A shock report has laid bare serious concerns among prison staff about the north-east’s “superjail” operating “on a knife edge”.
The detailed assessment of conditions at HMP Grampian was drawn up by Cambridge University researchers who interviewed staff and inmates.
It was published by the Scottish Prison service, which described it as a “snapshot” of the situation in 2016 and insisted the situation continued to improve.
But critics seized on the “alarming” warnings from those at the coalface as evidence the authorities “have a big job on their hands” to turn thing around.
The £140million facility only opened in 2014 but has been plagued by problems and panned by critics.
Just two months after it launched, a 15-hour riot resulted in all youth inmates being transferred to other facilities.
The academic research, commissioned by the prison service, concluded that despite some improvements, serious issues and concerns remained to be dealt with.
Staff within the jail warned the team that shortages of manpower and a lack some basic facilities risked prompting more violence.
And prisoners complained that promises about rehabilitation opportunities are not being fulfilled.
One staff member told them: “We’re run ragged and prisoners feel it. This needs to be recognised before it’s too late.”
Another added: “It’s us that have to bang someone up without a TV or tell a new lad there are no kettles. Who do you think they’re going to take that out on?
“It’s simple but essential things that can lead to violence.”
Another likened the situation to being on a “knife edge”.
“Every landing here is running with at least one staff member missing,” they said.
“It’s about bums on seats and it’s down to the goodwill of people doing overtime. Having a white shirt at the desk, that’s all, but we’re all on a knife’s edge.”
A colleague added: “It feels like the prison is burning down, but nobody wants to call the fire brigade.”
Among prisoner’s complaints, one said: “There’s a certain irony in this, isn’t there? We’re in this nice new building, yet people are having to fight over plastic cups. It just isn’t right.”
The research team suggested that the prison was “divided” between staff and management, and problems could only be resolved by a “concerted and cooperative effort”.
“Some staff were positive and optimistic, and many were devoted to their jobs,” the team’s report states.
“Harnessing and further fostering this spirit would help to continue guiding the prison in an upward direction.”
Last night, Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MP said the Scottish Government had trumpeted the jail as “the model for the future of custodial services”.
“The alarming feedback in this report suggests that this so-called ‘superjail’ is falling a long way short of those expectations.
“It is clear that staff are working exceptionally hard and are dedicated to their roles. However, a prison cannot function on the goodwill and commitment of its employees alone.”
MSP Lewis Macdonald added: “It is particularly telling to hear the prison officer’s view that HMP Grampian relies on the good will of prisoners as well as staff.
“Chronic under-staffing prevents workers doing their job, and in a prison it means the extras that could help rehabilitate prisoners by giving them work or other positive experiences just will not get done.”
An SPS spokeswoman said: “It is a new establishment with a new culture.
“It is to be anticipated that any new establishment, particularly one which is the test bed for a new model such as the community facing prison at Grampian, will take some time to embed a common culture amongst staff.
“Whilst there remains room for improvement, SPS is confident that progress has continued to be made by the management team and staff at the establishment.
“The key lessons have been learned and these have helped to inform the governor’s approach and the on-going development of the prison.”
