More than 10 weapons have been seized from prisoners in Inverness over an 18-month period.
Drugs, mobile phones and other items were taken from those locked up at Porterfield Prison from May 2023 to November 2024.
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Razor blades were the most common ‘weapon’ seized, but there was also a sharpened toilet brush handle, broken nail clippers and a shard of glass among the 11 taken from inmates.
The details have been revealed by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) in response to a Freedom of Information request by The Inverness Courier.
Drugs finds totalled 160 over the period, the majority of which were classed as ‘medication’ which included non-prescribed medication. The figure also included cocaine, white powder wraps, so-called Spice – new psycho-active substances – as well as some unknown substances.
A total of 18 mobile phones were seized, with SPS-issued mobiles removed and classed as illegal in mid-July 2023.
Other items confiscated from prisoners included a needle and syringe, bottles of fermenting fruit, tobacco, an improvised smoking device, SIM cards and charging cables, wire, and roll-up cigarettes.
When asked to indicate how these items are getting into the hands of prisoners, a spokesperson for SPS said: “As your request is for attributable recoveries, we have no attached record of any declared introduction method, therefore it would be speculation. Known introduction methods are: secreted on admission, passes at visits, incoming property and letters, throw overs (perimeter wall), and staff.”
Last month Scott Watson, the governor of HMP Inverness, told us: “As hard as staff work, there is always a way that drugs are smuggled in.”
Over the past 12 months, more incidents of corruption of prison staff have been seen in the media.
Speaking on this, Mr Watson said: “We do have some staff throughout the prison service, who are corrupt; who will join with that intention or through coercion. We have strong policies and robust action for this and seek to work with the police.
“Serious organised crime groups also target staff and offer bribes – but it is a small percentage of people operating in that manner.”