Bin lorry drivers have been caught taking weapons and mobile phones into one of the country’s biggest jails in two separate high-level security breaches.
Bosses at waste firm William Tracey have been grilled by prison officials as to why two different drivers have been intercepted trying to enter the grounds of HMP Barlinnie, Glasgow, with alleged caches of contraband over the past six weeks.
It is believed the discoveries have put a strain on relations between the prison service and Traceys, who are paid £400,000 a year to empty jail bins. It’s a criminal offence to take mobiles or weapons into prisons and visitors are warned as they enter to leave such items at security points.
Last night, an insider said: “No-one knows what is going on with the drivers at Traceys. One being caught can be dismissed as just a mistake.
“But two caught in the space of a few weeks raises serious questions.”
There is no suggestion bosses of the waste firm, based in Linwood, Renfrewshire, knew their drivers were planning to allegedly take banned objects into prison grounds.
The first incident happened on July 7 when a lorry driver was discovered with contraband in his cab in prison grounds. It is understood the driver was sacked by the firm, which has an annual turnover of around £50 million.
Last Monday, a second driver was caught by jail officials carrying a knife and mobile phones. Senior jail staff called the police after the second discovery. The driver was arrested and spent the night in a cell before prosecutors postponed making a decision on whether to press charges. It is understood he has been suspended by his employers.
In relation to the second seizure, a Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed a 47-year-old man was arrested under the Prison Scotland Act. He was due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court earlier this week, but didn’t.
A Crown Office spokesman said: “The procurator fiscal at Glasgow received a report concerning a 47-year-old man in relation to an alleged incident on August 18. After full consideration of the facts and circumstances of the report, the accused did not appear in court. The case remains under consideration by the procurator fiscal”.
Barlinnie’s new governor Ian Whitehead is apparently intent on smashing the weapons culture within the jail and has launched a crackdown on knives since taking over at the start of the summer.
It comes after it was revealed in March the number of deadly weapons found in Scotland’s largest prison soared in the last three years.
Since last April, 38 weapons mostly makeshift knives have been confiscated from inmates in HMP Barlinnie. It was up from 32 in 2012/13, 18 in 2011/12 and 14 in 2010/11.
Last night, a spokesman for William Tracey said: “We are working closely with the Scottish Prison Service and have re-briefed all our drivers with regards to their responsibilities when servicing the prison.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said: “SPS takes the security in prisons very seriously.
“We are aware of incidents recently where contract staff are alleged to have had unauthorised items in their vehicles whilst entering prisons.
“In appropriate circumstances the police are advised and investigate. We have discussed further measures with the company concerned to minimise the possibility of repeat incidents.”
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