Tag: prisons

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As Sky News worries about killers and rapists released early from prison in England re-offending in Scotland plummets to 5%, due to more prison officers and more police officers

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Both Sky News and BBC Breakfast today have reported concerns about early prisoner release in England including killers and rapists. BBC Scotland has no equivalent today though they have tried before to be Reporting Scotland Down this way. They struggled. Here’s why: On 17 June 2026 officers is raising concerns about the early release of hundreds of prisoners over the past two years. The early release scheme has been prompted by concerns over prison overcrowding and does not include prisoners convicted of sexual offences or domestic abuse. In a speech to the association of Scottish Police Superintendents, Rob Hay will … Continue reading As Sky News worries about killers and rapists released early from prison in England re-offending in Scotland plummets to 5%, due to more prison officers and more police officers

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Prisoner release in Scotland – far fewer than England and no quick re-offending unlike in England

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald above today, typically insensitive, exploitative and ill informed. In England, last week: Similar in Scotland? Nope, despite our media rats sniffing everywhere. The facts? Anyone for facts? There are currently 8 348 prisoners in Scotland’s prisons.2 From Audit Scotland in December 2023: SPS has advised that as at November 2023 the extended operating capacity that the prison estate can accommodate is 8,475.3 So, 127 places still available for a population only one eleventh of the population of England and Wales. They should have at least 1 400 but have ‘less than 100’, only a fourteenth! Sources: … Continue reading Prisoner release in Scotland – far fewer than England and no quick re-offending unlike in England

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Prison population – back-to-front thinking from BBC Scotland to hide Scottish Government competence in maintaining 234 times more spare places

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From BBC Scotland, two days ago: Scotland’s prison population is now higher than it was before hundreds of prisoners were released early in a bid to ease overcrowding. A total of 477 prisoners were let out early in June and July under an emergency scheme introduced by the Scottish government in response to a sharp rise in the number of people in jail. In the week before the programme began in late June, the prison population sat at 8,232. It has now reached 8,241 – raising questions about whether further releases will be needed. See, stupid, that’s why they released … Continue reading Prison population – back-to-front thinking from BBC Scotland to hide Scottish Government competence in maintaining 234 times more spare places

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Chief Inspector of Prisons – “Overcrowding places the public at greater risk than emergency release”

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By Professor John Robertson An LBC report today either deliberately or stupidly misinterprets the words of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland Wendy Sinclair-Gieben. Their headline – ‘Crisis point’ prison conditions mean inmates released early ‘pose risk’ to public, watchdog warns She says: “Overcrowding is huge and it’s at crisis point. I’m glad we’ve decided on the emergency release but it is a short term fix and we need to do longer. “We need to recognise overcrowding places the public at greater risk than emergency release. It means people are locked in rooms 22, 23 hours a say. … Continue reading Chief Inspector of Prisons – “Overcrowding places the public at greater risk than emergency release”