helped ease the pressure on Scotland’s biggest jail but has done nothing to solve the long-term issue of overcrowding.
Professor John Robertson OBA
I’ll come back the ‘long-term solution‘ but first the other most popular media extract from the Inspector’s report:
BBC Scotland today – Barlinnie jail in ‘wretchedly poor state’ – inspectors
The Herald today – Barlinnie in ‘wretchedly poor state’ as new prison waits mount
All of the media have pounced on the Inspector’s report from 18-22 November 2024 and have been delighted to find on page 5, just as the wee souls were about to tire:
Our 2019 inspection report identified Letham hall. Letham hall, which houses the National Top End, as being in a state of disrepair. Five years later, despite some refurbishment, it remained in a wretchedly poor state.
It’s an all-too-familiar sleight of hand to make the headline better (worse). It is clear in the above, and they know it, that only Letham Hall, one of five halls, used for the most serious long-term prisoners, is being referred to there.
The Depute Prison inspector was on BBC Scotland to make the puzzling point that the current early release of some prisoners had done nothing to solved the long-term problem of overcrowding.
Why on earth would he think that the first phase of the early release programme would, on its own, solve the problem?
Has he read this?
The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill will change the release point for offenders serving sentences of less than four years from 50% of their sentence to 40%. There will be no change to the release point for prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences. The Bill also includes powers for Ministers to change the point of release under licence conditions for prisoners serving sentences of four years or more.
The change could be implemented from February 2025 for prisoners already serving short-term sentences, resulting in between 260-390 prisoners being eligible for immediate release. The Scottish Prison Service will manage the initial releases in three tranches over six weeks. The change would also apply to prisoners sentenced from that point on.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said:
“We have experienced a significant rise in our prison population in recent times. This means that without intervention, there is a risk that prisons will no longer be safe places for the dedicated staff to carry out the important work of rehabilitation to reduce reoffending. That is why this Bill is backed by both the Prison Officers’ Association and the Prison Governors Association.
“The measures in this Bill will bring about a sustained reduction in the prison population as well as relieve some of the acute pressure currently being experienced within our prison estate. We need the prison system to focus on those who pose the greatest risk to the public and provide a range of support to help reduce reoffending and integration back into the community.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Aye, https://archive.ph/irMIy and note the usual tail-ender, “The Scottish government has been approached for comment.” 🙄
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I’d be asking Anas. He’s got an answer for everything.
None of it remotely realistic.
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Why ask Anas when you can talk to the head ????
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thrilling! 97 2025 Prison Inspectors reveal that 80% of Barlinnie is not in a ‘wretchedly poor state’ and should know that the first phase of the early release programme was never meant to be the long-term solution esteemed
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Why did the Scottish Government appoint people to its Prisons Inspectorate who couldn’t understand the purpose of the early release scheme?
I often feel sorry for Sarah McMullan who must be one of the most miserable people in Scotland as she simply cannot find a bit of good news to cheer us upon anywhere.
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Yes but she’ll be inwardly gleeful reporting this stuff!
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With respect John, let’s recognise the ‘Nick Robinson’ perspective for what it is, selective editing and presentation.
I would rather see someone appointed who knew how the prison machine worked rather than bending to the political machine trying to juggle austerity part XLV imposed upon them with a media machine seeking to undermine everything they do – It’s not news it’s psy-ops…
I don’t suppose McMullan expected to have to trot out all this shite when she began her career any more than Sally Magnusson ( Sally Anne Stone ) did…
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I think she would make a great successor for the Rev I M Jolly.
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O/T
I note a few people online have mentioned the surreal and most untimely article written by Anas Sarwar in The Times.
(Though, as a written article, Anas Sarwar may see it as yet another timely piece by him aka a desperate campaign pitch/intervention by him , as the polls are now showing Labour in freefall, so it seems, for Sarwar , to be a case of ‘bang goes his chance to be the next ‘Scottish’ FM in 2026 ).
