Pink News reports the Scottish Prison Service has “launched an advertising blitz in gay publications to recruit the gay community.” The service would like at least six out of every 100 of their prison officers to be gay.

They have launched an advertising blitz in gay publications to recruit the gay community in Glasgow, Barlinnie and Edinburgh jails.

Officials are consulting with gay groups to attract workers whose sexuality makes them wary of the image prisons portray. A partnership has been set up with Diversity Champions, a campaign for greater opportunity for homosexuals, and there are plans for a help line for any wardens who want to come out.

The SPS will be the first uniformed service to commit to a campaign to create workplace equality for gay people.

Calum Irving, of gay rights organisation Stonewall Scotland, told the Mirror, “Six per cent of the population is gay, lesbian or bisexual and the ratio should be the same for prison officers. Many inmates can only benefit.”