Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jan 2006
Source: Daily Record (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/111
Author: Derek Alexander

OPEN ALL HOURS

Security at a Scottish prison is today exposed as a farce.

A Daily Record reporter spent a day strolling round the jail dressed 
as an inmate - and even helped himself to porridge in the canteen.No 
one challenged our man, who freely associated with criminals, 
including convicted murderers.He even chatted to warders before 
walking back out of the jail.We decided to test security at Castle 
Huntly prison near Dundee after inmates told us they were regularly 
being supplied with drugs and alcohol.And during our experiment last 
Thursday, we were shocked to find restrictions were virtually non-existent.

Our man was handed a prison uniform by a con and had the run of the 
under-fire jail, which has just increased its capacity.

He strolled in and queued up for a meal with inmates before wandering 
round the prison.

The Record investigator was served food by two officers in the 
canteen and given directions around the jail by another warden.

He then walked round unchallenged and chatted to officers and cons.

Our man sauntered by an office packed with staff and even passed a 
warden on his way out of the compound.

Killers have already made a mockery of the regime by walking out of the jail.

And villagers in neighbouring Longforgan, which has a population of 
600, have claimed their community is being targeted in crime sprees.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) last year almost doubled Castle 
Huntly's capacity from 150 inmates to 290.

The SPS built a new block of 70 cells to hold 140 new inmates.

Locals have already complained to prison bosses that they regularly 
find alcohol and drug caches hidden in their gardens for prisoners to pick up.

Our security breach came just months after prison governor Ian 
Whitehead met locals and pledged to tighten up security.

Helen Robertson, of the Longforgan Residents' Committee, said: "We 
know that there are still a lot of things that go on that shouldn't.

"Castle Huntly is a holiday camp and we are powerless to stop them 
expanding even further."

In August last year, crazed knifeman John Campbell butchered a woman 
while on leave from Castle Huntly.

The 34-year-old armed robber stabbed Catherine Thomson to death.

Other violent criminals, like killer Joseph Morgan and Arthur 
Cummings, have simply wandered out of the jail.

In a report published in 2002, Clive Fairweather, then the chief 
inspector of prisons, said there were "unacceptably high" levels of 
illegal drugs in Castle Huntly and called for a crackdown.

A prisoner later claimed that he tried to escape so he could kick his 
heroin habit.

Our probe shows how easy it is for some of Scotland's most dangerous 
prisoners to smuggle drugs and alcohol into the jail.

One former inmate said: "It's an open prison but more like a holiday camp.

"Prisoners are told not to escape but cons regularly leave the prison 
grounds to pick up booze and drug parcels.

"I've seen guys come right up to the canteen and hand drugs to their pals.

"I even carried out a few burglaries with pals when I was there. It 
was a cakewalk."

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie last night demanded answers after 
the Record investigation.

She said: "I'm sure the public will be appalled at these disclosures. 
"I will be writing to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson and requesting 
an explanation."

Nicola Sturgeon, deputy leader of the SNP, said: "An incident like 
this has got to be investigated by the Scottish Prison Service."

Last night, a Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: "Castle Huntly 
is an open prison and inmates are allowed a certain degree of freedom.

"But we will consider the contents of the Daily Record article."

Castle Huntly, built in 1452, has been used as a prison since 1947. 
It's a low-security jail for Category D prisoners serving terms 
ranging from two years to life.

DANGER MEN OF CASTLE HUNTLY

EVIL Joseph Morgan was sentenced to 16 years in jail for the torture 
and murder of pensioner Annie Shankland.

The killer, 43, has been on the run from Castle Huntly for more than 
a year after he failed to return from a home visit.

DRUG addict Alan Wright broke out of Castle Huntly and burgled a house.

The 40-year-old then broke back into the prison but he was caught 
after his DNA was discovered in a car that he had stolen.

He had run up huge drug debts while in jail.

VIOLENT criminal Arthur Cummings went missing from the prison last April.

Cummings, 26, who was serving seven years for assault, gave himself 
up after hiding at home in Glasgow for four months.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman