NO EARLY RELEASE FOR KNIFE THUGS
Justice Secretary announces end to electronic tagging after campaign
KNIFE thugs will no longer be released early from jail on an electronic tag, the Justice Secretary pledged yesterday.
Humza Yousaf announced a shake-up of the home curfew system after a campaign by murdered dad Craig McClelland’s family.
A MURDER victim’s family were praised by the Justice Secretary yesterday as he pledged that knife thugs will no longer be released early from jail on an electronic tag.
Humza Yousaf announced the change in policy following reviews into the death of Craig McClelland, a father of three from Paisley who was stabbed in July last year.
His killer, James Wright, was “unlawfully at large” at the time while on home detention curfew (HDC).
The murder sparked a public outcry over the system.
Yousaf said violent offenders and those involved in organised crime would also be ineligible for HDC.
Paying tribute to Craig’s family, he added: “It is through their tenacity and tireless campaigning on behalf of Craig that we have got to this point.
“I want to thank them sincerely for their efforts as their campaigning means we will have a stronger, more robust home detention curfew regime.”
Yousaf ’s predecessor Michael Matheson ordered reviews from HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) after Craig’s death.
Their findings, published yesterday, showed convicted criminals dodged justice for years because they were not recorded on police systems.
It emerged that dozens of offenders evaded authorities after breaking the curfews due to official blunders and computer glitches.
Shockingly, some were arrested for