By Tom Martin
The cost of housing a prisoner in Scotland’s jails is now approaching £50,000 a year, amid concerns over high remand numbers and overcrowding.
Scottish Prison Service (SPS) figures show the average cost per prisoner place rose to £47,140 in 2023/24 — an increase of more than £10,000 in seven years, when it was £37,334.
The daily cost has also jumped from £102.28 to £129.15 over the same period.
Concerns have been raised about the financial implications of housing the remand population and the impact on the prisoners themselves, as well as the strain on services.
The SPS told 1919 that remand levels have a “significant impact” on facilities, staff, and efforts to reduce reoffending.
The Scottish Government pointed to recent legislation requiring courts to grant bail unless the accused poses a threat to the public or their release could prejudice a trial.
It also said the use of electronic bail – allowing alleged offenders to be tagged and monitored – is increasing.
But the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who obtained the statistics through a freedom of information request, urged ministers to do more to drive down remand.
Liam McArthur, the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “Scotland’s prisons are not serving prisoners, prison staff or the wider community well.
“Far too many prisoners are on remand, violent assaults are commonplace, and cells are bursting at the seams.
“We know that remand is severely disruptive to employment and the type of family links that are so important if we are to break the cycle of reoffending. These figures also show that it’s incredibly expensive too.”
The average daily prison population in 2023/24 was 7,860 — up six per cent on the previous year.
The overall average daily remand population stood at 1,796, representing around a quarter (23 per cent) of inmates.
Renewed watchdog warnings have highlighted crammed conditions, with some prisoners sharing unsuitable cells, a “stubbornly” high population, and the SPS struggling to cope.
Last November, Stephen Sandlam, interim HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland (HMCIPS), raised “serious concerns” about overcrowded prisons, concluding the population remains too high.
A monitoring report stated: “Overcrowding caused more prisoners to have to share a cell, some of which are not suitable for sharing.
“The remand population remains stubbornly high and the SPS estate is not equipped to deal with this rising population.”
Catherine Dyer, chair of Community Justice Scotland, told 1919 that time in prison can create lasting problems such as unemployment, homelessness, and family breakdown – even for those eventually found not guilty.
She said: “Using community justice approaches allows people to be managed safely and receive supervision in the community while awaiting trial.
“Placing them on bail allows crucial relationships and responsibilities to be maintained – taking care of their children and elderly relatives, holding down a job, education or training, and engaging with local support services to tackle addiction.
“Technology such as electronic tagging can ensure that they are complying with specific bail conditions set by the court, such as remaining at home during specific times, or staying away from a particular location.”
“Far too many prisoners are on remand, violent assaults are commonplace and cells are bursting at the seams”
Liam McArthur, Scottish Lib Dem justice spokesperson
An SPS spokesperson said: “We have a population which is extremely high, complex, and continuing to rise.
“Part of that complexity is the number of people held on remand, who we are required to keep separate from those who are convicted.
“While it is not for us to determine who should be remanded to custody, the impact on our establishments is significant.
“This continues to have a significant impact on our staff and the time available to them to do the important work in supporting people, building relationships, turning lives around, reducing the risk of reoffending, and creating a safer Scotland for all.”
The Scottish Government said it is committed to reducing the number of people on remand, with supervised bail at a decade high, and electronically monitored bail up 30 per cent last year.
A spokesperson added: “The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023, when in force, will seek to ensure that the use of remand is a last resort reserved for cases where public safety requires it.
“Alternatives to remand, such as bail supervision and electronically monitored bail, are critical to support a change in how remand is used.
“These measures are backed by specific funding of £3.2 million to continue to support bail services in 2024/25.
“Section five of the 2023 act allows courts to take time on electronically monitored bail into account at sentencing.”