SCOTLAND: “Crisis Point Reached” - new report exposes the extent of Scotland’s Prison’s Crisis

A stark new report published today by the Prison Officers’ Association, the union representing Scotland’s 4000 front line Prison Staff, has laid bare the reality of working in the country’s overcrowded and understaffed prison estate.

 “Crisis Point Reached - The Pressures Facing Scotland’s Prison Officers uncovered” draws on the experience and testimony of Prison Officers working on the frontline of Scotland’s prisons crisis. 

With prisoner numbers at record levels, serious overcrowding and understaffing, alongside an incredibly complex and challenging prisoner mix within the system, there is widespread concern about increased levels of violence, widespread drug misuse and self harm which in turn is causing plummeting staff morale and is placing unbearable pressure upon those working under such conditions.  

Researchers commissioned by the union conducted one to one and group interviews and carried out extensive surveys of Prison Officers working in prisons across the country. The findings are stark and compelling.

Prison Officers raised a wide range of serious concerns about many aspects of their role including  the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, violence and drugs misuse, the unjust retirement age for officers, pay, recognition and reward, recruitment and training, and the culture of the Scottish Prison Service. 

The report will be launched this morning at the POA’s annual Scottish conference and has been sent to The Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Angela Constance, MSPs and MPs and senior management at The Scottish Prison Service.

There are 41 demands contained in the report. 

Speaking at the launch of the report Phil Fairlie, Assistant General Secretary of the POA said: 

“Crisis Point really has been reached in Scotland’s prisons and our members are on the frontline of it. This report is based on their experiences and testimony. These skilled workers desperately want to do the job they are trained to do but are being prevented from doing so because of the intense pressures they face on a daily basis. 

The toxic combination of overcrowding and understaffing is having a huge impact on every officer in every prison, and is the root cause of many of the problems experienced by both staff and prisoners. 

Addressing overcrowding requires investment in both personnel and the prison estate, this is a key demand contained in this report. However, there are 40 further demands that must also be addressed if Scotland’s prison system is to operate in a safe, humane and rehabilitative manner delivering what society expects with a workforce that is respected, rewarded and looked after. 

I want to thank every POA member who came forward and shared their thoughts and experiences of their service, which has in turn contributed enormously to this hard hitting and stark report. The Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Service would be wise not to ignore its findings. 

The POA will be seeking meetings with SPS and Scottish Ministers to discuss how we take forward the report’s findings and we will continue to campaign relentlessly over the coming weeks and months to deliver improved working conditions for our members, alongside a prison system that is fit for purpose.”

 

ENDS

Attachments

• POAScot CrisisPointReached 2025.pdf

  6.70 Mb, pdf

• POAScot CrisisPointReached ExecSum.pdf

  3.79 Mb, pdf