Professor John Robertson OBA From the data tables for Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: April 2025 published today, we can see that Scotland’s prison population has fallen from a peak of 8 326 in February 2025 to 8 147 last week. Weekly figures fluctuate but suggest no significant growth trend.1 In June 2024, Scotland’s prison population was feared to climb to a maximum of 9 1502 but has not, thanks to the early release programmes. The maximum capacity of Scotland’s prisons is 8 475.3 Tight but not a crisis. Has the early release programme been risky? Sources: … Continue reading Scotland’s prison population falls to more than 300 below capacity

Professor John Robertson OBA In the i in April 2025, the above and: Sometimes he would patrol rural lanes on foot, carrying his assault rifle, looking out for any terrorists hiding in the countryside. On other assignments he would man machine guns mounted on armoured ships, watching for any sign of hostile vessels coming his way. Or he would drive in weapons-laden road convoys, monitoring potential threats from vehicles. While serving as an armed officer with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), Matt Okuhara saw every aspect of how the UK’s nuclear power stations and their radioactive fuel are protected from … Continue reading How Starmer, backed by Sarwar, want new mini nuclear power stations in Scotland that cause more cancer, more waste, depend on Russian fuel, cost more and now cannot be protected against terrorism

Professor John Robertson OBA From Shoplifting cases recorded in Scotland since 2019: FOI release, published yesterday, the number of cases reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has fallen from 19 225 to 16 426 and the number proceeded against in Courts has fallen from 12 104 to 8 601: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202500454372/ In July 2023, BBC Business reported: In March, police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded nearly 33,000 incidents of shoplifting – a significant 30.9% increase compared with March last year. What might be different? The Scottish Child Payment was launched in February 2021. It is … Continue reading Has the Scottish Child Payment reduced shoplifting for ‘cost-of-living’ food and clothes?

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above, and: According to the report’s authors, the difference in earnings is down to a lack of funds in more deprived areas, as more is spent on resources. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/22/gps-deprived-areas-england-paid-less-than-wealthy Meanwhile in Scotland, announced in February 2025, to no coverage We incentivise GPs into taking up harder to fill posts, mainly those in rural and deprived areas, through our £10,000 ‘Golden Hello’ scheme. This scheme offers a bursary of up to £10,000 to every GP taking up an eligible post.  https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-governments-written-evidence-review-body-doctors-dentists-remuneration-ddrb-2025-26-pay-round/pages/7/ Anything else about GP supply not getting much media attention? Just this: Continue reading GPs in poor parts of England are paid £5,500 less a year than in wealthy areas but in Scotland get a £10 000 incentive