Latest news with #HMPBarlinnie
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Probe to begin after man dies at Glasgow's HMP Barlinnie
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a First Notice to start the process for a Fatal Accident Enquiry (FAI) into the death of Brian Cathcart. The 47-year-old passed away on December 7, 2021, at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow. READ MORE: Owners left 'heartbroken' after popular Glasgow restaurant raided by thieves During the time of his death, Brian was in legal custody and in the care of the state. Because of this, the COPFS is obligated to investigate such deaths, and the FAI that has been launched is mandatory. A preliminary hearing will be held on August 28, 2025, at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The purpose of an FAI is to establish the cause and circumstances of a death, as well as whether any steps could be taken to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances. READ MORE: Shocking images show building engulfed by flames as fire crews fight blaze Unlike in criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial rather than adversarial, meaning they seek to determine the facts rather than assign blame. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on deaths investigations for COPFS, said: 'The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Brian Cathcart occurred whilst he was in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. 'The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.'
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Fred West documentaries and Fifty Shades of Grey? Scots prison chiefs REFUSE to ban X-rated films from cells despite plea from staff
Prison chiefs have shot down calls by frontline staff to ban some of Scotland's most hardened criminals from watching X-rated films and TV shows in their cells. The Prison Officers Association (POA) implored top brass to pull 18+ DVDs featuring extreme criminal activity, sex and drug use in the wake of an investigation by MailOnline. We revealed that amid an epidemic of violence behind bars, inmates at one of the country's toughest jails, HMP Barlinnie, are free to rent films about serial killers and sexual deviants – despite such X-rated films and videos being outlawed in English jails since 2013. The POA, which represents rank and file prison staff, said that with 'overcrowding, drug use, bullying and organised crime gang activities inside our prisons, the last thing we need is anything else adding to the tension or temperatures'. Yet the Scottish Prison Service last week said it would stand by its policy and refuse to review what films criminals can watch. Last night, Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said the failure to listen to concerns from staff was emblematic of the SNP 's soft-touch approach to justice. He said: 'This blatant refusal to review a policy that allows prisoners to watch inappropriate content will alarm law-abiding Scots. 'It sums up how the SNP's soft-touch attitude is embedded across all areas of Scotland's justice system and repeatedly panders to the needs of criminals. 'The POA want this to be reviewed and recognise many of these prisoners are behind bars for violent offences and should not have access to this content. 'Rather than passing the buck, SNP ministers should intervene and ensure the Scottish Prison Service rethinks this decision.' Earlier this month, MailOnline revealed a list of movies available to prisoners, obtained via freedom of information, include titles such as Saw, The Silence of the Lambs and American TV show Dexter, about a police forensic officer who kills criminals in his free time. Inmates can also watch TV shows about real-life child killers Fred and Rose West, Myra Hindley and Beverley Allitt, as well as highly sexualised content including Fifty Shades of Grey. Shockingly, US TV series Prison Break – about two brothers hatching a complex plan to break free from jail – is also available to watch. The revelations came after it was disclosed there have been more than 250 assaults on prison staff on average annually in the last decade. This year, the High Court in Edinburgh heard convicted murderer Robert Paterson plotted to have a guard at HMP Saughton 'seriously assaulted' with a handgun. In 2013, former UK Conservative Justice Minister Chris Grayling cracked down on the availability of such films and TV shows in prisons in England and Wales. Last week, the SPS was asked by Mr Kerr what action it was going to take in light of the approved Scottish list of films including titles seen to be inappropriate for a rehabilitative environment.
