Prisoners on two wings of the Glasgow jail went without running water, flushing toilets and showers for at least a week, prompting a short inspection and renewed warnings about the ageing prison.
Scotland’s Justice Secretary described closing the Victorian prison as the “current intention”, amid reports that overcrowding may force the prison service to keep it running.
A letter to governors reminds them that the law requires every cell to be certified as fit for use, as the adult male estate runs close to full.
Michael Stoney said overcrowding limits showers, time out of cell and access to education at HMP Barlinnie, and that the new HMP Glasgow is essential.
The Scottish Prison Service has spent £51,239 on advice about portable cells to ease overcrowding, drawing criticism from opposition MSPs who called the cost embarrassing.
The Council of Europe’s anti-torture body says Scotland has no coherent plan to tackle prison overcrowding, and warns that conditions at HMP Barlinnie may breach the European Convention on Human Rights.
The annual report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland records a population more than 400 above design capacity and a record 64 deaths in custody in 2024.
Inspectors found steadier leadership and strong release planning at the Victorian jail, three years after an Urgent Notification. Self-harm had nearly halved but remained too high, and cells were badly overcrowded.
Two portable workshop buildings due by March 2026 will add 80 activity places a session, according to the Prison Service’s response to an inspection report.
MSPs point to overcrowding, drugs, gang feuds and budget pressures, as new figures show six Scottish prisons holding more people than their maximum tolerated capacity.
