UK Scottish Jails Battle to Keep Warring Gang Lords Apart

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Courtesy of Police Scotland/via BBC

 

A dramatic surge in gangland chaos is forcing Scottish prisons to engage in an intricate "game of chess" as staff grapple with keeping rival inmates separated. This tense atmosphere is the result of overcrowding and a spike in violent incidents linked to serious organised crime groups (SOCGs), posing unprecedented challenges for prison authorities.

 

The Scottish Prison Service reports an all-time high in the number of inmates held in segregation due to gang affiliations. With approximately 660 prisoners tied to SOCGs, staff are under immense pressure to prevent attacks motivated by ongoing feuds.

 

This tense situation has intensified following notable convictions, including those of high-profile criminals like Jamie "Iceman" Stevenson and James "The Don" White, both infamous for their roles in international drug smuggling.

 

The current feud spans several regions and is rooted in conflicts involving Edinburgh gangster Mark Richardson, echoing with repercussions across the Scottish criminal landscape. Attacks first erupted in March, targeting properties and individuals associated with Richardson, extending violence from Edinburgh to Lanarkshire and Glasgow.

 

The situation took a further deadly turn when two prominent members of the Lyons crime group were murdered in Spain, raising suspicions of connections to Scottish disputes, reported the BBC.

 

This cross-continental criminal rivalry has heightened tensions within Scottish jails, notably HMP Shotts, which houses many SOCG-linked inmates.

 

The prison, exclusively for those serving four years or more, includes 221 life sentences for murder, according to Governor Gillian Walker. She describes the daily challenge of managing high-risk prisoners as akin to shifting "chess pieces", noting the need for constant vigilance as gang dynamics evolve both inside and outside prison walls.

 

The spike in violence has been dramatic, with reported incidents increasing from 95 a month in 2022 to 135 a month this year. The complexities are evident in the number of prisoners now held "out of association," requiring separate accommodations and supervision.

 

The chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, Teresa Medhurst, points out the extreme importance of these conditions, which extend beyond inmate-on-inmate violence to assaults on staff.

 

The influence of gangs in the prison extends to smuggling operations, where they increasingly use drones to transport contraband like drugs, weapons, and mobile phones. These deliveries can be worth more than 440,000฿ and occur weekly, making it difficult for staff to maintain security.

 

Anti-drone measures, including grills over cell block windows, are part of ongoing efforts to deter such breaches.

 

The Scottish government, with input from prison unions and other partners, continues to develop strategies to address these complex issues. Although early release schemes have been implemented to ease overcrowding, the prison population is steadily rising, nearing the previous record high.

 

Angela Constance, while discussing government efforts, mentions that future plans will rely on the recommendations of the independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission, which are due by the end of 2025. She stresses the importance of finding sustainable solutions to manage Scotland’s challenging prison environment.

 

The Prison Officers' Association's Hil Fairlie emphasises the heightened levels of intimidation experienced by staff, including instances of firebombing officers' cars. The level of manipulation and threat from gang affiliates is unprecedented, adding significant stress for those working within the prison system.

 

As Scotland’s prisons grapple with these multifaceted challenges, the focus remains on maintaining safety and stability in a volatile environment. The implications of these feuds stretch beyond the prison walls, affecting communities and reaffirming the need for comprehensive management and prevention strategies.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-08-19