Insult to crime victims

Anger as Bill to scrap early release will only affect the most serious offenders

MINISTERS yesterday unveiled plans to axe automatic early release of prisoners – but only for the most serious offenders. The Scottish Government was accused of ‘insulting’ victims of crime over its plans for only a partial abolition of early release, despite a manifesto promise to end it outright.

The proposed new laws will end the right for sex offenders sentenced to more than four years – or other criminals jailed for more than ten – to be released after serving only two-thirds.

It has finally been introduced to the Scottish parliament after being repeatedly delayed by the SNP despite two manifesto pledges.

However, the Scottish Tories argue only 2 per cent of prisoners will be affected by the change.

The rest will continue to be released early, regardless of the nature of their crime, even if they have not admitted their guilt or attempted to address their behaviour while behind bars.

Margaret Mitchell, Scots Tory justice spokesman, said: ‘These proposals just don’t go far enough.

‘When a prisoner is handed down a sentence in court, the public expect that to be served in full.

‘It’s no good just bringing this in for a handful of offenders, it should apply across the board.’

A spokesman for Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: ‘This is rank hypocrisy from the Scottish Tories, who introduced the system of automatic early release.

‘If our reforms had been in place since the existing system was brought in by the then UK Tory Government in the mid-1990s, some 2,200 dangerous offenders i ncluding rapists and violent offenders would not have been entitled t o automatic early release.’

In a statement yesterday, Mr MacAskill said: ‘Under the proposals in the Bill, where long-term prisoners pose an unacceptable risk to public safety, they will serve their entire sentence in custody.

‘Meanwhile new prisoner release arrangements will allow more targeted access to health, housing and other services to help prisoners integrate back into the commu- nity and reduce the risk of reoffending.’

David McKenna, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, said: ‘This is a very important advance which will go a long way to improving the public perception of justice in Scotland and will provide far greater transparency in sentencing.’

Sacro, which works to reduce offending, also welcomed the changes. Director of operations Paolo Mazzoncini said: ‘The hours following release from prison can be critical in determining whether a person desists from offending or marches straight back into trouble.

‘Being able to access important support services immediately following release greatly improves the chances of successful offender reintegration.’