Prison population hits record high as early release prisoner describes ‘chaos’

Scotland’s prison population hit another record high on Tuesday as the latest batch of early releases began in a bid to tackle overcrowding.

The justice secretary has said 139 prisoners will be released early this week after the Scottish Parliament, earlier this month, approved plans that could result in about 990 prisoners being released over the next six months.

Short-term prisoners serving sentences of under four years and within 180 days of their scheduled release are eligible for emergency release.

Anyone serving a sentence for sexual offences or domestic abuse is excluded, as are registered sex offenders.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the releases are necessary to tackle overcrowding which poses a “critical risk” to the safety of those working in prisons.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) said that the prison population reached another record high of 8,441 on November 11.

One early release prisoner leaving HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow on Tuesday described conditions there as “chaos”.

Ms Constance said while 213 prisoners are eligible for release this week, the “governor’s veto” means only 139 will be freed.

She told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “In terms of this first tranche, which is this week, there are 213 prisoners eligible.

“However, because of the stringent safeguards that have been introduced, there is the governor’s veto.

“So, for tranche one, there will be 139 prisoners released early this week, and that is necessary to ease overcrowding in our prisons, which presents a critical risk to the safety and wellbeing of those who work in prisons.

“If we have more victims in our prisons (workforce), we will have more victims in our community, so this is being done in a planned, orderly fashion.”

Holyrood voted by 66 votes to 51 with five abstentions on November 5 for regulations which will release prisoners early in the latest of a series of actions.

About 440 prisoners could be released in the first three fortnightly tranches over November and December.

About 550 could be released over the remaining, four, monthly tranches from January to April 2026, with the largest numbers freed likely to be in January.

Ms Constance said she accepts the early release will have an impact on victims.

She said: “What I absolutely accept is that early release will cause anxiety for some victims, there is no doubt about that.”

The Justice Secretary said that those registered with the victim notification scheme will be advised of a release date.

Those not registered can find out in other ways such as by contacting the Scottish Prison Service directly or a charity such as a victim support organisation, she said.

The prisoner leaving HMP Barlinnie said he had been in prison for carrying a knife and was due to be released next year.

The man said conditions there were “terrible, shite, chaos, if one word can describe it it’s chaos”.

Asked how he felt about early release he said: “I feel good.”

He said his crime was “Carrying a knife, there was no victims, I was just carrying a knife.”

He said it was “obvious I’m pleased” about early release.

The man left with two other ex-prisoners, who did not confirm they were part of the early release scheme.

One of them shouted “liberation” as they left the prison.

Ms Constance said the foundations have been laid to establish a more “sustainable” prison population.

Earlier this year, she established the Independent Sentencing and Penal Commission, which is looking at how custody and community justice are used in the country.

The minister said she is also committed to the continued investment and expansion of “robust” community justice.

Ms Constance told the programme: “I’ve always been very clear that our prison population is too high and that, if we want to not have to be taking decisions for emergency release and decisions around shorter-term relief, you do, as a government, the Parliament, and a country, have to make different decisions in the longer term to have a more sustainable population.

“So, the foundations of that have been laid.”

An SPS spokesperson said: “We have a prison population that is extremely complex and rising rapidly.

“Today we have reached another record high of 8,441, presenting a critical challenge for our staff and to the safety and stability of our establishments and those in our care.

“We have developed plans for a careful and considered emergency early release, which is now being taken forward in close collaboration with national and community partners, across justice, health, social work, and other sectors.

“The safety and wellbeing of those who live and work in our establishments, and our wider communities, will remain a key focus throughout.”