Corruption in Scotland’s jails is helping organised crime gangs get drugs to inmates, prison chiefs have warned.
Officials from the Scottish Prison Service said corruption is a known ‘method of entry’ to help gangs get illicit substances to prisoners.
It was also revealed that legislation is being considered to introduce “no fly zones” above jails in Scotland in order to help tackle the problem of drugs being flown in using drones.
It follows concerns about soaring drug use in Scotland’s jails, with thousands of cases identified in recent years.
Asked about the problem of ‘coercion of prison staff’ and financial benefits for workers helping get drugs into prison at Holyrood’s criminal justice committee yesterday,
Jim Smith, head of operation and public protection at the Scottish Prison Service, said all staff members are given a briefing on an anti-corruption policy and are encouraged to report on colleagues if they suspect they are ‘becoming corrupted’.
He said: ‘Corruption is an issue within the Scottish Prison Service, just as it is in any prison service or any workforce.
‘With the influence of serious organised crime groups, this is becoming what seems to be a real method of entry for commodity to come into prisons in recent years.
Corruption is a ‘known method of entry’ to help gangs get illicit substances to prisoners
Jim Smith from the Scottish Prison Service
‘We are working really, really hard both internally and with police colleagues to address that.’
He also said that work is being done with the Scottish Government to change legislation to bring about misconduct in public office offences for those involved in corruption.
Gillian Walker, governor in charge of HMS Shotts said a ‘very small percentage’ of staff will be involved and that individuals ‘will approach staff regularly’.
In a freedom of information response last month, the Scottish Prison Service confirmed that the number of inmates who were caught with drugs increased from 1,448 in 2022 to a high of 2,212 last year, which was also up from 2023 when there were 2,188 incidents reported.
SPS chief executive Teresa Medhurst previously told MSPs in a submission that there had been “an increase in the use of technology, such as drones” to get drugs to prisoners.
During yesterday’s meeting, police chiefs and prison bosses both raised the prospect of new legislation to introduce “no fly zones” above jails to tackle the problem.
Plans to introduce no fly zones over jails are being considered to tackle illicit drug deliveries
Anti-drone no fly zones were introduced in England and Wales last year, which makes it an automatic offence to fly drones within 400 metres of prisons and young offender institutions.
Drone operators who break the rules will be fined up to £2,500 while those smuggling illicit items which drive violence and criminality in custody may face up to a decade behind bars.
Mr Smith said: ‘We are currently working with Scottish Government officials to bring about that legislation change.
‘As you may be aware it is a reserved matter, so they are working with UK colleagues to bring about that change in legislation which would give us yet another tool to try to detect drones coming into establishments with that no-fly zone, and give police more powers to report people for prosecution if they are flying within that airspace.’
Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Higgins, of Police Scotland, said: ‘My view is yes it would be helpful as a part of a suite of options to look to try to disrupt that type of activity.’
He said the key is learning how it has worked south of the border and how it should be administers, but said he would ‘definitely’ support the principle.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘The SNP have miserably failed to tackle soaring drug use in Scotland’s prisons and it is clear organised crime gangs profit from creating misery.
‘It is deeply alarming to hear parliament committee evidence suggesting prison staff are vulnerable to these gangs.
‘This sort of activity is a major factor in Scotland’s record drug death toll and it is clear gangs know they won’t be properly punished by the SNP’s soft-touch justice system.’
The Scottish Government said officials have recently contacted the Ministry of Justice and Civil Aviation Authority about the possible introduction of no-fly zones.
