CELL HELL

Prisoners complain of abuse, threats and bullying by staff

-  LAUREN GILMOUR

FORTY per cent of inmates at a Scottish prison told inspectors they had been abused, threatened, bullied or assaulted by staff.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) visited HMP Addiewell in West Lothian in November last year and its findings raised significant concerns about the "enduring challenges" impacting safety and security.

Inspectors found 40 per cent of prisoners said they had been subjected to abuse, threatening behaviour, bullying or assault by staff, with 60 per cent claiming they had witnessed this behaviour towards other prisoners.

The full inspection report said staff, on occasion, spoke to prisoners in an unprofessional way and found relationships between the workforce and inmates to be poor due to a lack of experienced staff and shortages.