Prisoners hospitalised after Christmas drug misuse

Five prisoners were taken to hospital on Christmas Day following widespread drug misuse at a Scottish prison.

A total of 35 inmates at HMP Glenochil in Clackmannanshire were identified as being under the influence of drugs on 25 December, with five taken to hospital for treatment.

It is thought the drugs were delivered to the jail using illegal drones.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) said attempts to bring illicit substances into its jails are posing a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of prisoners and staff.

Drugs, weapons and mobile phones were seized by Glenochil staff during the Christmas Day incident.

All of the prisoners taken to hospital are now safe and well.

Last year inmates at HMP Glenochil held protests about conditions at the jail.

Prisoners were unhappy about the length of time they were allowed to spend outside their cells and the number of activities on offer.

The protests resulted in some damage to cells and windows.

HMP Glenochil, like the rest of Scotland's jails, has been dealing with a record high number of prisoners.

The problem of inmates taking drugs and criminal gangs using drones to get illegal substances inside prisons is a long standing issue for most of Scotland's jails.

A SPS spokesperson said: "Any attempt to bring illicit substances into our establishment, including by a drone, poses a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of those in our care, and the safety our staff, and we will use all technological and intelligence tools available to prevent this wherever possible.

"We continue to work with Police Scotland, and other partners, to take action against those who attempt to breach our security."