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Over 150 violent criminals freed early in prison overcrowding crisis
The Scottish Prison Service say overcrowding is having "an increasingly destabilising effect" on the system and that more must be done across the justice system to combat the problem. Its warning comes as it released detailed data on the nature of the prisoners who were freed under the Scottish Government's early release measures in February and March this year. The figures revealed that almost half of the total 312 prisoners freed under the scheme a total of 152 were serving sentences after being convicted of non-sexual violent crimes. READ MORE: Scotland facing 'critical risk' from overcrowding in prisons Riot fears amid record prisoner numbers and overcrowding Governors want early release scheme for serious offenders I spent the day inside HMP Low Moss and here's what I found The second most common offence committed by those released was 'crimes against society', which includes drug-related crimes. A total of 69 prisoners who had been convicted of this category of crime were released, making up 22% of the total released. The data also showed that 83 prisoners were released into the Glasgow area with 65 freed from the city's HMP Barlinnie, while 49 offenders were freed from Polmont and 37 from Low Moss. A Scottish Prison Service spokesman told The Herald that the figures were released in the interests of transparency but warned of significant and continuing pressures on prisons from overcrowding. 'Working with the Scottish Government, and our partners, we released people through these tranches in a way which prioritised the safety and wellbeing of those in our care, victims, and the communities we serve," he said. READ MORE: Demand for more homes after tax rise on second properties proposal defeat SNP minister rejects claim child poverty targets will be 'substantially missed' North Sea oil and gas company fined after workers plunged into water-filled shaft Swinney programme failed to mention independence – so why all the talk now? 'We have been open and transparent throughout, publishing the number of individuals released at each stage, and this publication continues that approach. 'While these releases have provided some respite, our staff continue to manage an extremely high and complex population, with eight prisons now at red risk status, and the number of people in custody set to rise even further." He added: 'This has an increasingly destabilising effect on our establishments, with staff unable to do the critical work of building relationships and supporting rehabilitation, and prisoners frustrated by the impact on their daily lives and the opportunities available to them. 'We need to see a reduction in our population, so we fully support people in our care, reduce their risk of reoffending, and help build the safer communities we all want to see.' Kate Wallace, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, acknowledged that work had been done to attempt to reduce prison populations, but that the number of prisoners remained "basically unchanged" from this time last year. "There has been no tangible change for victims of crime. Only 2% of victims were notified of the prisoner in their case's release last year through the Victim Notification Scheme, and the most recent figures for this year are equally low," she said. "The recent Scottish Crime and Justice Survey for 2023/24 shows decreasing confidence in the criminal justice system - this has been a repeated trend for the last five years. Measures like these early release schemes contribute to this erosion of trust. "Just last week, changes were also made to Home Detention Curfew legislation - prisoners serving less than four years are now eligible for HDC after serving 15% of their sentence instead of 25%, meaning they will spend less time in prison and longer in the community. "This is concerning, especially given the current lack of capacity for prisoner rehabilitation, as highlighted by the Scottish Prison Service." She added: "While we're pleased that action is finally being taken to improve the Victim Notification Scheme, this lags behind the pace of changes to prisoner release. "Our concern as ever is the safety and wellbeing of people impacted by crime - if victims aren't informed, they can't plan for their safety and even risk meeting perpetrators unexpectantly in their community. "We fear further Emergency Early Release programmes alongside Prisoner Early Release and revised Home Detention Curfew regulations, begging the question of any meaningful prison sentence or rehabilitation for offenders." The revelations come weeks after The Herald published a major week long series on overcrowding in Scotland's prisons. Our work was prompted by the emergency early release of hundreds of short term prisoners (those serving up to four years) last summer and by the legislation last autumn changing the automatic release point from 50% to 40% of their sentence which led to the 312 prisoners being freed in February and March. Some short term prisoners were barred from these scheme including those convicted of domestic violence or sexual offences. The measures were brought in following warnings about overcrowding by governors and inspectors. However, speaking to The Herald in April, the Prison Governors Association for Scotland chair Natalie Beal warned the early release scheme for short term prisoners would not be sufficient to tackle overcrowding and prisons were at risk of being 'clogged up' by long-term prisoners. She urged ministers to return to a scheme scrapped almost a decade ago by Alex Salmond's SNP government which had allowed all long-term prisoners to be released two thirds through their sentence (meaning they served at least one third of their sentence in the community.) But this was changed by the Prisoners (Control of Release) (Scotland) Act 2015, brought in by the then justice secretary Michael Matheson meaning long term prisoners were released six months before the end of their sentence on non-parole licence. Before the change to the law a long-term prisoner could apply for parole half way through his or her sentence. If the prisoner was not successful, he or she would be released two thirds through the sentence on non parole licence (meaning the prisoner could be recalled if licence conditions were breached). However since 2016, while a long term prisoner can still apply for parole half way through his or her sentence, if unsuccessful he or she cannot be released two thirds through the sentence and must wait six months before the sentence ends to be released on licence. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'As is known the prison population has become more complex and risen significantly recently. We are taking a range of actions to manage the prison population including through increased investment in the Scottish Prison Service resource budget by 10% to £481.5 million in 2025/26. "In addition we changed the point of release for most short-term prisoners – those serving sentences of less than four years - from 50% to 40%. Most of those released were serving sentences of less than two years, therefore, their release was less than three months ahead of their original date. The Scottish Government considers that this is a proportionate change which is bringing about a sustained reduction in the prison population and relieving some of the acute pressure on the prison estate.'
