Tories to vote against early prisoner release
THE Scottish Conservatives will vote against Scottish Government plans to release prisoners early to ease pressure on the prison estate, the party has said – despite Rishi Sunak announcing similar measures in England last week.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs of the proposals, in response to a spike of 400 extra prisoners between March 18 and last Thursday. She said the rise left ministers with “no choice but to act if we are to avoid an unprecedented crisis developing”.
Constance said she would bring proposals to Holyrood in the coming weeks, with those serving sentences of less than four years being eligible.
Under the terms of the Bail And Release From Custody (Scotland) Act
– which allows for the emergency release of prisoners to preserve the “security and good order” of the estate – those sentenced to life, or who have not been tried, or anyone convicted of a terrorism-related, sexual or domestic violence offence are not eligible for early release.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said yesterday his party would not back the plans, amid fears of a risk to public safety.
He said: “If the SNP government set free hundreds of prisoners before they’ve done their time it will put public safety at risk with high rates of re-offending.
“Crime victims already feel let down by soft-touch sentencing and this would be compounded by artificially reducing the time a judge has decided that criminals should spend behind bars. The SNP are killed another five people, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
In Deir al-Balah itself, a strike killed Zahed al-Houli, a senior officer in the Hamas-run police, and another man, according to the hospital.
Palestinians reported more airstrikes and heavy fighting in northern Gaza, which has been largely isolated by Israeli troops for months and where the World Food Programme says a famine is under way.
The Civil Defence says the strikes hit several homes near Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahiya, killing at least 10 people.
In the Jabliya refugee camp nearby, residents reported a heavy wave of artillery and airstrikes. Abdel-Kareem Radwan, 48, said the whole eastern side of the camp has become a battle zone where the Israeli fighter jets “strike anything that moves”. wringing their hands and talking about a crisis. But it is a crisis of their making, primarily by failing to build vital new prisons on time.”
There have been delays to the building of new jails, HMP Glasgow and HMP Highland.
On Friday, Constance said the design for the replacement for Barlinnie would be available in the summer – despite previous assertions that the design would be complete by April.
Findlay said: “They must consider an alternative shortterm approach that would prioritise public safety and protect the integrity of Scotland’s justice system. This could include the installation of temporary accommodation, but all options should be considered.
“Longer term, they need to build
Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for the Civil Defence, said rescuers had recovered at least 150 bodies, more than half of them women and children, since Israel began its operation in Jabaliya last week. He said that around 300 homes have been “completely destroyed”.
Israel launched its offensive after Hamas’s October 7 attack, in which Palestinian militants stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250.
At least 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, about two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Around 80% of the Strip’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times.
Netanyahu’s critics – including thousands of protesters who took to the streets again on Saturday – acthe new prisons, and if they don’t want to jail criminals, provide judges with robust, trusted and effective community sentencing options.” Constance said: “Protecting the public remains an absolute priority and our proposal for emergency early release has a range of specific safeguards built in.
“While the Scottish Prison Service is exploring the feasibility of adding temporary accommodation, this is not a quick fix. I am committed to working with all parties to find solutions but as I set out in my statement to Parliament, immediate action is needed.
“England and Wales are also experiencing similar issues and are operating a rolling early release process.”