PRESSURE COOKER PRISONS HAVE HIT BREAKING POINT

SCOTLAND'S jails are at "breaking point" as prison officers today demand urgent action on "dangerous" levels of overcrowding.

- BY SALLY HIND

A damning report from the prison warder's union has laid bare staff fears after jail numbers reached record levels.

Almost all officers say rising prisoner numbers make jails more dangerous, with more than 80 per cent saying their prison can no longer cope.

Scotland has one of the highest incarceration rates in Europe, with 8110 people behind bars this week.

Phil Fairlie, the Prison Officers Association (POA), said: "This report is the clearest evidence prisons are at breaking point.

"Members are expected to work in this pressure cooker atmosphere every day. They do a remarkable job but without the correct support something has to give. They are not superhuman.

Something has to give - officers are not super human

PHIL FAIRLIE ON PRISON CONDITIONS