Scotland’s prisons are “bursting at the seams” with nearly 1,800 prisoners doubling up in cells built for one person.

Ten of the country’s prisons are also overcrowded, including occupancy rates reaching over 100 per cent in West Lothian and Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Barlinnie is operating at 140 per cent capacity.

Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who unearthed the figures, said: “Overcrowding puts services at risk, threatens staff safety and makes it far more difficult to successfully rehabilitate people.”

As the Record reports, campaigners have regularly warned about the human rights and safety implications of crammed prisons.

Want to see more SNP fails? – Health Matters