HMP Barlinnie

Scotland’s largest prison

In shortBarlinnie is the largest prison in the country, a Victorian prison in north-east Glasgow serving the west of Scotland.

• Built1882North-east Glasgow, in the Riddrie area
• Accommodation blocksA to E HallsTraditional Victorian gallery design
• Learning provider (Nov 2024)Fife CollegeHealthcare by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

The Scottish Prison Service describes Barlinnie as the largest prison in the country, receiving prisoners from the courts in the west of Scotland. It holds men on remand and men convicted of all sentence lengths.

It also hosts a national top end for people serving life or long-term sentences who are approaching a potential release date.

• Five main accommodation blocks, A to E Halls, of traditional Victorian gallery design.
• A Separation and Reintegration Unit.
• Letham Hall, the National Top End facility, of semi-permanent modular construction.
• SPS visitor information says there are no direct train services to the prison, and that the number 38 bus is the most frequent route.

Population against design capacity

In shortBarlinnie holds many more people than it was built for, with both inspectors and monitors reporting the strain.

• Held on 20 Nov 20251,404SPS answer to the Scottish Parliament
• Design capacity987Assessed capacity tolerance 1,400
• Above design (Nov 2024 inspection)30%+Almost two thirds shared cells designed for one
• Above design, 2024-25 average (monitors)38.8%Even after emergency early release in June and July 2024 and early release of short-term prisoners from February 2025

The parliamentary research service reports an average population of 1,370 in 2024-25, with a maximum daily population of 1,477. The SPS says design capacity means a number at which a prison is not overcrowded and can be managed safely.

Inspectors and monitors both say overcrowding makes it harder to provide basic entitlements, including daily showers, and puts strain on staff-prisoner relationships and on services such as healthcare and work.

The November 2024 full inspection

In shortNo standard was rated poor; the estate and overcrowding were the headline concern.

• Inspected18 to 22 Nov 2024News release embargoed to 8 April 2025
• Key recommendations12Including daily showers for all prisoners, a larger library, more support for case management and programmes, and a sustainable medical service
• Accessible cells5For a population regularly over 1,300

The Chief Inspector’s team found the infrastructure a barrier to safety and acceptable living standards, and Letham Hall remained in a very poor state five years after the 2019 inspection.

The report called the need for the replacement HMP Glasgow overwhelming and urgent. Healthcare improved from Poor at the previous inspection to Generally Acceptable.

Staff and prisoner relationships and safety

In shortThe survey was the most worrying finding, but inspectors found the prison a better place than it led them to expect.

• Witnessed staff abusing, bullying, threatening or assaulting a prisoner55%42% said it had happened to them; worse than at other closed prisons
• Staff treated them with respect all or most of the time55%15% said rarely or never

Inspectors wrote that they never witnessed unacceptable behaviour and saw staff engaging prisoners in cheerful but respectful light-hearted banter. They said the prison proved a better place than the survey led them to expect, thanks to the determined efforts of dedicated staff.

Prisoners in D and E Halls, who had more time out of cell, were more positive.

The prison appeared safe to inspectors, but the need to hold mixed categories of prisoner in A and B Halls meant that prisoners not at work or education could be locked up for 22 hours a day, which the report called unacceptable.

Strengths and pressures since inspection

In shortInspectors and monitors both record real improvements alongside access, library and programme delays.

The independent monitors’ 2024-25 report, based on 120 visits and 425 monitoring hours, names overcrowding, the regime it forces and delays in programmes and progression as the key issues.

• A horticulture project introduced in late 2024.
• A body worn camera pilot with 25 cameras.
• A six-week peer support course for people nearing release.
• Management told monitors that more short-term prisoners moved to the open estate at Castle Huntly in 2024-25 than in the previous ten years.

HMP Glasgow, the planned replacement

In shortHMP Glasgow, due to complete in 2028, is planned to replace the 143-year-old Barlinnie.

• Announced capacity1,344357 more places
• Project cost£998.4mKier Construction is the contractor
• Completion2028Reported on schedule on 17 June 2026

The Scottish Parliament research service notes that the design capacity of HMP Glasgow is slightly lower than the 1,370 people Barlinnie actually held on average in 2024-25.

The SPS says the new design is based on small communities that make it easier to manage different populations, and that technology is intended to free staff time for engagement. Until the new prison opens, Barlinnie remains the prison described above.

Working at Barlinnie

In shortBarlinnie staff are SPS employees on SPS terms, not HMPPS terms, with two officer routes.

Barlinnie is an SPS prison, so staff are SPS employees on SPS terms, not HMPPS terms. Inspectors noted a structured induction for new operations and residential recruits, with team-building events listed as good practice.

Selection (residential roles)

A situational judgement test, a cognitive ability test, a group and written exercise, an interview and pre-employment checks including a fitness test.

SPS fitness test

A 600 metre run at 6.4 mph in 3 minutes 45 seconds, grip strength of 32 kgf and 30 kgf, 34 kg on the seated push and pull, and a one-minute hold of a 120 cm shield, with one retake.

Checks

Right to work, identity, three years’ employment history, a Level 2 Disclosure Scotland check, two references and health screening.