The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland - a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson

By Professor John Robertson OBA

From BBC Scotland two days ago:

Up to 390 prisoners will be released early starting from next month in the latest move from the Scottish government to reduce the prison population. Emergency legislation was passed last year which allows eligible inmates sentenced to less than four years in jail to be released after 40% of their sentence, rather than 50%.

and, notably, but only 6 statements down:

Prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences will not be eligible to be freed early.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv48jrggn1o

Should we be worried? What’s the evidence?

Prisoner reconviction rates plummet in last 17 years

After riots England to release 5 500 offenders in just two months, some violent, as SNP Scotland benefits from no riots, prison capacity and so no violent prisoner early release

Is everyone reassured? Not BBC Scotland which also has this in their report:

Public ‘put at risk’

However, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents said the new legislation would see the public “being put at risk”. Victim Support Scotland said that following the previous early release of prisoners, only 2% of victims were notified.

Chief executive Kate Wallace said the support organisation was “concerned that if the number of victims contacted is not increased this time, it will have a profoundly damaging impact on victim confidence and trust in the justice system – their voices are simply not being listened to”. Scottish Conservative justice spokesperson Liam Kerr said: “The imminent introduction of the SNP’s reckless early release scheme is confirmation of their latest shameful betrayal of victims.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur said ministers had “given themselves the power to release prisoners early, limit scrutiny and prevent prison governors blocking certain criminals from being released”. He added: “That’s a risky combination for public safety.”

Which brings me to England, with higher violent crime, greater prison over-crowding and evidence of releasing the wrong people, how did BBC England cover the same topic?

More than 3,100 prisoners have been let out of jail, external under the government’s early release scheme in England and Wales, which started in September. Eligible prisoners serving more than five years can now be automatically released after only 40% of their fixed-term sentence, rather than the usual 50%.

Sex offenders, and those serving sentences of four years or longer for serious violent offences, are not included. Those convicted of domestic abuse, external and what the government calls “connected crimes”, such as stalking, are also excluded.

The scheme only applies to a certain type of sentence, under which prisoners are automatically released after a set amount of time. Anyone released will be monitored by the Probation Service, and this could involve the use of electronic tags and curfews.

^{https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd1jxmrk11yo#:~:text=More%20than%203%2C100%20prisoners%20have%20been%20let%20out,their%20fixed-term%20sentence%2C%20rather%20than%20the%20usual%2050%25.}

Notice all those reassurances for members of the public? The kind of things a public service broadcaster has a charter to do but BBC Scotland seem not to feel the need to do?

Did BBC England have opposition politicians accusing the government of ‘giving itself powers‘ or of being ‘reckless?‘ Don’t be daft. Not a word of that kind.