Cons freed after third of sentence

Constance cuts minimum jail time again in bid to ease overcrowding

- BY CHRIS MCCALL

CRIMINALS are set to be released from Scots jails automatically after serving just 30 per cent of their sentence in the latest desperate attempt to ease an overcrowding crisis.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs the drastic move was required “to ensure the continued safe running of Scotland's prisons for those who live and work there"

But opposition parties branded the latest early release scheme “dangerous”.

Scotland's prisons have been at bursting point for years and hundreds of inmates have already been released early under previous government-backed attempts to ease pressure.