Organised crime gangs are fuelling a corruption crisis in Scottish prisons, with more than 140 officers feared “compromised” according to The Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
The organisation warns that rising numbers of inmates linked to organised crime are “primarily responsible” for staff corruption.
They say around 3% of their 5,000-strong staff have been assessed through intelligence to be “potentially corrupt”, equating to more than 140.
It has also emerged a prison job hopeful was dramatically blocked after an interviewer spotted alleged links to an organised crime gang.
The candidate was swiftly rejected, raising fears criminals may be trying to infiltrate the system to gain leverage inside.
SPS chiefs say officers’ corrupt activity includes trafficking of illicit goods such as drugs and mobile phones, as well as “facilitating” or being “paid to turn a blind eye to criminality”.
It also includes tipping off convicted criminals about cell searches in advance, providing access to restricted information and “inappropriate romantic relationships”
SPS identify a range of factors leaving staff susceptible to corruption.
They say: “Recreational drug use, financial difficulties, addictions and relationship breakdowns amongst our staff members are assessed to be key contributors to staff corruption.
“Although conditioning of less experienced staff members also appears to be an emerging threat.”
SPS add: “Serious and organised crime gangs are primarily responsible for corruption of SPS staff members.
“Approximately 3% of staff working within SPS are assessed, through intelligence, to be potentially corrupt.”
There are around 660 inmates in Scottish jails with strong links to serious organised crime groups (SOCGs), around 8% of the total prison population.
Within that number are many identified as “principals” or high-ranking criminal gang members.
Many are said to have links to international drug trafficking, violence and intimidation, often continuing to orchestrate criminal activity from behind bars.
Officers and staff have faced heightened criminal gang intimidation, with a spate of car fire bombings targeting vehicles in official car parks in recent years.
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) say many of its members have been left fearing for their safety because of threats and intimidation from gang-affiliated criminals.
They warn action must be taken to “protect staff from the influence and threats” from organised crime gangs operating inside and outside of prisons.
It comes in a report commissioned by the POA, which delivered a scathing “state of the nation” assessment overall of the service.
The report says: “The overwhelming majority of Prison Officers are good, honest public servants who care passionately about their work.
“POA has consistently said the overwhelming majority of staff carry out their duties with the utmost integrity, but where corruption exists it must be rooted out as it undermines and endangers colleagues and prisoners.”
They call for effective systems to be introduced to “prevent contraband” entering prisons, including anti-drone technology to thwart criminals using them to deliver drugs and phones behind bars.
The “Crisis Point Reached” report also calls for tougher, more “robust” staff vetting, emphasising character assessments during interviews and insisting that English language skills meet the standard required to maintain safe prison operations.
Mark Fairhurst, National Chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, warns inexperienced staff are especially susceptible to “grooming” by hardened cons.
He says: “A lack of adequate vetting, coupled with unfit-for-purpose recruitment processes and initial training that does not prepare new recruits for the reality of the role, all contribute to corruption.
“Inexperienced staff will always be at risk of conditioning from experienced prisoners.”
Mr Fairhurst added: “Thankfully, the majority of officers are decent, honest, professional public servants.”
It comes as the crisis-hit service battles a surge of illicit drugs, mobile phones and weapons flooding the nation’s jails, with prison officers on the frontline.
SPS previously warned last year’s brutal gangland turf war waged across Glasgow and Edinburgh “raised the temperature” behind bars, with staff carrying out “a heroic task” in overcrowded jails.
More than 60 gangsters were arrested during Police Scotland’s Operation Portaledge – set up to investigate the spate of tit-for-tat gang violence that erupted across Glasgow and Edinburgh in March last year.
The vicious gangland feud led to assaults, shootings and fire bombings.
SPS said they have launched a joint review of prison officer recruitment with the POA (Scotland) to ensure their processes “remain rigorous”.
A spokesperson added: “The overwhelming majority of SPS staff are dedicated professionals who work in challenging environments every day.
“We have robust recruitment and vetting processes, work closely with Police Scotland and take action when standards are not met.”
