Inmates at the north-east’s multimillion pound super jail will bring in the New Year with strongman competitions and games of bingo.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to the Scottish Prison Service has revealed that prisoners at HMP Grampian will compete against each other for additional food and toiletries.
Today, inmates at HMP Grampian will take part in festive cookery classes and will be allowed to compete for first and second place in tennis and weightlifting competitions.
On Christmas, they got to take part in a “Big Fat Christmas Quiz” for a top prize of £10.
Games will be played in the run up to Hogmanay with “various prizes” on offer, before an end-of-year quiz on January 1.
Festive celebrations will finally end the following day with one final game of bingo.
Conservative justice spokesman Douglas Ross said the festive events may not “sit well” with the victims of the people imprisoned.
“Everyone has the right to celebrate Christmas but people are sent to prison as a punishment and for rehabilitation — not to have parties, play games and win prizes,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Press and Journal revealed that prisoners at HMP Grampian would enjoy two specially created festive menus during Christmas and New Year.
On Christmas Day, they were given the option of soup and fruit, two Lorne sausage rolls, two vegetarian burgers or yoghurt for breakfast.
Chicken Balmoral and mushroom and stilton wellington was on offer for mains, while dessert was a chocolate and orange gateau.
On Sunday, they will be able to choose between steak pie or nut roast, with trifle or chocolate gateau to follow.
The meals will include boiled and roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy.
Events at prisons are funded from existing budgets, charitable donations or workshop profits.
