Thugs breaching tags face tougher action

CRIMINALS who flout soft-touch laws by breaching tags will face harsher action, under plans for a new offence.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has promised to making being unlawfully at large a specific crime – as part of a package aimed at toughening up Home Detention Curfews (HDCs).

Prisoners are freed early on HDCs, providing they observe curfews and other limits on their movements.

But the Scottish Government was forced to review the approach after father-of-three Craig McClelland was stabbed to death by James Wright, who had been on the run for five months since beaching his tag. It later emerged 15 offenders were ‘unlawfully at large’ after breaching HDCs.

Yesterday, Mr McClelland’s father Michael said: ‘Unfortunately, it had to take someone dying for them to decide the system is totally wrong – the whole HDC system is broken beyond belief.’

The new offence will be among Government amendments to the Management of Offenders Bill, which will include a ban on long-term prisoners – those jailed for more serious crimes – ever being freed on a tag and stronger powers to revoke HDCs and send criminals back to prison.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘Most people will be shocked police didn’t already have these powers.’

Scottish Labour passed a motion at its conference demanding any new offence of being unlawfully at large would come with a mandatory custodial sentence.

But the Government failed to promise offenders who breach tags and go on the run would be jailed, saying sentences would be at the discretion of the courts.

Mr Yousaf said: ‘The Management of Offenders Bill is a key part our wider work to reform the justice system and enhance public safety.’