'Gross discourtesy': SNP justice secretary refuses to apologise for not sharing information on Polmont riot
The riot that happened at HMP Polmont in September is one of the worst prison riots in the UK.
The SNP’s justice secretary has refused to apologise for not telling a key Holyrood committee about the “worst UK prison riot”.
Last week it was reported that prison officers from four other jails had to be drafted in to restore order after a riot broke out at HMP Polmont in September. Around 30 inmates were involved and several prison officers sustained minor injuries.
When it was reported, six weeks after the riot took place, the prison service said it was one of the worst incidents of prison disorder in a decade.
However, MSPs sitting on Holyrood’s criminal justice committee have criticised Justice Secretary Neil Gray, questioning why the media was briefed on the riot before they were told.
Mr Gray was giving evidence to the committee when he was told this was a “gross discourtesy” and told to apologise.
Committee convener David Linden said: “The idea that information like that was concealed and withheld is a gross discourtesy to this parliament.
“We both served in the Westminster parliament and we would rightly have gone through Tory ministers for not providing that information to parliament.
“I am keen for the prison service and the government to reflect on how that information is conveyed to parliament, because there are mechanisms to do so.
“This committee shouldn’t be finding out about prison riots through the media.”
In response Mr Gray said the incident was “rare” and is a “potential outcome of population pressures”, but conceded he would reflect on the points made by Mr Linden.
Scotland’s prison estate is currently at 109 per cent capacity, and has been plagued by overcrowding issues for years. Linda Pollock, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said the Polmont riot was an example of “bubbling tension” caused by overcrowding.
Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said Mr Gray’s answers were “not good enough” and that he did not understand his “accountability to parliament” on this matter.
He said: “We both know from our time in the other place [Westminster] that if a Conservative home secretary had sat on information about the worst prison riot in the UK for six weeks and we then learned of the details of the incident through the media, the first person rightly on his feet would be Neil Gray.
“That’s why I think it’s appalling it didn’t cross your mind to report this to parliament.”
When the justice secretary said he would reflect on this, Mr Kerr said: “An apology would be more appropriate.”
The justice secretary 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.
“There is no desire to [not] be in any way transparent or as transparent as we possibly can be in operational matters such as this, and 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.”
The Scottish Prison Service has been approached for comment.
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