Scottish prisons aren’t all inspected the way prisons in England & Wales are. HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) still carries out full inspections at some establishments, rating performance against nine Standards (from Good down to Unacceptable), but for most prisons it now monitors continuously through the year instead, using local volunteer Independent Prison Monitors (IPMs) who report their findings annually rather than through a single inspection visit.
HMP Barlinnie’s most recent inspection was a short, focused one carried out on 14 October 2026, following a major mains water leak that began on 8 October and had lost an estimated three million litres by the time inspectors visited – affecting drinking water, in-cell toilets, heating, hot water and laundry. At the time, Barlinnie held 1,415 men against a designated capacity of 1,021 – 39% overcrowded – with over a quarter on remand.
Inspectors raised particular concern that the prison’s fire suppression system runs from the same mains supply affected by the leak, and found no public information had been published anywhere for worried families. In a letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, HM Chief Inspector Sara Snell recommended Barlinnie close and its prisoners move to the new HMP Glasgow – while noting that prison “is not expected to become operational for more than two years”. Barlinnie remains Scotland’s best-known and busiest local prison, and is due to be replaced by HMP Glasgow around 2028.
To read the full report, go to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland website or follow the link below:
- Short inspection letter (PDF), HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, 14 October 2026