Exclusive:Barlinnie governor says he worries about infrastructure collapse 'every day'
Michael Stoney said overcrowding increases the risk of ‘conflict leading to violence at times’
The infrastructure of Scotland's largest prison "hangs by a thread", its governor has warned, as he suggested more may need to be done to ease overcrowding.
Michael Stoney said he worries about a collapse in Barlinnie's infrastructure "every day" as the Victorian prison struggles to cope.
Any rise in the number of inmates increases the risk of "conflict leading to violence at times", he said.
Barlinnie is due to be replaced by HMP Glasgow in 2028, while a series of early release schemes have sought to ease prison overcrowding.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr accused SNP ministers of “delays and incompetence”.
He said: “This is an appalling indictment of SNP justice policy, with prison officers being forced to work in a crumbling Victorian jail packed beyond its capacity.
“When the governor says he worries about the infrastructure collapsing ‘every day’, ministers cannot simply shrug their shoulders and carry on regardless.
“The SNP have had years to sort this out but their delays and incompetence have left staff and prisoners paying the price.
“Prison officers should not have to risk their safety because SNP ministers have failed to upgrade Scotland’s prison estate.”
Speaking to Scotland on Sunday, Mr Stoney said: "The infrastructure hangs by a thread.”
He added: "The design capacity is 987 [inmates], thereabouts, and we're sitting this morning at 1,461.”
Asked if he ever worries the infrastructure could collapse, he responded: "Every day."
The governor said: "Always, when the population increases, you see an increase in potential conflict leading to violence at times.
"But definitely there's lots of increased conflict. People just getting frustrated, both staff and prisoners, because there's that limited access to regimes, the basic entitlements are hard to meet alone.
"So people that require a shower - you've got 320 in a house block; you've got in the region of 32 showers. You have to give people access to those showers. It sounds simple, sounds like an everyday process we take for granted, but that becomes a hugely transactional, problematic process."
Mr Stoney said there are contingency plans in place but they cannot last for long periods of time.
"It is a worry on a daily basis, but as I say the estates team do remarkably well just maintaining that, but it can't go on,” he said.
The governor said the new HMP Glasgow, which is being built in the Germiston area, will provide more space and support.
However, he said it is a possible further measures will need to be taken to ease overcrowding in the intervening period.
“That’s between our chief exec and government, looking at all potential solutions that would help ease overcrowding and minimise the impact that it has,” he said.
“Undoubtedly, there are things that need to be done. If they can be done within that time period of two years, then - we do need it before we move.”
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “I have seen first-hand the challenges at HMP Barlinnie and other prisons I am grateful to all Scottish Prison Service staff for their continued dedication and professionalism.
“We are taking a number of actions to tackle the high prison population, including building HMP Glasgow, which will add 357 places to the prison estate, transform how prisoners are rehabilitated and improve staff working conditions.
“We are also building HMP Highland, maximising capacity within the prison estate and increasing investment in community justice.
“Further action is necessary, which is why we recently consulted on a range of measures to achieve a sustainable prison population, while maintaining public protection and reducing future offending, and responses will be considered to inform next steps.”
Watch the full interview with Mr Stoney on YouTube now.
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