Short videos posted to TikTok this week appear to show inmates at HMP Addiewell partying, using synthetic drugs and filming abuse inside cells — evidence that raises fresh questions about security and drug supplies in Scotland’s busiest prison. The footage, passed to reporters and still reachable online, has prompted renewed calls for urgent action from political parties and the prison officers’ union.
What the clips show
The material, uploaded to a single account with just under 700 followers, includes images and short clips of inmates drinking homemade alcohol, appearing incapacitated after taking Spice, and being handled roughly by other prisoners. One video shows a slumped man having his head shaved while unconscious; another captures a tissue placed in a nostril and then set alight.
Those who shared the footage say it was recorded on illicit phones that are circulating inside the jail. In several clips there are no visible staff, and groups of men can be seen laughing, shouting and playing music as if unsupervised.
- Drug use: Videos labelled with captions such as “Spice” and “spice head.”
- Contraband phones: Clips uploaded directly from inside cells, indicating mobile devices are in use.
- Violence and humiliation: An apparently incoherent prisoner being dragged and having his hair cut; others filmed while incapacitated.
- Boasting tone: Hashtags and captions suggest inmates are flaunting an “easy” regime.
Officials and unions respond
Political figures from several parties reacted sharply after the footage circulated. Scottish Labour’s justice spokeswoman said the recordings were alarming and linked them to growing problems with drugs and overcrowding in the prison estate. The Scottish Conservative shadow justice minister described the scenes as evidence of systemic disorder under current management. The Scottish Liberal Democrats called for resources to be prioritised so staff can make prisons safer and reduce reoffending.
The Scottish Prison Officers Association urged that Addiewell be brought back into public operation “when financially feasible,” arguing earlier that the private contract hampers effective oversight and staffing.
How Addiewell is run — and why that matters now
HMP Addiewell is currently operated by facilities firm Sodexo under a private finance arrangement signed in 2006. The contract to manage the site on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service runs until 2033. It is now Scotland’s only remaining private prison after previous transfers of other sites back to public control.
The governance model is a central part of the debate: campaigners and some union representatives say private operation complicates accountability and limits the ability of the Scottish Prison Service to intervene quickly when problems escalate.
Recent official figures provide context
Freedom of information data released by the Scottish Prison Service for the 12 months to March show Addiewell recorded the highest totals in the country for several serious incidents.
- Self-harm incidents: 234 at Addiewell — roughly one in four of the 1,047 reported across Scotland’s prisons during that period.
- Assaults: 154 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults recorded at Addiewell, higher than several larger establishments.
By comparison, the figures show lower totals at other major jails: Barlinnie and HMP Edinburgh recorded fewer self-harm incidents during the same window, despite housing larger inmate populations.
Health and security implications
Authorities and health experts have repeatedly warned about the lethal effects of synthetic cannabinoids commonly called Spice. The substance can produce prolonged psychosis, seizures and sudden immobility — behaviours that create acute management and medical risks within custodial settings.
When drugs, illicit phones and improvised alcohol are combined with staffing pressures, the result is a volatile environment that can increase violent incidents and strain healthcare and escort resources.
Why this matters to the public: disrupted prisons can lead to higher reoffending rates, greater costs to the health service and police, and increased risks to staff and inmates alike.
Responses and next steps
Both Sodexo and the Scottish Prison Service were approached for comment. Officials have previously acknowledged problems at Addiewell and this story is likely to increase scrutiny of on-site security, contraband controls and staffing.
Policy responses being discussed publicly include tighter searches for contraband, enhanced monitoring of digital activity inside cells, increased resources for officers and reconsideration of private management arrangements.
For now, the footage remains online, and the debate over how to tackle drugs, violence and staff shortages at Addiewell has intensified across Scotland’s political spectrum.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
