Angela Constance

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the rise was a “significant challenge” and that a further increase would “seriously impact” on staff and prisoners.

The Prison Officers Association said prisons were “dangerously overcrowded” and that there were too few staff.

Phil Fairlie, its assistant general secretary, said: “Prior to the Covid pandemic, we raised repeated concerns at the rise in the prison population without a consequential increase in the number of prison officers. While those numbers dropped during the pandemic, they are increasing again at an alarming rate and we are fast heading to the numbers that caused the concern.

“The result is Scotland’s prisons are dangerously overcrowded and we simply do not have enough staff to manage the situation. Prison officers are being put under intense pressure and it is taking its toll on their health and wellbeing. The Cabinet secretary acknowledged these pressures today and we are grateful for that, but it is not enough just to say you are aware of the situation – there has to be an urgent and properly resourced plan to tackle the staffing shortfall.”

Ms Constance said the prison population had gone from 7,303 to 7,937 this year – a jump of about nine per cent.

She told MSPs: “This represents a significant challenge, and further increases will seriously impact on those that work in our prisons and on the prison population itself. Scotland is not unique in this challenge. There are increases in England and Wales of similar proportions.”

She added: “This acute pressure is a great cause of concern, and is one that I am taking action on.”