The Scottish Conservatives are calling for a ban on high-risk prisoners having access to kettles following a spate of boiling water attacks on prison officers.
A Freedom of Information response reveals that in the last year there were eight incidents of boiling water being used to attack prison officers across five Scottish prisons.
There were three incidents in HMP Barlinnie, two in HMP & YOI Polmont, and one each in HMP Edinburgh, HMP Glenochil, and HMP Low Moss.
All prisoners, including those designated as high-risk and requiring a high degree of supervision, currently have access to kettles with limited exceptions.
Shadow Justice Secretary Liam Kerr MSP called the figures “alarming and unacceptable” and urged SNP ministers to act now to protect staff and inmates.
He also called for a review into the safeguards in place that allow other prisoners access to kettles.
It comes after a kettle was reportedly used as part of a boiling water attack on a prison officer in HMP Belmarsh in England by Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana earlier this year.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr MSP said: “Given the number of boiling water attacks on prison officers in the past year alone, it’s simply common sense that high-risk prisoners should not have access to kettles.
“There is also a clear need for an urgent review on whether all other prisoners should have access to kettles given the clear risk they pose to prison staff and fellow inmates.
“These alarming and unacceptable figures must act as a wake-up call to the SNP government.
“Ministers have a duty of care to brave and dedicated prison officers – and that means acting now to reduce the chances of future, potentially catastrophic, attacks involving boiling water.”
Notes:
In the last year there were eight incidents of boiling water being used to attack prison officers in Scotland. Between 1 June 2024 and 1 June 2025 there were three incidents in HMP Barlinnie, two in HMP & YOI Polmont, and one each in HMP Edinburgh, HMP Glenochil, and HMP Low Moss. (Scottish Prison Service FOI, 28 July 2025, available upon request)
All Scottish prisoners have access to kettles. The Scottish Prison Service say: “Everyone in our care will have access to a kettle. The only exception to this would be if staff are advised not to allow a kettle in use due to medical advice or security reasons.” (Scottish Prison Service FOI, 28 July 2025, available upon request).
High-risk Scottish prisoners have access to kettles. The Scottish Prison Service say: “All individuals in the care of the Scottish Prison Service who are accommodated in mainstream conditions have access to a kettle”. At HMP Shotts, which solely houses long-term male prisoners including murderers, the Scottish Prison Service confirmed that “HMP Shotts currently have 55 people in our care listed as High Supervision and reside in mainstream conditions.” (Scottish Prison Service FOI, 28 July 2025, available upon request; Scottish Prison Service FOI, 26 June 2025, available upon request)
High-risk prisoners in Scotland are classified as requiring High Supervision. The Scottish Prison Service operates a high, medium, and low supervision system which governs the level of supervision and monitoring prisoners require. High Supervision means all their activities and movements are required to be authorised, supervised, and monitored by prison staff. (Prison Reform Trust, December 2023, link)
Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana reportedly used a kettle to attack a prison officer with boiling water. This led Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick MP to demand all high-risk prisoners in England and Wales should be deprived of kettles. (Express, 12 May Link).