MINISTERS are facing growing pressure to scrap plans to end the automatic early release of dangerous criminals from prison, after experts branded the proposal "irresponsible" and accused the SNP of "playing fast and loose with public safety".

The Scottish Government has introduced legislation that would put a stop to automatic release two-thirds of the way into prison terms for sex offenders who have been jailed for four years and any other criminal who has received a 10-year sentence, a move supported by victims' groups.

However, academics and those with direct experience of the penal system have launched scathing attacks on the proposals, saying the law will increase danger to the public from sexual predators and violent criminals who would be turfed out of jail after serving the entirety of long sentences leaving authorities with little power to manage their reintegration into society.

Under current laws, prisoners released after serving two-thirds of their sentence are subject to strict supervision and can be recalled to serve the remainder of their sentence if they breach conditions of their early release.

Professor Cyrus Tata, Professor of Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Strathclyde, told MSPs on Holyrood's justice committee that releasing dangerous inmates "cold" would mean they were more likely to commit further crimes on the outside.

He said: "People most likely to reoffend and pose the most risk are going to be the very people you're going to keep in prison and then let out cold. No matter how good work in prison is, it can never be a substitute for managed supervision on release.

"We may not like violent offenders and sex offenders - neither do I. But this isn't about being nice to sex offenders, this is about public safety. That's what we're interested in and effective rehabilitation is a prerequisite of that.

"That's hard-headed and tough. Arguing early release should go is not tough at all - I would say it's weak. If the Government decides it's not going to bother with people that are most dangerous to the public... surely that's irresponsible."

When asked whether he supported the position of Professor Fergus

Under the proposals, it would be for the Parole Board to decide whether long-term prisoners would be released early.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The best way to protect the public is for the law to allow prisoners, including sex offenders or violent offenders, posing an unacceptable risk to public safety to be able to be kept in prison for longer into their sentences rather than being tested in the community." She added that ending automatic early release will mean more inmates are likely to take part in rehabilitation efforts