THE SCOTTISH ELECTION MUST BE A TURNING POINT FOR SCOTLAND’S PRISON SERVICE, SAYS UNION

The union representing Scotland’s 3500 Prison Officers is calling on the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election to be a turning point for Scotland’s crisis hit prison system. 

The call comes as the union launched its “Ending the prisons crisis” manifesto which sets out an 11 point plan to transform Scotland’s jails. 

The launch comes following the release in 2025 of hundreds of offenders before the completion of their sentence, and amid soaring levels of violence and drug misuse. 

Prison staff have consistently raised serious concerns about the impact of overcrowding and understaffing which is contributing to increasing sickness absence and the number of officers suffering from stress, mental and physical ill health. 

Speaking on the day of the launch Phil Fairlie Assistant Secretary of the POA said:

“This election must be a turning point for Scotland’s crisis hit prison system. We simply cannot go on as we are.

Today, the POA is launching our report ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election. We are calling on all of the political parties standing candidates to sign up to the POA’s 11 point plan to transform Scotland’s prisons.

If enacted, this would address many of the fundamental issues affecting the service such as a sustainable budget for the service, recruitment, training, overcrowding, violence, the pension age, pay and prison officer health and well being. We are also calling for a comprehensive independent inquiry into the purpose of prison and a root and branch review of sentencing. 

We look forward to Scotland’s politicians signing up to these transformative demands from the POA.”

 

ENDS

Notes - The demands are set out below

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