Prison disturbance inquiry launched

Almost 50 inmates were involved in the incident

An investigation is being carried out into a disturbance at Saughton Prison in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Prison Service said that the incident ended peacefully on Sunday with no injuries.

Negotiators worked through the night to convince inmates who had barricaded themselves into an accommodation block to give up their protest.

The incident has also prompted calls for a rethink on how Scotland handles people awaiting trial.

At this time there is no evidence of injury to any prisoners

Fiona Davies
SPS spokeswoman

The SPS, which runs the jail, said the disturbance involved 49 men on remand.

Emergency services were called to the prison on Saturday afternoon after trouble flared in an accommodation block.

Inmates barricaded themselves into a section of the jail's Glenesk Hall, destroying furniture and ripping up fittings.

However, SPS spokesman Tom Fox said on Sunday morning that the disturbance had been "brought to a conclusion" shortly before 0600 BST.

It is understood that the inmates who took part in the disturbance were remand prisoners protesting over visiting rights at the Edinburgh jail.

No hostages

However, the authorities would not comment on the cause of the protest.

Mr Fox said no prison staff were involved in the incident and no hostages were taken.

SPS spokeswoman Fiona Davies confirmed that no prison staff were injured during the disturbance.

"At this time there is no evidence of injury to any prisoners," she said.

In Scottish prisons every day there are 1,000 people on remand

Susan Matheson
Sacro

"However, as a matter of routine, all prisoners will be medically examined.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further as police are investigating this incident."

There have been four other incidents this year which have resulted in damage to Scottish prisons.

There is no suggestion of a link between these disturbances, but the Scottish Prison Officers' Association said they were part of a worrying trend.

The latest incident has prompted Sacro, a charity which promotes alternatives to custody, to call for a reduction in the number of prisoners held in jail before their trial.

Support schemes

It says that up to 15,000 people every year are placed on remand in Scotland - and that more than half of them do not receive jail sentences.

Susan Matheson of Sacro said: "In Scottish prisons every day there are 1,000 people on remand and we know that at least half of these will not get a custodial sentence at the end of the day.

"There are bail supervision and support schemes which can ensure that the public is kept safe and that people will turn up in court when they should.

"In the meantime, we can work with them to address their offending behaviour."