Plans to release criminals from jail early are a “capitulation to criminality”, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents has said.
President Rob Hay was responding to an announcement by Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who this week said the Scottish Government’s previous plan to release prisoners after serving 40% of their sentence had failed to free up prison space.
She said that from May, prisoners could be released after serving just 30% of their sentences.
Rob said the decision showed the Scottish Government was prioritising the “comfort of criminals” over the general public.
He said: “The proposal to release prisoners after just 30% of their sentences is a capitulation to criminality and holds the courts and, ultimately, victims of crime in utter contempt.
“The Scottish Government are caught in a cycle of prioritising the comfort of convicted prisoners over the safety of the Scottish public.
“In England and Wales, 14,000 new prison spaces are planned by 2031 – where is the proportionate additional capacity in Scotland?
“Criminals are being released into communities desperate for respite from their behaviour, and an over-stretched police service is expected to pick up the pieces.
“This proposal is not safe and it is only a matter of time before a tragedy occurs.”