Victim support group wants urgent talks over 'significant concerns' at Scotland mass prisoner release
Hundreds of prisoners will be released under Scottish Government plans, starting from next month.
A victim support charity has raised “significant concerns” about the planned released of hundreds of more prisoners in Scotland, saying viable longer-term solutions are urgently needed.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance on Thursday announced plans for six phases of an early release scheme.
The first release would take place next month, with around 440 prisoners to be let out of Scottish prisons by the end of the year.
The scheme will exclude those serving time for domestic abuse or sexual crimes.
But Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland (VSS), said more capacity in prisons must be considered.
“It is urgent that the Scottish Government engage with VSS, and other key voluntary organisations working in this field, to determine viable longer-term solutions,” she said.
“Given that more people are being convicted for crimes that require longer sentences, including rises in serious sexual offences, we think that more capacity in prisons has to be part of the solution.”
“The rights and safety of victims and public safety must take precedence in these deliberations.”
Ten prisons are now classed as being a “red risk” and ten are on or over capacity. The classifications were confirmed as it was revealed the prison population had increased by 200 in the past three months.
Ms Constance earlier this year described the near £1 billion cost of replacing Barlinnie prison, almost ten times the initial estimate, as a “critical investment” for the sustainability of the prison service. HMP Glasgow is expected to be built by 2028.
A veto will be granted to prison governors to block release if they feel someone eligible poses an "immediate risk of harm".
Ms Wallace said: “Our main priority is making sure that victims know whether they will be impacted by these releases or not. If someone is not signed up to the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS), there will be no pro-active contact to warn them of a prisoner’s early release.
“We would urge anyone worried about a prisoner, in their case, being released early to get in touch with our helpline on 0800 160 1985, or visit our website, victimsupport.scot.
"You can give us consent to act your behalf and ask the Scottish Prison Service VNS team for the release date of the prisoner. If you are eligible to receive the information, we can provide that to you while providing any support you need as a result of this information.”
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: “These damning comments from Victim Support Scotland sum up how the SNP’s relentless weakening of the justice system is failing victims.
“VSS have warned on numerous occasions that the SNP’s mass prisoner release scheme put community safety at risk and betrayed victims, but they are being shamefully ignored.
“The early release of dangerous offenders during the pandemic led to widespread reoffending, yet ministers repeated the error last year and plan to continue doing so several times over the next seven months.”
“The Cabinet secretary’s reluctance to spell out in her statement to Parliament that there will be seven tranches of this latest early release plan illustrates how unpopular and unsustainable this policy is.”
Next month’s release of prisoners will be the third agreed by the Scottish Government since summer of last year.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I absolutely recognise that the early release of prisoners can be a cause for concern for victims.
“Prisoners convicted of sex offences, domestic abuse offences or who have unspent convictions for domestic abuse, or those subject to non-harassment orders, will not be released.
“Victims who have already signed up to the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) will be told automatically if there is a change to the release date of the prisoner in their case.
“For those not part of the VNS, they can still join the scheme, contact the Scottish Prison Service directly, or have one of four victim support organisations work on their behalf to ensure they are provided with information on any change in release date.
“A briefing paper has been published to ensure that MSPs, victim support organisations and the wider public have the information they need. Public safety and protecting victims and their families is paramount, and I welcome the opportunity to continue discussions with Victim Support Scotland on the measures required to establish a sustainable prison population.”