Prison gun mystery: Police say a firearm was found in a Scottish prison, but prison bosses say otherwise

Police Scotland’s 2022-23 recorded crime statistics reveal a single incident of "possession of a firearm in a prison" but do not state when it happened, provide details of the firearm, the identity of the prison or whether anyone was prosecuted.

If true, it would be the first recorded firearm discovery inside a Scottish prison since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013.

Scottish Conservative shadow community safety minister Russell Findlay said the potential first ever discovery of a firearm inside a prison is “deeply alarming” and confirmed he intends to ask the SNP justice secretary Angela Constance “to provide a full account of this incident”.

“Prison staff do a difficult and dangerous job, and they deserve to know exactly what this was about,” said Mr Findlay.

“For someone to be caught with a gun inside what should be a secure environment adds to a growing catalogue of serious concerns about the safety and security of Scotland's prisons.

“The number of prisoners caught with drugs has risen sharply, drone use is on the increase and cars belonging to prison staff have been firebombed.

“Ruthless organised crime groups are seeking to exert control inside prisons, and we cannot allow that to happen. Prisoners need to know that the staff are in charge - not them.

“SNP cuts to the prison service budget coupled with their soft-touch approach to justice is a dangerous combination which I fear could result in staff being put at even greater risk from violence and intimidation.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of people living and working in prisons is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government.

“The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has previously indicated that no firearms were discovered inside a Scottish prison in 2022-23.”

The spokesperson further said that “an explanation for how this single incident might have been recorded in the statistics has been given”, but would not provide further information on the explanation given.

However, a Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: "There were no incidents of a firearm being recovered in a Scottish prison in 2022/23."

Mr Findlay said the response from the Scottish Government “only raises further serious questions”.

“Surely it should be fairly straightforward to define what constitutes a firearm discovery in a prison and what doesn’t”, said Mr Findlay.

“The public will be wondering how something as serious as this could have potentially been recorded in error, so further explanation is required by ministers and the prison service.”

The firearm revelation follows a confirmed 1,100 per cent rise in prisoners being caught with drugs and the recent firebombing of staff vehicles in a car park outside HMP Addiewell in West Lothian.

There has also been an increase in drones flying into the prison estate, with nine detected in the first three months of this year. Drones are sometimes used to smuggle drugs and other contraband into prisons.