The Herald Scotland
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scores of violent offenders freed in overcrowding crisis
The Scottish Prison Service say overcrowding is having "an increasingly destabilising effect" on the system and that more must be done across the justice system to combat the problem. Its warning comes as it released detailed data on the nature of the prisoners who were freed under the Scottish Government's early release measures in February and March this year. The figures revealed that almost half of the total 312 prisoners freed under the scheme a total of 152 were serving sentences after being convicted of non-sexual violent crimes. READ MORE: Scotland facing 'critical risk' from overcrowding in prisons Riot fears amid record prisoner numbers and overcrowding Governors want early release scheme for serious offenders I spent the day inside HMP Low Moss and here's what I found The second most common offence committed by those released was 'crimes against society', which includes drug-related crimes. A total of 69 prisoners who had been convicted of this category of crime were released, making up 22% of the total released. The data also showed that 83 prisoners were released into the Glasgow area with 65 freed from the city's HMP Barlinnie, while 49 offenders were freed from Polmont and 37 from Low Moss. A Scottish Prison Service spokesman told The Herald that the figures were released in the interests of transparency but warned of significant and continuing pressures on prisons from overcrowding. 'Working with the Scottish Government, and our partners, we released people through these tranches in a way which prioritised the safety and wellbeing of those in our care, victims, and the communities we serve," he said. READ MORE: Demand for more homes after tax rise on second properties proposal defeat SNP minister rejects claim child poverty targets will be 'substantially missed' North Sea oil and gas company fined after workers plunged into water-filled shaft Swinney programme failed to mention independence – so why all the talk now? 'We have been open and transparent throughout, publishing the number of individuals released at each stage, and this publication continues that approach. 'While these releases have provided some respite, our staff continue to manage an extremely high and complex population, with eight prisons now at red risk status, and the number of people in custody set to rise even further." He added: 'This has an increasingly destabilising effect on our establishments, with staff unable to do the critical work of building relationships and supporting rehabilitation, and prisoners frustrated by the impact on their daily lives and the opportunities available to them. 'We need to see a reduction in our population, so we fully support people in our care, reduce their risk of reoffending, and help build the safer communities we all want to see.' Kate Wallace, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, acknowledged that work had been done to attempt to reduce prison populations, but that the number of prisoners remained "basically unchanged" from this time last year. "There has been no tangible change for victims of crime. Only 2% of victims were notified of the prisoner in their case's release last year through the Victim Notification Scheme, and the most recent figures for this year are equally low," she said. "The recent Scottish Crime and Justice Survey for 2023/24 shows decreasing confidence in the criminal justice system - this has been a repeated trend for the last five years. Measures like these early release schemes contribute to this erosion of trust. "Just last week, changes were also made to Home Detention Curfew legislation - prisoners serving less than four years are now eligible for HDC after serving 15% of their sentence instead of 25%, meaning they will spend less time in prison and longer in the community. "This is concerning, especially given the current lack of capacity for prisoner rehabilitation, as highlighted by the Scottish Prison Service." She added: "While we're pleased that action is finally being taken to improve the Victim Notification Scheme, this lags behind the pace of changes to prisoner release. "Our concern as ever is the safety and wellbeing of people impacted by crime - if victims aren't informed, they can't plan for their safety and even risk meeting perpetrators unexpectantly in their community. "We fear further Emergency Early Release programmes alongside Prisoner Early Release and revised Home Detention Curfew regulations, begging the question of any meaningful prison sentence or rehabilitation for offenders." The revelations come weeks after The Herald published a major week long series on overcrowding in Scotland's prisons. Our work was prompted by the emergency early release of hundreds of short term prisoners (those serving up to four years) last summer and by the legislation last autumn changing the automatic release point from 50% to 40% of their sentence which