SNP BLAMED AS JAILS HIT RECORD OF 8,430 INMATES

THE SNP's “abject failures” were blamed after Scotland's prison population hit a record high, sparking fears overcrowded jails may spiral out of control.

- Ben Borland

There were 8,430 people behind bars on Tuesday last week, above the previous high of 8,420, with the fluctuating figure remaining above 8,400 for the whole week.

The operating capacity of the prison estate is 7,805, meaning a new facility the size of HMP Shotts or HMP Grampian would be needed to cover the overcrowding, according to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). The warning comes despite hundreds of prisoners being granted early release in two tranches by Justice Secretary Angela Constance as the Scottish Government struggles to cope with the crisis.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: “It will surprise no one that Scotland’s jail population has hit record highs, given the SNP’s abject failures over almost two decades in charge of the justice system.

“As well as failing to come up with a long-term strategy to tackle offending, the nationalists are years late in delivering the new prisons promised in Glasgow and the Highlands.

“Their only ‘solution’ to overcrowding is the reckless early release of dangerous criminals, which has made our streets less safe and seen many of the same offenders washing straight back up in jail after re-offending.

“We warned ministers from the start that the early-release programme was a desperate, sticking-plaster idea that was doomed to fail, yet they plan several more rounds of it in the coming months as Scotland’s prisons burst at the seams.