Chock-a-block

Union boss warns that staff will not cope as number of inmates is close to all-time high

- SALLY HIND

CONDITIONS in Scotland's jails are set to become "unbearable" as inmate numbers are set to reach a record high of 8700, a warders' union warned yesterday.

The prison population is expected to surge next year fuelled by a rise in those held on remand and more people being convicted of serious crime.

Chief inspector of prisons Wendy Sinclair-Gieben said she was "shocked" by the figure and the system "cannot cope with the number-up on the previous high of 8300 in 2019.

John Cairney, national committee chair of the Prison Officers' Association, yesterday said the impact on staff and society would be huge.

He added: "This situation is dire and really concerning to us as a trade union.

"This figure should be concerning for society too because prisoners aren't getting rehabilitated properly. They're getting warehoused and the appropriate support to address offending behaviours is not being achieved.

"The numbers are too high for our members to give meaningful support to prisoners, which has a wider impact on communities.