Rate of prisoner deaths in Scotland among highest in whole of Europe
Scotland has one of the highest rates of prisoner deaths in Europe, according to newly published figures.
Statistics from the Council of Europe show the mortality rate per 10,000 inmates is 39.0 in Scotland compared with a median of 26.3 across all countries.
According to the annual report, there were 29 deaths in Scottish prisons in 2018.
Other countries with high rates of death are predominately in eastern Europe, including Russia (51.0), Bulgaria (51.5) and Moldova (55.0), although the rate in Portugal was 51.3.
The mortality rate per 10,000 inmates was 35.0 in England and Wales, 21.7 in Italy, 22.0 in France and 25.4 in Germany and 7.0 in Sweden.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s overall prison population rate was 136.5 compared with the Europe-wide median of 102.5.
Justice secretary Humza Yousaf has previously said Scotland’s prison population is “not a statistic to be proud of”.
The Scottish Government is introducing a presumption against prison sentences of 12 months or less – up from the existing three-month limit – as part of a drive to cut the number of inmates.
Scotland’s prison population hit 8,020 towards the end of February, according to official figures, compared with a post-devolution high of 8,400 in 2012.
There were about 500 inmates serving life sentences in 2000, compared with more than 1,000 earlier this year.