Watchdog warns Barlinnie water crisis exposes Scotland's 'ageing' prison infrastructure

Prisoners at HMP Barlinnie have gone a full week without a reliable water supply, with most areas of the jail affected since the problem was first reported last Thursday. A watchdog has now weighed in, warning the prolonged disruption is a symptom of deeper, systemic problems with Scotland's ageing prison estate.

The disruption has been described as 'intermittent' but has spread to cover most areas of the prison over seven days.

The watchdog's intervention signals the crisis is no longer seen as a one-off maintenance fault but evidence of structural decline.