 2023-24 period, where one prisoner evaded capture for a staggering 367 days. Other notable cases include an offender free for 162 days in 2019-20, another for 158 days in 2021-22, and one for 161 days the following year.
Prisons Across Scotland Affected
The errors were not isolated to a single facility but spread across the prison estate. HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow, Scotland's largest prison, was responsible for the highest number, mistakenly releasing 11 prisoners since April 2015. HMP Addiewell in West Lothian accounted for 10 mistaken releases.
The data shows a widespread issue:
- HMP Low Moss: 7 mistaken releases.
- HMP Edinburgh: 6 mistaken releases.
- Polmont Young Offenders' Institution: 4 mistaken releases.
- HMP Kilmarnock: 4 mistaken releases.
- HMP Perth: 3 mistaken releases.
Other institutions including HMP Inverness, HMP Greenock, and HMP Glenochil also recorded accidental liberations, highlighting a systemic problem.
Political Outcry and Calls for Transparency
The revelations have sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties, who accuse the Scottish Government of presiding over a justice system in chaos. Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman, Pauline McNeill, demanded greater transparency and slammed the current administration.
"It is clear that our justice system is in total chaos under this SNP government," McNeill stated. "Prisons are operating at dangerous capacity levels, police officers are overstretched and our communities are at breaking point."
The Scottish Conservatives also expressed fury, with a spokesman stating: "Scots will be furious that blundering Nationalist ministers have let dangerous criminals roam free for months on end." They emphasised that prisoners must "serve their sentences in full" rather than be released by mistake.
Official Responses and Statistics
In response to the findings, an SPS spokesman acknowledged that errors occur in a "very small minority of cases" and stated they work with Police Scotland to return individuals to custody. The Scottish Government defended its procedures, noting the rarity of such events.
A government spokesman said: "We take the release in error of any individual very seriously and have robust procedures in place to respond swiftly." They pointed out that over the past decade, liberations in error account for just 0.03% of all releases.
Despite this statistical defence, the fact that multiple violent criminals were given unintended freedom for prolonged periods raises significant questions about operational safeguards and public safety within Scotland's penal system.
