HUNDREDS of prisoners could be released from jail under emergency powers to deal with acute overcrowding, the head of the Scottish Prison Service warned yesterday.
SPS chief executive Mike Ewart shocked MSPs by revealing the situation was considered on a daily basis – and there were no contingency plans to deal with prisoners when jails were full.
Mr Ewart said an accident, such as fire in a jail, would leav
e one option. "We would request to seek the authority of the cabinet secretary to make an emergency release of prisoners to allow us to maintain the stability of the operation by reducing the population," he said.
"There is no spare capacity in the system to absorb the significant loss of accommodation. There would have to be a controlled release."
He conceded there was no contingency plan and added: "There isn't anywhere suitable to secure people. And there is nothing readily available for us to commandeer."
Mr Ewart revealed the situation to the Holyrood justice committee in a debate on the proposed prisons budget.
Scotland's eight jails, designed to hold up to 6,625 people, reached a record high of 8,137 earlier this month. They can squeeze in up to 8,000 by doubling prisoners up in single cells.
As a crisis in Scotland's jails loomed, the Scottish Tory leader, Annabel Goldie, yesterday revealed the party would ask hospital and military chiefs to identify empty space that could be used to house prisoners.
The move was disclosed in a speech at a Tory party conference fringe event.
Justice committee convener Bill Aitken, the Tory justice spokesman who will write to every health board and to the MoD in a quest for unused premises that could be turned into secure accommodation, warned "400 or 500 prisoners could be released, quite easily".
Asked if he was near to issuing an emergency order, Mr Ewart said: "It's obviously something that could happen at any time.."
The prison budget was designed for a projected population of 7,600 – more than 400 short of the current figure.
The government has earmarked £454.7 million for prisons in the draft budget for 2009-10 – up from £441.3 million this year.
Mr Ewart said overcrowding was straining his staff and raising the risk of disorder. He said: "Even with additional money, pressure on staff is significant. There is a limit to the amount of overtime prison officers will be willing to work and the amount of pressure that can be put on management staff."
Labour's justice spokesman, Richard Baker, blamed justice secretary Kenny MacAskill for "this mess", pointing out he had had 18 months to tackle prison overcrowding.
A Scottish Government spokesman said £120 million had been invested in the prison estate to help pay for Addiewell, the replacement Peterhead and Aberdeen jail and a replacement prison in Bishopbriggs.
The full article contains 478 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
