£1 billion Barlinnie replacement super jail won't be big enough to ease prison overcrowding
Anas Sarwar warned taxpayers are paying for new jails which will not fix the problems in Scotland’s prisons.
A £1 billion replacement for Scotland's most notorious jail still won't be enough to ease the overcrowding crisis in the country's prison system, Labour has warned.
More than 8,300 inmates are currently banged up across a prison estate designed to hold 7,805, despite the SNP Government releasing hundreds of prisoners early to try and tackle the crisis.
The long-awaited replacement for the crumbling Barlinnie nick in Glasgow will add 357 spaces when it eventually opens in the coming years, while the HMP Highland will allow the estate to house 107 more inmates.
When added to the current capacity, the figure rises to 8,269 – more than 100 places under the current requirement.
As well as its design capacity, the estate has an operational capacity, which is the maximum figure which would allow the estate to work effectively.
The current operational capacity is 8,007 – more than 300 places fewer than the population – and it is unclear by how much HMP Glasgow and HMP Highland would improve that measure.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said taxpayers are paying for new facilities which will not fix the problems in Scotland’s prisons.
“The SNP are ploughing ahead with their plans to spend over £1 billion on HMP Glasgow – the same as what it cost to construct the five-star Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world,” he said.
“Yet, these alarming figures show that despite the eye-watering cost of this new facility, it will not even be fit for purpose by the time it has been completed, with Scotland’s prison population already at a record high.
“That means taxpayers will be paying well over the odds for a prison that was supposed to cost £100 million, and which will not even fix the crisis in our prisons estate, with staff warning that they are at a ‘crisis point’.”
The Labour leader added: “This is a mess entirely of the SNP’s own making. Scots are having to foot the bill for the SNP’s financial incompetence, with ministers out of ideas for getting on top of this dire situation.”
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said yesterday he “cannot believe” how little outrage there is over the situation in Scotland’s prisons.
MSPs are yet to vote to back the legislation that would create the early release scheme, but the first two-day window for release is due to open next Sunday.
The Scottish Tory leader said Justice Secretary Angela Constance has “essentially ripped up” the sentences given to prisoners who are to be released early.
“Frankly, I cannot believe how little outrage there is over the situation we are now in,” he said.
“The SNP Scottish Government have been wholly in charge of Scotland’s justice system for almost two decades.
“They’ve failed to build the prison capacity the country needs.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Replacing HMP Barlinnie is essential for long-term sustainability of the prison estate in Scotland. HMP Glasgow will add 357 places to the overall estate, transform how prisoners are rehabilitated, improve staff working conditions and generate up to £450 million worth of economic benefits, including jobs and contracts for businesses in Scotland.
“HMP Highland will provide an additional 107 places and will allow more adult men from the Highlands and Islands to be accommodated in their local area, improving access for families and services.
"We recognise the serious challenges facing the prison system, which is why the Justice Secretary announced in Parliament emergency proposals to tackle prison overcrowding, with stringent safeguards to protect public safety. Our paramount concern is to ensure that those who work and live in prisons are kept safe, so immediate action is now necessary.”
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