The headline on the Sarwar article:
“We can use our ties with Trump to make Scotland great again”.
“Ties with Trump” ? and “Make Scotland great again” ?
Sarwar obviously choosing (deliberately) to not ‘read the room’ on Trump……and also ignoring (deliberately) Trump’s “America First” ideology.
Make Scotland Great Again sounds like a slogan similar to Make America Great Again.
Or rather it’s the same (empty) slogan just the country name that has been changed.
How (un)original of Sarwar, is this then his “New Direction” for Scotland ?
No Thanks. (from me).
David Lammy, Labour Foreign Secretary, said recently that “”We are engaged in discussions with the US to strike an economic agreement, an economic deal” “And of course we have been absolutely clear that all options are on the table”
“all options are on the table” ?
That sounds very scary.
So has Sarwar been told by Labour HQ to try to get Scotland prepared (conned)for some of those “options on the table” , some of them potentially being unpalatable and not to our advantage , and with what will really be more a case of Trump’s ‘America First’ taking full advantage of what is now a desperate Brexit UK that is , as a UK State, prepared to do anything to get any Trade deal done with Trump’s America First.
Of course, talking of Trade deals, free ones that is, in 2016 every region in Scotland voted to maintain our ties with the EU with all regions here in Scotland voting Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.
Unfortunately the UK said No. As they always do with Scotland.
Forget our nearest neighbours the EU and their SM and CU as apparently the UK does not need that Free Trade deal any longer as instead they want, via their various awful UK governments including the current Labour one , what will be, probably a bit of a Sh*te Trade deal for the UK (so then also for Scotland too) with Trump’s America First.
Actually where are we now with Labour UK as the new UK government and their “Make Brexit work” pledge ? (as in the pledge that they made to people in the UK prior to the 2024 UK GE).
I have to ask as not much of the media , pre and post the 2024 UK GE , seems that interested in either how Labour will “Make Brexit work” and also what Labour are actually doing just now to “Make Brexit work” since they, Labour UK , did indeed win the 2024 UK GE.
Adam Bienkov tweeted :
“Asked whether Trump’s trade war means the UK will now consider re-entering a customs union with the EU, Keir Starmer’s spokesman replies that “we’re not going backwards when it comes to Brexit”.
Really ? I disagree as I think the UK is going backwards, in fact all the way back to when the Tories were the UK government.
The Tories said they would “Get Brexit done” ( NI Brexit border problem still not sorted) and Nigel Farage, when he was The Brexit party leader, said that “Brexit marks UK Independence day”.
“UK independence day” really ?
As now the UK (and Farage) is looking for far “stronger ties with the US” now that the UK has broken those much stronger ties that we once had with the EU” (our closest neighbours).
Also Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg last Sunday that the reason the UK had the lowest tariff rate (10%) imposed by the US was a “vindication of the work PM Starmer had done”.
Really ?
The UK had the same imposed US Tariffs of 10% as unpopulated islands full of Penguins, so then , who did the work for those Penguin Islands (as in Heard & McDonald Islands) that saw them have the same tariff (10%) applied as the UK , that then one assumes was also a “vindication of the work” done by them ?
Was it King Penguin or Emperor Penguin ?
Vote SNP in 2026 because the UK is just so rubbish a place to live in with such terrible UK governments and an even worse so called Media , both mainstream and rogue ones.
Liz S
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There are too many neurodiverse people in prisons. They have not had diagnose or been given proper support. With diagnosis support systems can be put in. With a better outcome and understanding. Diversity is knowledge.
Crime is committed under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Rehab is better than prison to make people well. The Scottish Gov is funding proper, total abstinence rehab facilities. £250million over 5 years. That will cut crime and drug deaths. All the drug deaths in Scotland are people being prescribed methadone and taking other substances. Methadone is just as deadly as heroin to the human body.
MUP has cut alcohol related death and cut crime.
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