Scottish Conservatives have announced plans to send prisoners overseas to complete their sentences – with leader Russell Findlay insisting the “common sense” move could end the SNP’s “reckless” policy of early release.
Mr Findlay said that rather than release offenders early, Scottish Tories would look to bring in legislation that would “let us send inmates to foreign jails to serve the remainder of their sentences in full”.
The proposals, which will form part of the Scottish Conservative manifesto when it is unveiled on Tuesday, are based on arrangements in Sweden, where a deal will allow authorities there to rent 600 prison places in Estonian jails over a five-year period.
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The Tory policy comes after the Scottish Government passed legislation to allow some prisoners to be freed after serving 30% of their sentence – a move brought in a bid to ease pressure on overcrowded jails.
That came after SNP ministers authorised a series of emergency releases as part of efforts to cut the prison population.
Hundreds of prisoners have now been released early under the programme, though the Prison Governors Association Scotland last year told The Herald the measure had done little to reduce overcrowding as more prisoners came into the system.
Mr Findlay blasted: “Nationalist ministers have thrown open the prison gates and allowed thousands of inmates back into the community too soon, putting public safety at risk and making a mockery of judicial sentencing.”
He insisted that his party’s “common-sense plans would put an end to the SNP’s reckless early-release schemes”.
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Mr Findlay said: “Our legislation would let us send inmates to foreign jails to serve the remainder of their sentences in full, at the same time as we addressed the SNP’s abject failure to expand prison capacity in Scotland.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr argued: “Dangerous prisoners should always serve their sentences in full, but the SNP have given them a get-out-of-jail-free card in recent years.
“That is an insult to victims, whose needs always come last under the SNP.
“Our bold plans would protect public safety and properly punish criminals.”
After Scotland’s prison population hit its latest high in March – with 8,452 people locked up – First Minister John Swinney said he was “very concerned” about the situation.
But he argued it was important to “look for alternatives to custody” and to “take different approaches to trying to avoid a rise in population”
Meanwhile, an SNP spokesperson stated: “Action on prison overcrowding is a real issue and requires serious solutions – not bizarre plans from a Tory party who know they will never need to implement them.
“The Tories seemingly won’t even tell us how much this fanciful plan would cost – and where they would find the money, given they want to reduce public spending by cutting taxes on the rich. They are just not serious.”
The Holyrood election is being held on May 7 with polls showing it is likely the SNP will be returned as the largest party.
Labour and Reform are fighting for second place with the Conservatives, the Greens and the Lib Dems following behind them.
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