Sheriff’s fury over ‘justice’

A DISTINGUISHED former sheriff has criticised Scottish Government plans to make it easier for criminals to get out of prison.

Writing in today’s Scottish Mail on Sunday, Sheriff Douglas Cusine, who sat at Aberdeen, says new SNP reforms endanger the public and make a mockery of the criminal justice system.

The SNP wants to allow serious offenders – jailed for four years or more – to be eligible for parole after a third of their sentence, and those jailed for less than four years to be eligible at the halfway point.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The proposals in the Bail and Release consultation are focused on supporting successful reintegration and preventing reoffending.

‘We will carefully consider responses before bringing forward any legislative changes.’