Jail riot after drug seizure

Inmates barricaded themselves into a hall

The major disturbance at Glenochil Prison in Clackmannanshire followed the seizure of heroin from a visitor to the jail, it has emerged.

The governor, Alec Spencer, said enquiries were continuing into the seizure, which is believed to have sparked the seven-hour incident.

A 31-year-old Aberdeen woman has appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court in court in connection with the heroin, which was believed to have had a street value of about £1,000.

We really need to look towards incentives for prisoners to remain drug-free

Clive Fairweather, chief prisons inspector

Joann Brown, of Springhill Road, Springhill, was charged with smuggling drugs, attempting to pervert the course of justice and two charges of bail aggravation.

She made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.

Twenty-nine inmates, who are all serving long sentences, barricaded themselves into C Hall at about 2100 BST on Thursday.

Negotiators were brought in to bring the situation under control.

The inmates were eventually persuaded to end the protest at about 0700 BST on Friday.

No-one was injured, although the SPS spokeswoman said the damage caused by the men was considerable.

The disturbance is being treated as a major incident, and Central Scotland Police have been called in to investigate.

It was the most serious incident at the jail since 1997, when a prison warder was held hostage.

Negotiators were brought in

Prison service spokeswoman, Fiona Davis, said: "Our staff recovered a quantity of drugs, which were passed on to the police.

"There was no immediate reaction to this, but the disturbances at night may have been caused by that.

"They smashed up a number of things including a water main, and caused a lot of water damage, as well as causing a noise disturbance.

"Ringleaders are being identified by police and there could well be criminal charges brought for criminal damage."

"Thankfully nobody was hurt, there was no violence, and no members of staff were taken hostage or involved in any significant way.

Clive Fairweather: "Pressure from families"

She said the prisoners involved in the disturbance had been dispersed to other parts of the jail and would be questioned by the police.

Scotland's chief inspector of prisons, Clive Fairweather, said: "We really need to look towards incentives for prisoners to remain drug-free and then look at how the families might put pressure on the prisoners as well."

In December, an investigation was ordered after a crude bugging device was discovered in the jail.

Two officers were reprimanded after planting the voice recorder to listen into prisoners' conversations.

They had been attempting to gain information on drugs misuse within the prison.