Kilmarnock (HM Prison)

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HM Prison Kilmarnock is a prison in Bowhouse, Hurlford near Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated 3 miles south-east of Hurlford on the Mauchline Road. Its location means it is locally known as Bowhouse Prison. Local media often dubs it Hurlford Hilton.

The prison was opened 25 March 1999 and is privately run by Serco (formerly known as Premier Prison Services) on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service; the first of its kind in Scotland.

There have been a number of controversies over the prison since it transferred to private management in 1999.

• In 2005 three members of staff were removed from normal duties after an undercover BBC investigation claimed that staff ignored heroin abuse and failed to monitor vulnerable inmates. It was alleged that heroin use was ignored in order to avoid Premier being fined.
• It was claimed in 2005, that the carrying of knives by inmates was "commonplace" after a senior manager was stabbed
• In 2004 a teenager with learning difficulties was raped
• In 2004 five fifteen year olds were found to have been held there, in contravention of its remit as an adult male prison.
• In 2004 two warders were charged with sexual assault against a female staff member and a manager was dismissed for sexual harassment.
• Seven men have killed themselves while incarcerated there since 1999

Kilmarnock prison received £700,000 in public subsidies in 2002