Neil Gray asked to apologise for not informing parliament of prison riot

The Scottish Government’s Justice Secretary has been asked to apologise for not informing parliament of prison disorder at a youth institution last month.

Last week, the Scottish Prison Service revealed to BBC News that the worst prison disorder seen in Scotland in a decade erupted at HMP and YOI Polmont last month.

The incident, which involved around 30 inmates, required additional officers from four other jails to help restore order.

Linda Pollock, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), told BBC News it was an example of “bubbling tension” caused by overcrowding at the facility.

The incident happened on September 26, with MSPs unaware until the BBC reported it last week.

Speaking at a Criminal Justice Committee pre-budget scrutiny evidence session, Justice Secretary Neil Gray was questioned on his decision to not inform parliament on the incident.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Stephen Kerr said he thought “an apology would be more appropriate”.

Mr Kerr continued: “If a Conservative home secretary had sat on information about the worst prison riot in a UK prison for six weeks and not informed parliament, and if we’d had to learn the details of such an incident through the media, the first person, rightly, on his feet on the other side of the chamber, that on the occasion when they finally ‘fessed up would be Neil Gray.

“And that’s why I think it is appalling that didn’t even cross your mind to think about reporting to Parliament.”

Mr Gray responded that he would “reflect” on the dissemination of information.

He said: “My first thought is the safety of our prison system, the safety of our prison officers, and those that are incarcerated, and that is the perspective on which I take the discharge of my duties.

“Of course, I am accountable to this committee, I am accountable to parliament and I am feeling that accountability this morning, as the First Minister did yesterday.

“There is no desire to (not) be in any way transparent or as transparent as we possibly be in operational matters such as this. And as I’ve given as a commitment, we will reflect upon the dissemination of information on operational decisions and matters such as this to ensure that the committee is given the necessary information it needs.”

Police Scotland is continuing to investigate the incident at YOI Polmont.

Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service have been approached for comment.