Guard suspended over 'relationship' with prisoner

A female prison officer has been suspended over allegations she formed an inappropriate relationship with a male inmate.

The officer works at HMP Shotts Prison in North Lanarkshire and was suspended on Wednesday.

A Scottish Prison Service (SPS) spokesman said the matter was under investigation.

Last year a guard caught smuggling cocaine into Shotts was jailed for more than six years.

Heather McKenzie, 31, secretly brought drugs and mobile phones to inmate Zak Malavin at the top-security jail.

An SPS spokesman said: "While the vast majority of our staff adhere to the highest standards of conduct, we are always vigilant to any potential corruption within our establishments.

"As this matter is currently subject to an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further."

The latest Shotts incident comes as the prison service has warned the country's jails are too full.