SNP conference backs idea of 'open prisons'

Plans to consider Finnish-style "open prisons" in Scotland have been backed at the SNP’S conference.

Delegates supported a call yesterday to study "other more successful models for dealing with criminal offences" by 435 votes to ten.

A motion said Scotland's incarceration rate was "substantially higher" than most other EU countries.

It added: "Conference therefore proposes a study to consider other more successful models for dealing with criminal offences, such as the Finnish model, which utilises open prisons and has focused on rehabilitation, reducing imprisonment rates to amongst the lowest in Europe without any increase in crime".

Inmates in Finland’s open prisons can leave the facility, study and have paid jobs.

Colinstorrier,ofthesnp's Edinburgh Central branch, said a "not insignificant" number of people were imprisoned for non-violent crimes in Scotland.