led to the 312 prisoners being freed in February and March. Some short term prisoners were barred from these scheme including those convicted of domestic violence or sexual offences. The measures were brought in following warnings about overcrowding by governors and inspectors. However, speaking to The Herald in April, the Prison Governors Association for Scotland chair Natalie Beal warned the early release scheme for short term prisoners would not be sufficient to tackle overcrowding and prisons were at risk of being 'clogged up' by long-term prisoners. She urged ministers to return to a scheme scrapped almost a decade ago by Alex Salmond's SNP government which had allowed all long-term prisoners to be released two thirds through their sentence (meaning they served at least one third of their sentence in the community.) But this was changed by the Prisoners (Control of Release) (Scotland) Act 2015, brought in by the then justice secretary Michael Matheson meaning long term prisoners were released six months before the end of their sentence on non-parole licence. Before the change to the law a long-term prisoner could apply for parole half way through his or her sentence. If the prisoner was not successful, he or she would be released two thirds through the sentence on non parole licence (meaning the prisoner could be recalled if licence conditions were breached). However since 2016, while a long term prisoner can still apply for parole half way through his or her sentence, if unsuccessful he or she cannot be released two thirds through the sentence and must wait six months before the sentence ends to be released on licence. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'As is known the prison population has become more complex and risen significantly recently. We are taking a range of actions to manage the prison population including through increased investment in the Scottish Prison Service resource budget by 10% to £481.5 million in 2025/26. "In addition we changed the point of release for most short-term prisoners – those serving sentences of less than four years - from 50% to 40%. Most of those released were serving sentences of less than two years, therefore, their release was less than three months ahead of their original date. The Scottish Government considers that this is a proportionate change which is bringing about a sustained reduction in the prison population and relieving some of the acute pressure on the prison estate.'
Glasgow Times
11-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow man jailed after showing imitation gun to neighbour
David Stewart, 36, made the terrifying boast just months after police caught him possessing a taser at his home in Springburn, Glasgow, in June 2024. The high court heard how he then went on to breach strict firearms legislation for a second time in September 2024 by showing the neighbour an Airsoft gun which had the appearance of a real weapon. Judge Lady Poole heard that Stewart also told the woman that he possessed weapons which could kill people - this prompted the concerned female to contact police, who arrested Stewart under firearms legislation for a second time. Stewart had pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to possessing weapons which breached the Firearms Act of 1968. Lady Poole deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports. On Wednesday, Stewart, who was on remand at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing. Lady Poole jailed the repeat offender for four years. Passing sentence, she said: 'You have expressed remorse and you pleaded guilty at an early stage. More: Woman jailed in UK's first monkey torture case 'Nevertheless, offences of this type must result in the imposition of a custodial sentence. 'The public must be protected from imitation firearms.' At previous proceedings, the court heard how Stewart had previous convictions for violence, disorder and possessing weapons. The court heard how in the second incident, the woman had returned to the block where she spotted Stewart. Prosecutor Christopher Miller said he had a firearm which she feared was 'real". Mr Miller said: "Stewart stated he was a gangster and that he had weapons to kill people." The neighbour later went to a local police station as she was "extremely scared" by what happened. More: Sex attacker with more than 100 convictions tried to rape woman on street Stewart's flat was searched and the firearm was found to be a spring-operated BB gun capable of firing pellets. Stewart had flouted a court order by committing the crime. A stun gun had been found in his home in June 2024 after police were called to a report of a disturbance. On Wednesday, defence advocate Gail Gianni told the court that her client had a 'difficult childhood' and an 'alcohol misuse' problem. She added: "When his mother died, his alcohol consumption increased considerably." Ms Gianni said Stewart was also remorseful for his actions. She added: 'He is aware of the serious nature of these offences.'
